Read Matthew Kaminski on Russia. And re-read five times this succinct summary of the Fallacy of Foreign-Policy Egocentrism:

The conceit is we can win the Kremlin over by modifying our behavior.

Great conclusion:

Ultimately it’s up to the Russians to decide to be friends. One day, someone in the Kremlin will have to confront a hard choice: Does an isolated and dysfunctional Russia want to modernize and join up with the West, look toward China, or continue its slow decline? Until then, Mr. Obama better stock up on aspirin and dampen his and our expectations about Russia.

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.