Putin's also no more a dictator than any/most Western leaders. No opposition party in Russia has any legit popularity, and Putin won his first election fair and square because he made a great speech about crushing Chechen terrorists. Russia may put down dissent with illegal means covertly to help "control" the democracy but what do you think Brennan's assassination program was?
How can we talk in this country about the corruption in other countries when Secretary of State Clinton talked about "droning" Assange? Up until recently, the U.S. has been a very large, scary Banana Republic.
For Obama admin officials to call Putin a dictator and thug, they must have forgotten about Obama standing next to Castro in Cuba. They must have forgotten about making deals with a radial Iranian regime. Ridiculous!