Here's the straight story on Putin from a guy who researched him extensively.  That would be me, and the work was done for my upcoming book "Confronting Evil." Bad Vlad shares the cover with Hitler, Mao, and Ayatollah Khomeini.  There are plenty of other heinous villains inside.

You may remember that President Trump gave me a Super Bowl interview back in 2017.  While discussing how the then-new president would handle the tyrant, I called Putin a "killer."

Mr. Trump opined the USA has its share of bad guys as well. True. But not in Vlad's league.

Right now, President Trump and his top negotiator, Steve Witcoff, are trying to get the dictator to stop killing people in Ukraine.  Trump and Witcoff have gone out of their way to avoid insulting Vlad, who deserves to be vilified every hour of every day.  But disparagement will not stop the madness in Ukraine.  Will it?

So Trump is doing what he can.  If Putin does not cease and desist, then severe banking sanctions should be directed against Moscow.  No dollars or Euros going there.

In addition, ten thousand NATO troops should be sent to Poland.

Putin cares nothing about human life.  He will only respond if he thinks he, himself, might be harmed.

The civilized world may have to eventually do that.

Enjoy the weekend.  New column Sunday.