One source told Reuters that Colby recently told an official from one of the Baltic states that Russia should not be provoked. As an example of unhelpful rhetoric, Colby reportedly cited public statements by Europeans comparing Russia to a cornered rat.

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U.S. officials may have a point if they are indeed suggesting it is unjustified to draw a parallel between President Putin and a rat. A rat is, after all, a warm-blooded and intelligent creature capable of peaceful cohabitation with human beings, so any such comparison could be seen as slander as far as rats are concerned.