Just as China apparently joins the U.S. in a bid to check North Korea's nuclear ambitions, in steps Russian president Vladimir Putin, giving just-in-time succor to North Korea's brutal regime.  Sure, it's some sort of power -alancing gambit against hyper-power U.S.-China.  But with North Korea brazenly stepping up its nuclear launches, it's not the time to start in against the U.S. over Syria, which seems to be the real bone in Putin's craw, according to his statements.  It's actually a good way to lose credibility and wind up on the losing side of any possible confrontation. According to a report in the New York Post: "I want to confirm that we are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear powers, including with the Korean Peninsula and North Korea," Putin said at a Chinese economic summit in Beijing, saying it would be "harmful and dangerous." But in comments apparently directed at the US,...(Read Full Post)