Self-Imposed Isolation and International Irrelevance

Vladimir Putin is pissed. He says that current U.S. behavior in the world is putting Washington on a path of "self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance." He's condemned our "anachronistic displays of military power" in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan. He says Russia will resist any American attempt to consign sovereign nations and free peoples -- such as Bolivia and Venezuela -- to some 'archaic spheres of influence.' He's also expressed concerned about America's worsening domestic situation, "citing a rollback of personal freedoms, pervasive corruption and a "paranoid, aggressive impulse" to view neighboring new democracies as threats."

Whoopsie Daisy! Putin didn't say these things, and neither did his puppet Medvedev. These are the words and music of our very own classical pianist at the State Department, Condoleeza Rice. She said these things about Russia, and she said them earnestly with a straight face. She didn't even crack a smile, a snicker, a snort or stifle a guffaw. Honestly, historians will simply marvel at the awe-inspiring hypocrisy and stupidity of American leaders in the early 21st century.