Atlantic Council VP and Brent Scowcroft Center Director Barry Pavel is quoted in the National Post on the failure of Western powers to check Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Eastern Europe:
“Everyone should have known that Putin does not have high regard for Obama’s resolve to protect and advance U.S. interests when they clash with Russia’s,” said Barry Pavel, vice-president and director of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security with the Atlantic Council.
“The perceptions of U.S. weakness in Asia and, in part, the Middle East probably contribute to Putin’s overall perception in this case is that he can do what he wants and the West will complain a lot and loudly, but probably not do anything to hurt him too badly.”