I'm missing something here (really dumb, obvious question):

[Blue_Tires]

1. Why would Putin even do an op-ed in the NYT? As a world leader there are thousands of different ways he could have gotten that message out, and none of them would have garnered any less coverage...

2. Why would the Times print it??

[geek tragedy]

1. He's trying to spin the diplomatic cover he's giving Assad.

His proposal is meant to buy time for Assad, with zero intention of having Assad actually give up his chemical weapons.

[Blue_Tires]

2. But he could have done the exact same thing in a speech or press conference

[geek tragedy]

6. Look at how many people here are swooning over that op-ed.

They're convinced that Vladdy is the one standing up for international law and diplomacy.

In reality, Putin is trying to have it both ways by pretending the UN is the solution but refusing to let it take any action.

[last1standing]

3. It was very good PR for Putin.

I don't agree with either Putin or Obama on Syria but support both while they're working on a peaceful solution. that said, the reasons are:

1. Putin wanted to disrespect Obama without blatantly disrespecting him. Submitting that Op/Ed in the NYT was a very clever way to do it.

2. Why wouldn't they? It's a surefire way to sell papers and generate advertising. They, rightly, figure Obama can take the hit and that any negative reaction will be limited and temporary.

[Rex]

4. The NYT is a CIA hub.

Putin was catching up with old friends and enemies imo.

[cbdo2007]

5. answers

1. He is trying to indoctrinate himself to the average US Citizen as an ally.

2. publicity (which even your post has given them)

[Blue_Tires]

7. ok...That makes more strategic sense to me now

[PoliticAverse]

8. 1 - Your 'less coverage' argument I don't think is valid based on how much coverage this op-ed

is getting (your post and others on DU being a case in point)

2 - Because publicity is in the Times' interest (they are a business).

[quinnox]

9. 1. Good way to reach the American people, the NY Times is considered one of the top newspapers in

the country. Did you read the column? He was expressly trying to reach the American people.

2. The first amendment. Why wouldn't they print it?

[sufrommich]

10. I don't really blame the NYT for publishing it,it's

quite a scoop.Putin is an obvious narcissist (see countless shirtless photo ops) who wants the world's admiration. He made some valid points and some invalid points,but I'm not naive enough to believe he did it for selfless reasons,he's trying to give some cover to Assad and erroneously put blame for the gas attacks where it doesn't belong.I do agree with him that the US uses gunboat diplomacy way too often though.

[1-Old-Man]

11. Both questions are pretty easy to answer to tell the truth.

Putin did the Op-Ed because that is the venue by which he could reach the most people in both the United States and the rest of the world. If he had given a speech at the UN it would have been ignored by the US press, our TV and Radio would play a couple of short soundbites at best, and you would hear about little to none of it by Social Media sources.

And why would they publish it? Well hell, what else is a newspaper for if not to report via printing the words of what is arguably the second most important leader in the world?