We need to stop making friends with the bullies

If you believe what Putin said in the New York Times piece I excerpted below, then don't read this piece by Sarah Hoyt.

We need to teach why we’re exceptional – and we are – and how, though we’re human, at least we try for honor and duty and all that. We fail, but at least we try. Other nations aren’t trying, not really.

Other nations aren’t going to understand that what we say isn’t window dressing. Other nations aren’t going to understand that when we beat our chest we’re NOT really worse than they are. (You see, other nations don’t admit to even obvious atrocities, much less accusing themselves of made up ones.) We need to stop making friends with the bullies.