‘Unexceptional’ US, Russia scrap over Putin’s NY Times Op-Ed
Russia and the US continue to trade barbs over President Vladimir Putin’s recent Op-Ed in the New York Times, in which he took issue with America viewing itself as “exceptional” and the dangers it posed in Syria and beyond. ● On Friday, Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said he was bemused that the United States continued to insist that it occupied an “exceptional” role in the international arena. “Democracy implies the existence of competition, but at times there is the perception that the US has estranged itself from this competition.” Peskov insisted that Putin had no intention of pushing a confrontation or offending anyone with his words. He continued that as far as international affairs were concerned, Putin had no interest in wagging his finger at anyone. "However, our American friends over the last decade have gotten into the habit of giving everyone a patronizing pat on the back, which has served to shape the world’s attitude towards the United States,” he said. ● The Kremlin’s reaction came after a tough response from the White House regarding Putin’s Op-Ed on Thursday, saying Russia’s own actions had served to demonstrate how the US is in fact “exceptional.” "Unlike Russia, the United States stands up for democratic values and human rights in our own country and around the world," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.