Buried at the bottom of today’s New York Times piece on Georgia/Russia is this quote from Defense Secretary Bob Gates implicitly rebuking his boss:

 

 I have never believed that one should make national security policy on the basis of trust. I think you make national security policy based on interests and on realities.

For old times’ sake, here’s George W. Bush on Vladimir Putin:

I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue. There was no kind of diplomatic chit-chat, trying to throw each other off balance. There was a straightforward dialogue. And that’s the beginning of a very constructive relationship. I wouldn’t have invited him to my ranch if I didn’t trust him.