The WikiLeaks GiFiles: US Ambassador to Russia ‘Scared to Death of Putin”

One of the millions of leaked emails from the Stratfor database claims Michael McFaul, who was appointed US ambassador to Russia in January, is scared to death of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Soon after his appointment McFaul angered the Russian government by welcoming members of the Russian opposition into his office.

A Stratfor source wrote of McFaul: "Everyone in CE [Central Europe] hates dealing with him. He is deluded. He believes that Russia can actually be pulled into being an ally with the US. McFaul wants to use Reagan's game plan. He constantly quotes Reagan.

"In McFaul's office there is a large photo above his desk of McFaul, Obama, Medvedev and Putin all sitting around the lunch table smiling. However, the way I heard it McFaul was scared to death of Putin and stuttered the entire time."