Posted on 10/09/2015 9:49:11 AM PDT by VinL
Over the last week, the world has once again looked on aghast as President Vladimir Putin has taken violent advantage of regional instability to re-establish Russia's influence, this time in the Middle East. Despite promises to join the United States in a counterterrorism effort against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Putin is on a mission to protect Russian assets in the Mediterranean by propping up his client, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Ted Cruz Ted Cruz
Meanwhile, the Obama administration has been caught flat-footed as Putin's actions threaten to inflame and destabilize an already acute crisis.
Enough already. We don't need a reset. We need a reality check.
Putin has been unmoved by the Obama administration's threats of isolation on the international stage, and economic sanctions have on their own been no deterrent to his opportunistic behavior. More of the same will not result in success.
We need a coherent plan to address both the specific crisis in Syria and the challenge posed more broadly by Putin's resurgent Russia. The good news is that America still has options -- if our leaders can summon the will to exercise them.
For starters, in Syria we can't double down on the failed strategies that have given Putin [snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Trump gets the deal with Putin and Trump will be the next president. Deal. With. It.
It’s stable for Assad and Iran’s mullahs. It’s not good for the USA’s interests, nor the interests of Israel and Saudi Arabia, both of whom would be in danger from attack by Iran and/or Russia, since they would have Syria as a launch point for such an attack. And it’s certainly not good for the vast majority of Syrians, who have chafed under the oppressive rule of the Assads for the last 45 years. They, and the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia are better off with any group, even ISIS, running Syria rather than the present regime, which is just an Iranian/Russian sock puppet at this point. Besides, Iran has yet to receive comeuppance for the hostage crisis. Karma can’t wait forever.
Good points, Thanks
I very much doubt that. However, she has been exposed as a phony Conservative, at least on some issues.
As for you, Putinator (speaking of phonies), did you get that naked poster of him that you ordered? You know, the one you were planning to put over your bed.
Just can't wait, can you, to see the Soviet Union, or something similar to it, restored?
____________________________________
From an earlier post of mine...
Included among Russia's allies are/were Saddam Hussein/Iraq, Iran, Syria, the ChiComs, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Boliva... get the idea? They seek to not only retake Eastern Europe, but now, with ChiCom help, the Middle East.
The Putinista creeps among us know all this already. They are either getting paid by someone to continually push Putin's various agendas, too stupid and/or ignorant to even know what they're talking about, or just simply out of their friggin minds.
Ted Cruz doing a flip/flop?
No, you phony sack of ____.
"If we want to actually dismantle ISIS, we need to dramatically change course. We need a real, robust campaign that maximizes our overwhelming air advantage. We need to focus our efforts not on trying to create friends, but on supporting our real ones, especially the Kurds in Iraq and Syria who have actually had success against ISIS."
-snip-
"We can redouble our efforts to develop the defensive weapons that neutralized the offensive Soviet threat -- particularly missile defense, which has seen a 25% budget reduction under Obama, according to an analysis from the conservative Heritage Foundation, and has been constrained by bad arms deals like New START.
We should not only move quickly to install the canceled interceptor sites Putin opposed in Poland and the Czech Republic, but also to develop the next generation of systems that will only increase his discomfiture.
These options do not entail a ground war in Syria, yet would effectively shake us free from the failed policies that have brought us to our current impasse. These options set us on a new path that puts Putin on notice that the United States is reclaiming our traditional role as leader of the free world."
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/opinions/cruz-syria-putin/index.html
“I think it would be a mistake to get involved in the Syrian civil war. There have been voices in Washington eager for us to send our sons and daughters over to fight that civil war for some time. I haven’t been one of them. I think the touchstone of U.S. military policy should be protecting the national security of this country.
“What we’re seeing Putin in Russia do is a direct response to the profound weakness of Obama over six and a half years. Putin views Obama as weak, as ineffective, and frankly, as a laughingstock.
And as a result he is moving in, he is invading his neighbors – like Ukraine – he’s kidnapping Estonians, and he’s moving into Syria to gain a stronger foothold in the Middle East."
The Putinista creeps among us know all this already. They are either getting paid by someone to continually push Putin’s various agendas, too stupid and/or ignorant to even know what they’re talking about, or just simply out of their friggin minds.
Who are you referring to when you write "among us?""
With all that has been going on in this country and all the issues dear to conservatives that FReepers have been posting on for years, you don't open a FR account until yesterday.
And then you presume to speak as the conscience of Conservatives and/or FReepers. You display the gall usually found only in liberals and trolls.
Sorry again for the undeservingly unfriendly welcome to a new FReeper.
It's very simple and I'm surpised that some FReepers don't get it. Putin is in it to advance his country's nationalist interests. Obama's is in it to betray his county's nationalist interests and advance those of Global Socialism and Global Islamism.
Until America has a President more like Putin in that respect, rational patriotic American's must use Putin to make the comparison - but otherwise withhold support from the agenda of BOTH.
Obama and Putin's "interests" are basically one in the same: weaker, less influential US, stronger Russia and China.
It's been his stated mission from the get-go...
________________________________________
From the campaign trail, 2008...
Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs
February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com
A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.
The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:
Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.
First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]
Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.
I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.
I will not weaponize space.
I will slow our development of future combat systems.
And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.
Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.
You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.
Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://web.archive.org/web/20090412030633/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp
"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
___________________________________________________
I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.
I will not weaponize space.
___________________________________________________
Also from 2008...
2008 Pentagon Report (March 2008):
China's Growing Military Space Power
By Leonard David
Special Correspondent, SPACE.com
March 6, 2008
GOLDEN, Colorado — A just-released Pentagon report spotlights a growing U.S. military concern that China is developing a multi- dimensional program to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its potential adversaries during times of crisis or conflict.
Furthermore, last year's successful test by China of a direct-ascent, anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon to destroy its own defunct weather satellite, the report adds, underscores that country's expansion from the land, air, and sea dimensions of the traditional battlefield into the space and cyber-space domains.
Although China's commercial space program has utility for non- military research, that capability demonstrates space launch and control know-how that have direct military application. Even the Chang'e 1 — the Chinese lunar probe now circling the Moon — is flagged in the report as showcasing China's ability "to conduct complicated space maneuvers — a capability which has broad implications for military counterspace operations."
To read the entire publication [29.67MB/pdf], see U.S. Dept of Defense:
No problem. I figured that the dotted line cutting off the quote from my post would be enough. Reckon I’ve got to brush up on my HTML!
Now that’s a man’s man. LOL
I don’t think Cruz is proposing to remove Assad; at least not any time soon. In fact, the rest of the article says Cruz is of the opinion to not be confrontational with Assad or start another war with Assad’s Syria.
To me, Cruz is implying there has been a big void in Syria from the American side in recent years and America needs to address that. I agree with what he is saying.
But, this statement from Cruz is what has been lacking, in practice, in the last 8 yrs at least. “The unique combination of power and principle that has made the United States the greatest force for good on the planet has historically posed a grave threat to repressive bullies.”
CRUZ - 2016!
Ill take Putin - he is far more CONSERVATIVE than Cruz!
Multiculturalism
Putin FLAT TAX of 13% in Russia v. US Marxist progressive income tax up to 38%.
Putin NO ESTATE TAX v. US Marxist Estate Tax up to 40%.
Putin CORPORATE TAX HALF THAT OF US (20% v. 40%).
Putin RUSSIA DEBT TO GDP RATIO 18% v. 101% for US.
Putin on ECONOMIC POLICY: “Look at their trade balance, their debt, and budget. They turn on the printing press and flood the entire dollar zone — in other words, the whole world — with government bonds. There is no way we will act this way anytime soon. We don’t have the luxury of such hooliganism.”
Putin on WELFARE SPENDING: European countries have been “living beyond their means” and are now “witnessing the rise of a dependency mentality … [that] endangers not only the economy but the moral foundation of society,” Putin said. “It is no secret that many citizens of less developed countries come to Europe specifically to live on social welfare.”
Putin on IMMIGRATION: “Putin said those who break Russian immigration laws would be banned from entering the country again for between three and 10 years depending on the seriousness of their offenses, the Moscow Times reported.
The Russian leader also vowed that authorities would take forcible action to limit the stays of immigrants who linger in Russia without demonstrating a clear intent to find work.”
Putin on ABORTION: restricted in Russia to first twelve weeks of pregnancy; abortion advertising banned; $9,000 “baby bonus” for second and each subsequent child.
Putin on HOMSEXUALITY: gay propaganda aimed at minors banned; “Many Euro-Atlantic countries have moved away from their roots, including Christian values… Policies are being pursued that place on the same level a multi-child family and a same-sex partnership, a faith in God and a belief in Satan. This is the path to degradation.”
Putin on RADICAL FEMINISM: jailed “Pussy Riot” for desecrating Moscow cathedral: “They got what they asked for.”
Putin backs CHRISTIANITY; rebuilds churches at government expense; requires religious/moral education in Russian schools.
Putin on MULTICULTURALISM:
“Multiculturalism “elevates the (idea of the) ‘right of minorities to be different’ to the absolute and, at the same time, insufficiently balances this right with civil, behavioral, and cultural obligations in regard to the indigenous population and society as a whole,” Putin argues.
I guess if we’re going to have a fascist, Putin would be the guy.
“Putin FLAT TAX of 13% in Russia”
And, it’s your employer who pays that flat (income) tax, not the worker. Though wages are lower in Russia too vis a vis most other Western countries.
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