By Thomas McKinless

When pressed on the lack of progress in diplomatic talks with Russia, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support of the Assad regime. “I don’t think President Putin is playing chess, he’s playing checkers,” Earnest said. “I say that because he’s making a series of tactical decisions that are leading to a starkly negative strategic conclusion, which is that by making the tactical decision to ramp up their support for the Assad regime, Russia is being sucked into a sectarian civil war.”