We do exactly the same thing over there. Radio Free Europe, Gary Kasparov’s post-chess career, the mindless cheerleading on behalf of Pussy Riot: all of these are evidence of American interference in Russian domestic political affairs. Sticking our nose in other countries’ business is synonymous with having a foreign policy. It’s why our intelligence services exist. Every living sentient adult not named Ron Paul knows this. Moscow pushes the Green Party and fringy Russian Orthodox theology; we boost Putin’s opponents and the IMF line on free trade. Russia wants to disrupt the status quo over here just like we do over there.

Maybe our own foreign policy establishment wants to shake things up even more. Indict all the Borises and Natashas who have ever so much as paid for promoted tweets. Seize their assets, deport other Russian nationals, recall diplomatic staff. Don’t be surprised when things get heavy later. It might be worth it, it might not. But don’t make the rest of us suffer through these outraged kindergarten teacher routines where you pretend that the normal conduct of foreign policy is some sinister aberration. And don’t insist that those who may have been lucky enough to benefit from Russia’s omnidirectional mischief-making are by definition implicated in hitherto undiscovered plots.