Statecraft in the Lunchroom

Via Uncouth Reflections, Diagnosing Sochi Media Coverage: Virulent Russophobia by Justin Raimondo:

Any illusions some naïve soul may have had about the objectivity of the US media has been dispelled by their embarrassing performance at the Sochi Olympics: the chorus of whining complaints might as well have been written for them by the US State Department – which, come to think of it, is entirely within the realm of the possible given the imperious tone. The water, the toilets, the hotels – nothing pleases our pampered media divas, whose hatred of all things Russian oozes from between the lines of their "reporting" like pus from an old wound.

The article reminds me of a minor US-Russia dust-up last week:  U.S. and Russian diplomats spar over Pussy Riot.

In the diplomatic dispute, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, apparently initiated the exchange with a Russian counterpart when she tweeted Wednesday about meeting formerly imprisoned [Pussy Riot] band members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, both of whom were released in December. 

Power posted a photograph of herself with the two punk rockers, who "came by to discuss their time in jail," Power tweeted. She also stated: "Met some brave 'troublemakers' today."

Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded at a press conference (and I'm assuming to a question from a reporter) that perhaps Power should become a member of the band and play at the National Cathedral in Washington.

Power responded on Twitter: "Ambassador Churkin, I'd be honored to go on tour with #PussyRiot -- a group of girls who speak up & stand for human rights. Will you join us?" 

Power also added: "I can't sing, but if #PussyRiot will have me, Amb Churkin, I say our 1st concert is for Russia's pol. prisoners. #LiveFromMatrosskayaTishina." 

Matrosskaya Tishina is a notorious Moscow prison where opposition activists have been held.

Doesn't this seem girly? Two junior high girls argue and one then becomes BFFs with the other's worst enemy? And sends snapshots and snark over Twitter?

This is the Blue Empire, the progressive takeover of foreign policy that's as petty and impractical as the progressive takeover of domestic policy. The goals are ideological and the PR tactics are pure seventh grade. Russia is America's geopolitical rival--eew, their toilets are weird. It's like they're poor. And they're, like, homophobes or something. And they're not even down with this totally cool all-girl band that " desecrate[d] a Russian Orthodox cathedral by stripping off their clothes, screaming obscenities, and insulting parishioners." Russia is so lame.

There is attacking a state's prestige and there is childish mudslinging. Metternich is rolling in his grave.