As speculation in the media abounds regarding the potential of a World War 3 scenario between the West and the East, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, spoke in threatening terms during a speech at the annual Valdai International Discussion Club recently, claiming that America is “warmongering,” among other claims.
During the speech, which lasted a good 40 minutes, Putin blasted America’s “exceptionalism ” and armed conflict posturing. He also went on to blame the United States for the unrest in Eastern Ukraine, and added that Washington is compromising global security by flexing its economical and military might around the world.
According to Vladimir Putin, America’s “lording” of its power has caused a set of unintended circumstances, as well as speaking in no uncertain terms about his view on Israeli building in Jerusalem, which, ironically, he actually agrees with Barack Obama on.
As he addressed the crowd at the Black Sea resort in Sochi, Putin explained his position.
“They are throwing their might to remove the risks they have created themselves, and they are paying an increasing price. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the existing system of global and regional security can protect us from disruption. The system is seriously weakened, shattered and deformed. The Cold War is over. But it did not end with peace. Ukraine is an example of such conflicts that influence a global balance of forces.”
At the same time, Putin, like many other people, has had enough of President Obama’s rhetoric when it comes to most things, especially on the war on ISIS in Syria.
In trying to explain America’s alleged “exceptionalism,” Obama said last year in a speech, “America is not the world’s policeman. Terrible things happen across the globe, and it is beyond our means to right every wrong. But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”
Nevertheless, for the Kremlin, and Vladimir Putin, America is not exceptional, except perhaps when it comes to meddling in foreign affairs which have nothing to do with them.
In ending his speech, Putin calmed many nerves when he said, “Statements that Russia is trying to reinstate some sort of empire, that it is encroaching on the sovereignty of neighbors, are groundless,” with many concluding that Putin doesn’t want a nuclear war any more than his counterpart, Barack Obama.