Putin's Shell Game

Penraker very nicely sums up in two sentences what I was alluding to earlier regarding Putin's warning to the West:

This is interesting, because it shows Putin may be solidifiying power now in part by raising the specter of a western world devoted to dismembering Russia and diminishing her influence. To retain power, he wants to Retreat into a shell instead of coming out of one.

I think the solution here is managerial in nature. A good manager finds creative ways to empower their employees to own their work in order to achieve strategic goals. Empowerment is not only great for morale, it optimally ensures the success of achieving future goals. From a strategic policy standpoint, we need to provide incentives that allow Russia to enter a partnership with America on their own terms versus a heavy-handed, "do-it-or-else" attitude. This is why Condi Rice is such a important pick for Secretary of State--she may be one who best understands the sensitive and prideful nature of Russia and how to diplomatically get Putin to "come out of his shell."

This has to be a major focus of our foreign policy. The reality of a rapidly decaying country sitting on all those nukes is just plain frightening.