Posted on 03/20/2014 8:36:11 AM PDT by ColdOne
President Obama announced Thursday that he is imposing sanctions on additional senior Russian officials and others over the country's annexation of Crimea, warning that broader economic sanctions could be in store if Russia does not stand down.
The president, speaking on the South Lawn of the White House, voiced concern that Russian military positioning could point to "further incursions" into southern and eastern Ukraine. He also issued an executive order giving the U.S. authority to impose sanctions on "key sectors of the Russian economy."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That's what my gut is telling me, but we should be vigilant and start coming up with a plan to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas.
No more than the Rhineland was in 1936....And there was NOBODY, that would have been willing to go to war with Germany back then over the Rhineland.
That is going to take months if not years. Something tells me in a few months every one will get back to business as usual with Russia. Its too powerful a country and a major world player for the West to blacklist for long. And Crimea? It will be forgotten just like Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are that do not a rate mention in the headlines nowadays.
And I don’t think Putin is that stupid. This was low-hanging fruit for him.
We can do it, if we have the will to do it (which we don't).
Obama will have to go to Congress to get broader sanctions.
The budget brand of ammo "Monarch" that turns up in sporting goods stores is packaged imports from Russia and Serbia (depending on caliber). I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes scarce.
All of this shows a pathological unwillingness on the part of the West to come to terms with reality.
Absolutely. The civilized world is shocked that the leader of Russia is willing to invade his neighbor with a sissy boy army wearing masks and no insignia. Putin’s pansies on the march... Time for the west to wake up.
What’s Congress’ constitutional role in all of this? They have the power to declare war. Why not the power to declare military action in a particular region to protect the Ukraine from Russia? I also wonder what in the Constitution gives Obama the unilateral power to impose sanctions on Russia etc.
“The Russian elite does not care if they can’t vacation in Florida this summer.”
They can go to Cuba just as easily.
I’m afraid it will be worse than ludicrous. Now that obambi and Hagel the Henchman have decimated our armed forces (and, no, I am not suggesting we go to war over Ukraine), the saber we once could rattle is down to a tarnished handle and a 3” stub of blade. And Vlad knows it!
It’s still true that to keep the peace, you must be prepared for war, “prepared” being the key term.
The next step is a RED LINE!!!!! Careful Putin.
The really humorous thing (or sad) about all this is that Russia is actually very weak, but our POTUS is such a loser he can’t even handle this situation.
“What’s Congress’ constitutional role in all of this? They have the power to declare war. Why not the power to declare military action in a particular region to protect the Ukraine from Russia?”
The US Congress declared war only five times in history: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. Since 1942, it never declared another war, neither in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq.
In your opinion, what would be the rationale of a declaration of war to Russia? Has Russia attacked the United States or is a menace to its security? I’m curious how you would justify a declaration of war.
The really humorous thing (or sad) about all this is that Russia is actually very weak, but our POTUS is such a loser he can’t even handle this situation.
Exactly. The west tip toed through the tulips for weeks on Russia. Then Erdogan made one phone call and put that tin pot czar in his place.
“the saber we once could rattle is down to a tarnished handle and a 3” stub of blade.”
Saber rattling doesn’t work for both sides. That’s why the countries owning nuclear weapons adopted the dissuasive strategy. It worked during the cold war era (1949-1990) and it’s working now. Only irresponsible leaders would brandish it. Who is ready to play Dr.Strangelove’s part?
I think Obama’s next step should really turn the heat up on Russia. I’m thinking this is very series and perhaps this warrants an address the, yes, the United Nation
I'm exploring congressional options in this kind of situation since Obama is fairly useless. I go back to Reagan and think, what would he have done? Well, I'm sure he would have seen this coming (Palin suspected it in 2008) and would have been ready to move military exercises into that region while having ongoing discussions with Putin, making it clear America would not stand by while a free country is invaded by an aggressor like Russia. And, as he did with Granada, not hesitate to go in and fight for Ukraine freedom if they were invaded.
Congressional ability is much less nimble and surgical in their ability to deal with an aggressor nation, but at the same time, it seems that our hands may not have to be completely tied because of Obama's typical Leftist inability to respond decisively.
Rationale could be a few things.
1) America, as the most powerful free country on earth, has been, under the right leadership, a protector of free countries from outside aggression. The freer the world, the safer the world for everyone, including the U.S. (I do NOT advocate the mutton-headed so-called "Bush Doctrine" of invading countries to "make them democratic" (his eventual rationale for invading Iraq after abandoning the WMD rationale - his real reason was to finish the job on Saddam that his dad didn't). The "Bush Doctrine" is repulsive and un-Ameircan. We stand for freedom not invasion and forced servitude.)
2) It also is in America's best interests because other aggressive nations are watching. A strong, decisive response to unwarranted and unwelcomed aggression upon a free nation will make other totalitarian aggressors think twice about their takeover plans. Here, we know China, North Korea, Syria, and Iran are taking notes and making plans accordingly. As a direct result of Obama's hand-wringing indecisiveness, Israel has now had to declare that they will take on Iran without the U.S. who they no longer can rely on.
We cannot play the isolationist game the way we could when Washington was President ("no entangling alliances"). We shouldn't politically or militarily entangle ourselves internationally unnecessarily, but our world has shrunk since the 18th Century and things like the intercontinental nuclear threat makes these things very much a part of U.S. interest.
Or does Barry want to be the one spanked?
If only we could get some clarity from the administration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
