Obama's caution on Ukraine may loom over midterm election [also, live breaking news from Ukraine]

reuters ^ | March 3, 2014 | By Steve Holland

[Jim Robinson]

(Reuters) - With Russia's incursion into Ukraine reviving Cold War-style tensions, President Barack Obama is at risk of suffering a blow to his credibility at a time when he can least afford it: as he tries to convince voters to stick with his fellow Democrats in congressional elections that will help shape his legacy.

For five years, Obama has practiced a cautious approach to foreign policy crises, prizing sober diplomacy and the search for consensus over brinkmanship, in prolonged conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the deliberative style that Obama's team sees as a statesmanlike attitude in tune with Americans' war-weariness, was described as dithering in the crisis over Syria, where the United States long discussed military action without committing.

Facing his toughest test yet in Ukraine, Obama is once again finding himself portrayed as a weak leader, outmaneuvered by a wily, opportunistic Russian President Vladimir Putin intent on reviving the United States' nemesis.

[JPX2011]

Agreed. He’s been phoning it in his whole life. No different here.

[livius]

I read a commentator a couple of days ago who said that neither Putin nor anybody else is worried about our reaction, since it is obvious that Obama is spending all his time and energy pursuing his domestic enemies (that would be anybody who opposes his policies). Like his voters, he just doesn’t have time for the world affairs stuff.

[Diogenesis]

The American treasonous MSM will lie and present
next month’s possible “weather” as “news” to protect
their special undocumented Indonesian fraud.

[caww]

Obama SENDS BUSH!!!! LOLOLOLOL...Oh the Irony!

Monday, March 3, 2014 In response to a Russian invasion, the United States has sent .... The super-carrier "USS George H.W. Bush".... plus seventeen other ships and three submarines passed through the Aegean sea this afternoon.

The George H.W. Bush is carrying 90 aircraft including helicopters of various types, and several squadron's of F-22 Raptors, the most advanced combat aircraft in the world.

The submarines each have twenty four missile silos, with each silo housing a missile armed with eight separate nuclear warheads which operate as MIRV's (Multiple Independent Re-Entry Vehicles) that can be independently targeted.

The George H.W. Bush is the first and only aircraft carrier in the world that has successfully sea-launched and landed an unmanned X-47b Stealth Drone which can be used for long term surveillance or for offensive attacks.

The number of ships accompanying the George H.W. Bush in this strike group is significant: 17 ships and 3 submarines.

http://turnerradionetwork.com/news/340-pat

[JerseyHighlander]

https://twitter.com/moneyries/lists/ukraine-on-ground

This feed has at least three Western journalists on the ground at Belbek base.

Within the last 2 minutes:
Ukr Colonel has been given ultimate control by Ukr authorities, and is negotiating with a Russian colonel behind a Russian truck out of view of the media.

Russian troops have taken control of the arms warehouse on base.

[caww]

Update on standoff....

Ukrainian commander returns from negotiations with Russians stating waiting for Black Sea fleet Rep and orders from above

[Hardastarboard]

For five years, Obama has practiced a cautious approach to foreign policy crises, prizing sober diplomacy and the search for consensus over brinkmanship, in prolonged conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I was going to sum up the above sentence in one word - "Bumbling".

[caww]

He’s back already....waiting now for orders.

[caww]

Fascists in Ukraine...march 4th, 2014..."

[snippy_about_it]

Well said and spot on.

[caww]

Inside the Fedosiya base troops armed with bats. They are under order to not use firearms

[caww]

UPDATE: Ukrainian commander now negotiating with masked Russian man at besieged air base

[caww]

Obama to Egypt:...... your peoples revolution is illegitimate.

Obama to Crimea:.... you must accept a government that was installed by a coup.

[livius]

Who are those people?

[P.O.E.]

Thanks for the reportage. Well done!

[caww]

Latest Update on Standoff:

Ukraine Colonel Mamchur says that in an hour an officer of the Black Sea fleet will arrive ‘discuss joint Ukraine Russia patrols of Belbek base....which is what Ukraine Commander wants...Joint Patrols.

Russian Admiral will only arrive at 1600 at Belbek

Standoff still continuing.

[Yossarian]

So he defected to the Russians? Seems like a lot of that going on lately.

Jim, Kerry defected to the wrong side DECADES AGO.

He'd be doing us all a great favor if he just went ahead and made it official. Comrade Zero, too.

Hell, the whole Dem party. Go. GO!

(Oh, wait a second, you're talking about the Ukraine Commander. My bad. Maybe.)

[Pan_Yan]

... plus seventeen other ships and three submarines passed through the Aegean sea this afternoon.

...

The submarines each have twenty four missile silos, with each silo housing a missile armed with eight separate nuclear warheads which operate as MIRV's (Multiple Independent Re-Entry Vehicles) that can be independently targeted.

I seriously doubt they are sending Ohio class SSBNs to tag along with a carrier battle group. The carrier will be escorted by fast attack subs. The SSBNs don't need to be with the battle group; they can launch their ICBMs from pretty much anywhere in the world.

[Rutabega]

bookmark

[caww]

Ukraine Soldiers ordered to return to their station until Commander meets with Admiral