As the US and its European allies rally around the Ukrainian coup leaders and denounce the Crimean referendum, we have yet another opportunity to stand in awe of Washington’s limitless supply of arrogance. Meeting with the new “Prime Minister” of Ukraine – who achieved his high office by unleashing mobs on the duly elected government – President Barack Obama averred Washington would be “forced to apply a cost” unless the Crimean vote is called off.

As if vaguely aware of the massive hypocrisy infusing his word-cloud, Obama conceded the Crimeans might possibly have some say in all this, just not now: he wants talks with the Kremlin which “could lead to different arrangements over time” for Crimea. “But, that’s not something that can be done with the barrel of a gun pointed at you” – that is, unless we’re talking about Afghanistan. Or Iraq.