Posted on 03/19/2014 9:14:50 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Five Years After Russia 'Reset,' Ukraine Crisis Shows Limits of U.S. Approach
LONDON—U.S. officials negotiating with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the future of Ukraine were surprised last week after the experienced diplomat excused himself to phone President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
His making such a call wasn't unusual: Mr. Lavrov often sought instructions from the Kremlin leader. The Americans were stunned, however, when Mr. Lavrov reported that Mr. Putin had refused to take his call.
Coming during the final U.S. attempts to preserve the modern borders of Europe, the episode with Mr. Lavrov here last week underscored the Obama administration's inability to penetrate the Kremlin and its struggles to comprehend Mr. Putin's calculations five years after President Barack Obama decided to reset Washington's ties with Moscow. (Follow the latest developments on the crisis in Ukraine.)
Russia's rapid move this week to absorb Crimea came despite breakneck U.S. diplomatic efforts, showing the limits of that approach with Moscow and marking a renewed chill with an expansionist-minded partner still seen as vital to core American interests around the world.
The Obama administration is now left crafting a more confrontational policy toward Mr. Putin, but it remains unclear how far it will go. The inner workings of the Obama administration's diplomatic push, including Mr. Lavrov's phone call, were described by several senior U.S., European and Russian officials who were familiar with the recent negotiations.
~~big snip~~
In recent days, senior U.S. officials have begun outlining a confrontational strategy that marks a policy U-turn. Some U.S. officials have described an attempt to freeze Russian banks and companies out of the Western financial system.
Russian officials mocked the impact of the U.S. sanctions, and Mr. Lavrov threatened on Tuesday to retaliate.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
John F'n Kerry did serve in Vietnam./
I applaud the sarcasm! and respond with, the only thing Kerry served in Vietnam was himself enough illegitimate Purple Hearts to get his sorry burro home so he could slander actual American soldiers.
Wait a minute, you’re telling me John Kerry was in Vietnam?
Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things?
He’s not a professional diplomat but a politician who parachuted into the State Department. He’s no match for someone like Sergei Lavrov who has served almost all his life in various roles in the Soviet and later Russian diplomatic service. John Kerry appears to be constantly surprised by the realities of world affairs and his notoriously thin skin makes it difficult for him to work together with people who do not have a high estimation of him.
or elect Obama and his know nothing run the free world
Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things?
Hey don't forget Christmas in Cambodia and other fantasy tales by J. F'n. Kerry located in the fantasy section of his mind. You wont have any trouble finding the fantasy section it covers all the real estate between his ears.
Foot Notes to Obama:
1) Call Poland and the Czeck Republic and say Missile Defense is back on;
2) Send the 101st Airborne on “vacation” to Estonia;
3) Start an Arms Air Lift to the Ukraine;
4) Put the 82nd Airborne on “vacation” standby just incase Putin mentions another NATO country in his sleep;
5) Finally, invite the Russian Ambassador to a Vodka drink off at the WH.
That my dear is how you play hardball.
He really believes if you’re polite to the bad guys, they’ll embrace you. All his life he’s carried with him the attitude America is not a force for good but the greatest source of evil on the planet. He has no idea how to project American strength in his dealings with foreign countries.
For the first time in my life I am surprised to see myself admiring a Russian leader far more than my own supposed leader . I almost find myself glad when he outwits and out manuvers Obama , again and again . Am I wrong ?
Am I sick ? Is this dangerous ground ? What a sad state of affairs....
Sadly, that is not Obama. He is no JFK at Berlin.
Obama outsourcing the US interests in the Middle East to Russia reminds me of the brilliance of Borders outsourcing their online book sales to Amazon.com...
No, I do not think so.
Firstly, I’d say that it is basically a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, although of course, Putin is not our friend.
I would be very curious to see a poll, however, asking Americans whom do you have more respect for, Obama or Putin?
I find myself amused in some sad sick way. Obama is a joke, A bad joke. America will recover (with a good leader) but it’ll take some doing.
I am praying for Ted Cruz - I am so tired of having a complete idiot as a representative to the world.
Obama is an faux educated slow learner and sadly, the Free World will rue the day that he was Leader of the Free World.
0bama: Making it up as he goes.
Such gullibility.
Of course Putin would take his call, but Lavrov reported that Putin wouldn’t take his call, as a bargaining tactic.
It’s called “good cop, bad cop”.
Your comment presupposes that ‘the freer world’, namely America, actually chose the little bastard boy and the election was legitimate. Tisk tisk tisk
Where in the above sentence is there a mention of “election”, “legitimate” or “chose”? : )
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