Peter Sellers playing the Paperclip-imported Dr. Strangelove as he struggles to control his right arm from making a Nazi salute. Kubrick revealed the insanity of American leaders with humor.
As much as the coup regime in Ukraine and its supporters want to project an image of Western moderation, there is a "Dr. Strangelove" element that can't stop the Nazism from popping up from time to time, like when the Peter Sellers character in the classic movie can't keep his right arm from making a "Heil Hitler" salute.
This brutal Nazism surfaced again on Friday when right-wing toughs in Odessa attacked an encampment of ethnic Russian protesters driving them into a trade union building which was then set on fire with Molotov cocktails. As the building was engulfed in flames, some people who tried to flee were chased and beaten, while those trapped inside heard the Ukrainian nationalists liken them to black-and-red-striped potato beetles called Colorados, because those colors are used in pro-Russian ribbons.
"Burn, Colorado, burn" went the chant.
Comment: The U.S. looks to be getting desperate. Officials were probably banking on Russia continuing to escalate the situation in Ukraine. But by conceding to the presidential elections, withdrawing troops from the borders, and backing off support of the referendum, Putin has placed the U.S. in a tight spot. Their response is revealing: how to respond when your enemy gives you what you profess to want, nullifying your ability to demonize them? Simple: just lie some more and pretend they aren't actually doing anything of substance, or at least not enough. It's the gift that keeps on giving! But the U.S. should know by know: Putin doesn't bluff! He'll end up appearing to be in the right, and the U.S. and Kiev will most likely expose themselves for all to see.