Russian officials blamed the United States Thursday for the unrest in Ukraine because Ukraine was trying to join NATO. See? The great western devil made them do it. Defense Minister for Russia Sergei Shoigu said, “The United States and its allies have crossed all possible lines in their drive to bring Kiev into their orbit. That could not have failed to trigger our reaction.”

So now, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Russian economy is trying to diversify, to writhe out of the pressure of western sanctions. And in deciding to send those S-300 missiles to Iran, Russia may be indicating it’s starting an economic struggle. At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, propaganda expert Peter Pomeranzev said Russia is simply fighting in “what they call ‘information-psychological war,’ a mix of media, psychological, economic and cultural warfare.” Russia has been “weaponizing” its media, Pomeranzev said, all in an effort to wage “peaceful war.” But never fear, Barack Obama’s “smart power” “reset” the relationship with Russia ages ago.