Krauthammer: Russia's Putin Exploits Obama's Weakness

On Sept. 5, 2014, Russian agents crossed into Estonia and kidnapped an Estonian security official. After a closed trial, Russia recently sentenced him to 15 years.

The reaction? The State Department issued a statement. The NATO secretary-general issued a tweet. Neither did anything. The EU said it was too early to discuss any possible action.

Estonian officer Eston Kohver is paraded on Russian 

media following his arrest on September

The timing of this brazen violation of NATO territory — two days after President Obama visited Estonia to symbolize America's commitment to its security — is testimony to Vladimir Putin's contempt for the American president. He knows Obama will do nothing. Why should he think otherwise?

• Putin breaks the arms embargo to Iran by lifting the hold on selling it S-300 missiles. Obama responds by excusing him, saying it wasn't technically illegal and adding, with a tip of the hat to Putin's patience: "I'm frankly surprised that it held this long."

• Russia mousetraps Obama at the 11th hour of the Iran negotiations, joining Iran in demanding the conventional-weapons and ballistic-missile embargos be dropped. Obama caves.

• Putin invades Ukraine, annexes Crimea, breaks two Minsk cease-fire agreements and erases the Russia-Ukraine border. Obama's response? Pinprick sanctions, empty threats and a continuing refusal to supply Ukraine with defensive weaponry, lest he provoke Putin.

CLICK PHOTO to OPEN VIDEO

The East Europeans have noticed. In February, Lithuania decided to reinstate conscription, a move strategically insignificant — the Lithuanians couldn't hold off the Russian army for a day — but highly symbolic.

Eastern Europe has been begging NATO to station permanent bases on its territory as a tripwire guaranteeing a powerful NATO/U.S. response to any Russian aggression.

LINK: Message To The West From Battlefield Ukraine

NATO has refused. Instead, Obama offered more military exercises in the Baltic States and Poland. And threw in an another 250 tanks and armored vehicles, spread among seven allies.

It is true that Putin's resentment over Russia's lost empire long predates Obama. But for resentment to turn into revanchism — an active policy of reconquest — requires opportunity. Which is exactly what Obama's "reset" policy has offered over the past 6 1/2 years.

Read the rest of the op-ed HERE.

If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here. Please follow us on Twitter here.