Having been quiet for a few days, comfortable sitting back and watching NATO, Europe, and the US escalate each other‘s talking points to a frenzy of populist revolt, Russia‘s Vladimir Putin has come out swinging this morning:

*PUTIN: NO MATTER WHAT U.S. DOES, IT TURNS OUT LIKE LIBYA, IRAQ
*PUTIN SAYS UN CAN‘T BE FOREIGN POLICY TOOL FOR U.S., ALLIES
*PUTIN: EUROPEAN LEADERS FAR FROM SHOWING INDEPENDENT THINKING
*PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA IS COUNTRY THAT DOESN‘T FEAR ANYTHING