Putin threatens Prague

During his three-hour press conference yesterday, Vladimir Putin repeated that he'll step down when his term expires next year. The Wall Street Journal reported this week, though, that there's speculation that Putin will provoke a crisis with the West as a way to remain in his post. The source of such a crisis could be an extension of the energy disputes that have arisen intermittently, but any prolonged shutdown would be nearly as damaging to Russia - in terms of its reputation and lost revenue - as to the West. Another possibility is that Putin will use Russia's opposition to the U.S. missile-defense shield in Central Europe to create a crisis. Criticism of the planned base and radar station reached a crescendo yesterday, when Putin said that Russia will take asymmetric retaliatory steps. If nothing else, the CR can use the Russian threat to improve its negotiating position vs. the U.S.