Vladimir Putin may be talking trash about the U.S. these days, but he is clearly taking a page out of the U.S. political PR strategy book in doing so. Mr. Putin’s gratuitous attacks on the U.S. seem carefully designed to rile up his base of support within Russia, and the Obama Administration is taking the bait, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton firing back. Can’t say I blame her. It must be an almost irresistible impulse. 

Anti-Americanism in Russia is still rabid, and Mr. Putin’s strategy is a sound one. Put the focus on the U.S. to take the focus off the protesters. I wonder what U.S. political strategist is advising him.