Unless you're living under a rock, you know of the Russian incursion into Ukraine and the international crisis we've found ourself in.

Last August, Assad's government in Syria shit tested the United States. Obama had made a comment about a red-line regarding chemical weapons, and Syria crossed this line. What happened afterwards was poor statesmenship. First, Obama's administration backtracked on the red-line comment, and then tried to convince the American public of the validity of a military strike. Then Kerry made a dumb comment that Putin and Russia seized on. Putin offered a compromise for the situation. Obama flew to Russia to negotiate the compromise, and in the end things seemed to settle down.

However, in effect, this completely changed the power structure in the Middle East and the world. The US demonstrated that they were desperate for a peaceful solution; this a poor power play, it reflects a scarcity mindset. Furthermore, Putin seized on the opportunity to increase Russia's political clout in the world.

Most importantly, the perception of America and Obama changed instantly internally and globally. Assad (Syria) had been on the brink of destruction a week earlier, and suddenly he was making demands of the US. Sunni Arab countries (and Israel) opposed to Iran and Syria became frightened and felt betrayed by the US. Saudi Arabia and Israel have become closer allies, as they no longer trust America to protect them. Within the US, Obama's administration was deemed weak- it is no coincidence that the government shutdown happened within a week of the Syrian compromise; politicians in Congress smelled the weakness and went in for the kill.

The Ukraine protests started several months later in November 2013. There are two opposing narratives of the crisis; the Western narrative and the Russian narrative. I suggest reading the comments below for discussion of the conflict.

Shit tests and social politics are very real concepts, even in global politics. I see them as laws of nature. I am very curious to see how the rest of this conflict plays out.

EDIT: removed discussion of Sochi olympics and Crimea