DescentBB

2. Russia’s moves in Europe: The Russians are wasting no time in attempting to shape global perceptions of the incoming Obama administration, portraying the new U.S. leader as weak and more prone to compromise on issues like ballistic missile defense (BMD). At the same time, Russia is using a variety of political and economic methods to split the European bloc. We must keep an eye on the reactions of the Central European and Baltic states — particularly Poland and the Czech Republic, which are getting twitchier by the day about BMD plans.

TimesOnline wrote:With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia’s Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. “I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr Putin declared.

Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked. “Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”

Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?” Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”