(CNN) -- There he goes again -- Russian President Vladimir Putin, portraying himself as the world's champion of peace and democracy. And, of course, doing it at America's expense. This time, Putin's PR machine managed to get him an op-ed in The New York Times, just in time for the start of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, over a plan to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. The column is so filled with hypocrisy, inaccuracies and even veiled threats that it's hard to know where to begin. Putin chastises the United States, which has stumbled badly in Syria, for considering an attack because a strike "will result in more innocent victims and escalation." It could, he warns, "unleash a new wave of terrorism." He forgets to mention that tens of thousands of innocent victims in Syria have already died at the hands of President Bashar al-Assad's forces, which are armed, supported and supplied by Moscow.
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Frida Ghitis: In op-ed, Putin poses as champion of peace and chastises U.S. on Syria
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On contrary, Russia sold arms to al-Assad regime, which has killed tens of thousands, she says
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She says he touts diplomacy, yet Russia, China subverted peace efforts on U.N. Security Council
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Ghitis: Putin wants to raise stock (not peace) in world and keep Russian foothold in Mideast
Vladimir Putin
Putin
Putin
Putin
Putin
@placeholder has provided al-Assad with weapons, planeloads of cash and diplomatic cover to carry out his assaults against an uprising that started peacefully and was forced into violence by al-Assad's uncompromising response.
Bashar al-Assad
al-Assad
Putin has provided al-Assad with weapons, planeloads of cash and diplomatic cover to carry out his assaults against an uprising that started peacefully and was forced into violence by @placeholder's uncompromising response.
U.N. Security Council
The truth, whatever Putin claims, is that the United States and other countries have tried desperately to go through the @placeholder to stop the carnage in Syria.
Bashar al-Assad
al-Assad
Experts then said the outcome would be a "license (for @placeholder) to do more of the same and worse," predicting the Syrian leader would become even more brutal in his tactics, exactly as he has.
Russian
Russia
Russia
Russian
@placeholder has obstructed even the most watered-down efforts to send a message from the international community, vetoing three separate resolutions.