Charles -
Its none of our business. If we don’t have a vital interest, we should not get involved at all, period.
And because of you and the neo-Cold Warrior crowd, America looks weak and the Russians are laughing at us.
Even you don’t want to die for Crimea. Why do you think Obama should have been tougher with the Russians? Just asking.
Obama has not been tougher with the Russians due to threats about dumping our debt. Not that he has been particularly tough with Russia at all.
So you’re basically in agreement with Obama.
I guess that the opposing argument to yours considers Russians in the Crimea sort of “the camel’s nose under the tent.” If it goes no further than this (they voted for this at 95% for goodness sake), then Kerry and BO would have calculated correctly. However, if this turns out to have been the beginning of a slippery slope (or an indication to China that now might be a.good time to snatch Taiwan), then they will have been judged as Neville Chamberlain. It all depends on whether any more free people (Estonia??) are subjugated to dictatorship. We’re gambling with other people’s freedom (for now). Thoughts?
What strange logic is this? Is Obama a puppet of the neocons? Or is Putin looking past Obama at the neocons ? Or what ?
I can't see how Obama can be unburdened of his responsibility as ... what is it ? ... Oh yeah! President of the United States ... by such aspersions.
I'm with you. The Crimea has a history that portended this. Yet, the people on this forum will not see it. You, and I suppose I will be too, are being attacked because this putrid administration has no clue what to do. Yet, the attackers on this thread don't either.
I certainly don't wan the U.S. to go to war over the Crimea. Not in any way. Yet, it seems we have a bunch of hawks on FR who want war - with anyone just to have a war. All in the hopes of making the worst president in the history of the U.S. look bad. He can't possibly be any worse but starting a fight in the Crimea will make him look bad and that's what we should advocate. Sure, right.
We have an obligation to defend the Ukraine because we signed a treaty with them. In exchange for them giving up their nukes, we and Britain promised them we would hold Russia at bay.
Do we now refuse to honor treaty obligations? (Though I believe we shouldn't have made that agreement in the first place).