OLIVER STONE AND PUTIN. ROUND TWO:

First off, this is not really round two, but round two and three. As I was watching the second episode of Stone’s Bromance with the Tsar, I noticed the third part was available for viewing. So, bonus!

One thing did change, it seems Stone really had no clear pattern of topics he intended on covering. Now, it is highly probable the rhythm of every topic was set by Mr. Putin, but Stone did a great job of making it look as if he was completely scattered brained from the start. Time and time again, it looked as if Oliver was just giddy getting to be in the same room with the Tsar. For the Tsar’s part, episode two and three looked the same as episode one. That grin. That look of, “ah yes….my little Puppet is here again. Let me continue my plan”!

Once again, the emotion:

Missile Defense! A topic Mr. Putin became much more animated over. A topic that his opinion of is cast in….well……Stone!  Once again, his approach was very well scripted. His point? Well, his point struck a never with Stone and honestly, it may strike a nerve with many who watched the interviews. Here was Putin’s approach. If the excuse for the US Missile Defense concept is based upon a nuclear capable Iran, the argument the US used the most, then the fact the Iranians signed a “deal” with the major players on the topic should result in the Missile Defense System no longer being necessary! Yet, it continues and that is the sore spot for Putin. Why? Why should it continue, unless, it’s just another example of the West / US / saying one thing, but doing another. Deceit. That is how the Tsar sees the topic and that is what he believes regardless of how the US responds. Most of us realize the response by the US and it’s Allies is just as scripted. “ We can’t trust the Iranians and so we must continue the development of the program”! An answer Putin fully anticipated and does nothing more than reinforce his fear of deceit! It’s simple to see, the issue of Missile Defense is a major topic for Mr. Putin and it’s one the US is doing a very poor job of communicating on. Oh, by the way. What is the real reason the US is against Mr. Putin’s concept of a “joint program”? If the US answers this question as poorly as it did the issue of Iran, then who knows how the Tsar will interpret the excuse.

Short Note….Hillary:

Body language. A form of expression even someone like Mr. Putin cannot avoid. Simple statement here. He really…really….doesn’t like her. I’ve addressed this issue in the past, but Putin see Hillary as a Puppet of Soros and that makes her one of the top Enemies of the Russians……..period!

Doctor Strange Love:

I don’t know if Stone had a clue how unusual it was to get Putin to sit to watch that particular movie. Did he have any idea of where that event might take his interview with the Tsar? My bet is he didn’t. My bet is he was trying to show just how dangerous the War loving Americans might be to the Russians. Stone, is not and never will be a big supporter of the US, but he does love to make his money! Anyway, back to the issue of Putin watching Doctor Strange Love. By the way. If you have not watched the movie and you know anything about the dangers of the Cold War and Nuclear War, then watch the movie. My impression was, Putin watched the entire movie with the group. He stated he had never heard of the movie and that was interesting in itself.

Humor. The “Humor” in that movie did not translate to the Russian and that is not surprising. What was Putin thinking when he sat and watched? “Why did Stone want me to watch this? Why did the Americans make this movie? Why did they think the topic of nuclear war could possibly be funny? Why did the US government allow a movie to be made that made fun of American Leadership”? Great questions, if Putin actually asked them of himself. What in the world was Stone thinking?

When they were finished, the reaction of Putin was something that stopped me in mid thought! I’m not positive of his exact words and I would have to go back to watch it again, but one statement absolutely stunned me! His first comment was telling. To paraphrase Putin, The topic of doomsday devices is a dangerous topic. Now, I’m not sure of his exact words, but the point was clear. Doomsday events are dangerous! Why? Why did he interpret this so called comedy this way? What made him grab onto the doomsday device part of this story? I’m here to tell you, I may be tea leaf reading, but that sent a chill down my spine. The Soviet Dead Hand System! Rumor upon rumor has been spread about this concept. If you don’t know what it was or as some claim, “is”, then I will give you a simplistic review. Dead Hand or “ Perimetr” was and may be is the Doomsday device of  the Russians. If attacked their ability to retaliate is automatic. Sound crazy? Just how crazy do you think everyone was in the Cold War? Just how crazy do you believe everyone involved still is? Paranoia in Russia. Did it ever really go away? Why? Why would it? Trust? What trust? A crazy movie that Oliver Stone was convinced would make the Russian leader laugh. Instead, his first response was one so telling that many may have missed Putin’s point. Simply put, Doctor Strange Love can happen and happen much easier than you think! Wow! If I’m right, then what a message, warning, Oliver Stone bumped into.

One last, but important comment about Doctor Strange Love and it’s a point to make. At the end of the movie, Stone hands Putin a copy of the movie. As Putin is walking into an office, he open the CD case and notices the case to be empty! He turns to the camera and says, “Typical American gift”! Everyone laughs! Now. Just think about that for a few minutes.

The Hockey Player:

Ego? Oh ya. Had to have some of the ego sliced into the program? Who’s it for? Is it for the Western Audience? Is if for the Russian audience? Was it for Putin’s own enjoyment? Yes to all three. Was it, in the eyes of the West, somewhat corny? Oh ya, just watch the man skate and it tells you everything you need to know. Just think if one of the players would have checked him into the glass…..hard? More hair falling out at practice for some poor fool within the week! All in all, not a huge part of this program, but you have to admit, Putin’s desire to be seen as a tough guy is never-ending.

Driving himself:

Putin driving himself! Judging from the scenery as they were driving down the road, the traffic was not closed around them. If you have ever been involved in moving a world leader on a public road, you know how incredible this sounds. Imagen the US President driving him or herself. Imagen that taking place on an open public road. Impossible. Unimaginable and completely out of the question, regardless if the President demanded he or she be allowed to do so. Once again, it’s Putin’s way of saying, “I’m my own man and I decide what goes on around me”. What really struck me was the impression that doing such a thing was not unusual for him. So, did he really stage it or did he just decide to do something he does often? Any way you look at it, the event is something that is way….way out of the norm. But, then again, we are talking about Mr. Putin!  

Music in the Background:

Who decided on the background music when the topic of NATO came up? Was it the theatrics of Stone? Was it something the Russian’s asked for? My bet is Stone is the answer. Would Putin really give a hoot one way or another on the topic of background music? Nope! Dark and ominous, that was the tone Stone set on the topic of NATO. Danger! Subliminal messaging? You bet. A tactic guys like Stone have used for years, along with just about every government that has ever manipulated media!    

Spontaneous when trying to be funny:

Over the years, Mr. Putin has held numerous interviews, but this is the first one I’ve seen where has been in his own environment, working his way around meetings with Stone.  As planned as his topics seem to be, it was interesting to see Putin, at times, let us have a real peak into his more spontaneous side. Humor, it usually showed up when he was attempting to inject his brand of humor! Making quick, witty comments or a hint of a silly look, that was when it seemed like Mr. Putin was letting down his guard. Not much to work with, but never the less, a brief window into the real Putin. His laugh immediately after his comment about, “The typical American gift”, that is my best example. It’s not often you can catch a glimpse of the Tsar out of character and you have to know when to look.

Snowden the “Hero”:

Driving himself and talking about Snowden that was a great opportunity to catch another indication of the real Putin. Did he know Stone was going to bring up the conversation? Yes. Did he know it would take place while he was driving? Probably. Did he not have his staff in the car with him when he addressed the issue of Snowden? Interesting! A “Hero”. A man who stood up for the rights of the people an overzealous government was spying on? Now, if that’s not a prime example of the Pot calling the Kettle Black, I don’t know what is! Does Mr. Putin really view Snowden as a Hero? No! He is what he has been from the very beginning, an opportunity to poke the US in the eye. The part of the story that was even more interesting than hearing what you might think is Putin’s personal opinion of Snowden was the explanation of how he got to Russia. Again, the real Putin peaked through the conversation. The smirk. That classic Putin look just at that point in the conversation when Stone asked how Snowden got into Russia when the US was pushing to get their hands on him. ‘We had nothing to do with getting him here’! Good grief, not even the Bromance Stone seemed to swallow that one and the smirk didn’t help!

Episode 3

The Ukraine. A topic you had to have known Putin was going to be prepared to address. Once again the theme held true. Betrayal. Betrayal on the part of the US and what Putin calls, “Partners”. Did the US really have its hands, along with other EU members, in the crisis that became the Ukrainian crisis? Yes. Was the crisis supported by the US and EU members? Yes. Is the issue of the Ukraine the center point of Putin’s anger over what has been taking place in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union? Yes.  The manipulation of the events in that nation have been more damaging to US / Russian relations than just about anyone in the US realizes. I’ve said this before and I will say it again and again. The Ukrainian crisis is a topic Putin is willing to go to war over. The issue is, he may not allow it to become a war on Russian land, but just about anywhere else is under threat. The Middle East? That’s just one option the Tsar has taken. Stone painted the picture just the way Putin needed him to do. The US and the EU are responsible for what is taking place in the Ukraine. The Russians were betrayed once again. Not a hard message to sell, but one the Russian President hammered home none the less. When the discussion of the Ukraine was over, what was worthy of noticing was Putin’s attempt to show how patient he remains.  Its clear his desire was to show that one, the US was reasonable for what had taken place in the Ukraine and two, he is still willing to get the “partnership” concept back on track. Is that truly his end state? Keeping his dream of Russia’s future, that is the goal of the Tsar.

Three episodes and the theme continues. Russia has been, once again, betrayed by the West / Europe. Russia is simply wanting to be a “Partner”. How much of this theme is disingenuous? What does the Tsar truly want from those he labels as “Partners”? Let’s see what the final product is of this Stone Bromance.