Is Putin Using the Nixon ''Madman'' Tactic?

In 1969 Richard Nixon became president of the US. His staff encouraged the image of him as a madman capable of using nuclear weapons at the drop of a hat, in order to scare the North Vietnamese into surrender.

Even the most rabid of Russia haters should be able to see that Vladmir Putin is almost supernaturally patient with US provocations so far.

The constant demonization of him personally, the arming and training of terrorists in Syria trying to overthrow Russia's ally there, the coup in Ukraine which put open Russia-hating Nazis into power on Russia's border, the killing of 15,000 ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine, the downing of Malaysian airliner 17, most likely done by Ukraine, but blamed on Russia, the downing of the Russian civilian airliner in Egypt that killed 224 people, the downing of the fighter Russian jet and the murder of its pilot, the killing of the Russian Red Army Choir on Christmas 2016, the 8 Russian ambassadors dying in 2016 (and one in early 2017), the closing of the Russian embassies, the stealing of their property and the insult of making the Embassy ambassador and staff wait on the tarmac instead of inside the airport, the moving of US and NATO troops to Russia's borders in January 2017 (as one of Obama's last moves), the accusations of poisoning of various people, the sanctions, the attempted bombing of another Russian airliner in May, 2017 (thwarted by Trump, which caused an uproar of outrage from the chattering class), the killing of Russians in Syria, etc.

None of these provocations have caused Putin to respond with military action, up until now. And the British provocation of June 24th was met with a non-lethal response also.

But in a press conference yesterday, June 30th, Putin responded to a question by asserting that Russia could have sunk the HMS Defender without starting a wider war. Say what? Don't we all know that the UK and the US would have pounced immediately to start a wider war? Why would Putin imply that there are rational people in the UK and the US who would prevail over the war mongers?

Is Putin tired of playing the role of the rational leader? Is he going for the Nixon "he's so crazy he might do anything" tactic? Maybe. But if he does respond militarily is he falling into a trap?

There is speculation that the response of the West, if Russia responds to their provocations, will not be war, but the unseating of Russia from the Security Council, so that they can no longer veto the US using the UN for their war and domination plans. This would be tragic for many people around the world who have been saved by Russia's vetoes so far.

Or the plan could be to use the Mighty Wurlitzer of mainstream Mockingbird media propaganda to stop France and Germany from making a seperate peace with Russia, thereby fulfilling the role of NATO, which was to keep the US in, Germany down and Russia out, as explained by the first NATO leader, Lord Ismay.

As the provocations continue, I guess we'll see how it will be played.