McCain on Putin's Russia

McCain looked into Putin's eyes and saw three letters: a K, a G, and a B. Although no one disputes Putin's background in terms of having been in the KGB, the views expressed by McCain are largely unfounded. Russia in the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century has time and again offered co-operation to the USA. What the country has not done under Putin is simply follow Washington's orders, but what country would or should? There is considerable disagreement on what is happening, for example, in Iran, and whether the US should be involved at all let alone in which way. So I do not find it surprising that Russia would not simply follow the US "lead" (orders). More importantly, I am surprised that McCain thinks that disinviting Russia to the G-8 is punshiment and what he hopes to achieve other than acting like a big bully on a playground. What about the other members of the G-8? Don't they also have a say in who gets invited, or is this another case where McCain mistakingly thought that President of the USA means president of the G-8 also and the rest of the world included.

I am not sure if he has the definition of Empire right, it is the USA after all establishing bases in foreign countries, including massive arsenals, despite earlier agreements not to do so - incuding in Former Soviet bloc countries. Lastly, the USA does consider buffer zones around its country as legimately in its interest and has done so since the Munroe Doctrine was established, explicitly - and it would respond violently, and has, to any foreign encrouchment into any nonUS country in its Empire regardless of the sovereignty of the country in question.