When Russia is offended by the behavior of Georgia, does it negotiate or does it impose trade sanctions on wine and water?

When Russia is disturbed by the actions of Ukraine, does it discuss and investigate or does it cut off gas supplies?

As the world well knows, Russia goes right for the jugular.

But apparently Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov doesn't approve of his own government's actions. Reuters quotes him as follows: "We take into account the experience of the past and we cannot ally ourselves with ultimatums, which all lead to a dead end. Yes, there are countries whose policies raise doubts, and cause discontent, but we all live in the same world and we need to ... draw them into dialogue, and not isolation and sanctions."

Was Lavrov speaking about Georgia and Ukraine? Dream on. What he was talking about was the world's effort to impose sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear weapons program. Or, he might just as well have been expressing Russia's indigation that the U.S. would dare to sanction Russia by denying WTO approval.

In other words, it's just fine for Russia to sanction OTHER COUTRIES, just like its fine for Russia to launch military attacks on those groups RUSSIA SAYS are terrorist. But let the United States attack Iraq the way Russia attacks Chechnya, or let the world seek to limit Iran's nuclear program the way Russia tries to limit the actions of Ukraine and Georgia, and then Russia is morally outraged.

Is it any wonder that Russia stands alone in the world, utterly without allies? This kind of hypocrisy is hard to live with, hard indeed.

If the Foreign Minister is remotely serious about his comments, he might want to look into Russia's announcement of sanctions against the Polish milk industry. Or Russia's announcement of sanctions against the U.S. meat industry. Or Russia's boycott of an Israeli trade fair to protest Israel's actions against close Russian pal Hezbollah. Or any other direct actions Russia has taken, instead of negotiating and "being reasonable." But of course, he's not the least bit serious.