World leaders were lining up today to tell Vladimir Putin he is a bully-boy non-gratis at the G-20 meeting in Brisbane, Australia. Prime Minister Harper was one of several heads of government who told the Russian oligarch to get out of Ukraine. Harper told Putin: “I guess I’ll shake your hand but I only have one thing to say to you. Get out of Ukraine.” Putin replied that he can’t because Russia isn’t there. This has been the Russian line since Putin instigated a rebellion by Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine and protected them while they formed a secessionist state. And there is no doubt that the Russians are in Ukraine as long they occupy the Crimea and call it their own. At lunch, Putin was solitary at a table with only the president of Brazil joining him. Later, to the relief of the Australian organizers of the meeting, Putin said he is leaving early — but not because no one wants him there.
