Posted on 05/27/2013 7:23:56 AM PDT by cunning_fish
The U.S. is fortunate that Russia is not intent on undermining our interests, which makes it a little odd that so many American hawks insist that this is so and sometimes seem eager to make it so. Consider Syria. Syria hawks see Russian opposition to Western and Arab intervention in the country as proof of Russian antagonism to America, but Russia is at most half-heartedly defending the status quo and continuing its formal policy of objecting to outside interference in other states’ internal affairs. It has committed itself to nothing except occasionally vetoing a resolution at the U.N., and if the U.S. were foolish enough to start bombing Syria it would loudly protest and almost certainly do nothing directly to interfere. Syria hawks pretend to see a determined adversary in Russia, but the reality is that Moscow doesn’t want to do very much for Assad for fear that it might rupture its relationships with Europe and the U.S. The question to ask is: why is there such a desire or need for Russia to be presented as our constant foe? Since it would be harmful to our national interest if Russia were actively hostile, why do so many hawks want to encourage and provoke that hostility?
One reason that hawks tend to encourage and provoke Russian hostility is that they have an overly broad definition of U.S. interests. If one believes, as McCain does, that “our values are our interests and our interests are our values,” there is virtually no limit to what “our interests” can include, and these will extend to the internal politics of Russia and most other states. Most hawks assume that the U.S. has vital interests at stake in virtually every part of the world, so no other major power can exercise influence in its own
(Excerpt) Read more at theamericanconservative.com ...
Is Putin paying this author or does he have some dirt on the author?
What a goofy article. I guess I could begin with the first sentence, which I don’t agree with. Then there’s the second one. Oh yeah, the third. “Take Syria for example”...how about 75 other examples from history...or is one enough? OK, now I am done and I’m going to go back to being shallow and superficial. Thank you.
Obama is not a hawk
He's a trouble-maker, an agitator, but he's not a hawk.
But why are the Russians still backing Assad?
The reports on possible missile shipments are part of a wider move by Russia to show its support for Assad. This includes a large naval exercise in which 11 Russian warships have converged in recent days in the eastern Mediterranean, not far from Syria's shore. It is the Russian Navy's largest maneuver in the Mediterranean since the fall of the Soviet Union more than two decades ago.
The Russians have a clear interest in Assad's survival. He is the last secular head of state in the Arab world who isn't considered an ally of the U.S. administration or a supporter of radical Islamist movements that are also threatening Russia's eastern provinces. Assad is the last recognizable agent of Russian influence in the Middle East, and despite his closeness to the Iranian-Shia axis over the past decade, his current dire situation puts him at Moscow's mercy.
The Russian Navy has a long-term lease for use of Syria's Tartus port and is the only Russian military presence currently in the Mediterranean basin. Even if the regime in Damascus falls, an Alawite rump state would probably remain for a while along the coast, with Tartus at its heart. Both Assad and the Russians have a joint strategic interest in defending that bit of coast.
Destabilization of Russia by way of revving up the moslem insurgency is the Clinton Doctrine. This is seen as first degree provocation by Russia. What the american people don't know can hurt them, a lot, in the long run. US military now serves to help install islamist regimes worldwide. We arm rebels in Syria, Libya, Egypt and probably Russia.
The naive leftist in Washington D.C. laugh at the thought of a 'dangerously powerful' Russia. Get ready for fireworks, someday!
Go see the new Star Trek movie if you want to know the answer.
Isn’t it INTERESTING that the liberals LOVED Russia when they were Communist, but they now HATE Russia, since they jettisoned Communism.
...no surprise to me though.
Maybe there’s some secret reason why Obama is trying to overthrow every government in the Middle East. But, we’re Americans. This is our government. We are part of the government. We elect it. We deserve to know why the Democrats are trying to overthrow every government in the Middle East. There’s a reason why they aren’t trying to explain their actions. Thieves don’t like to give away their plans.
No kidding. Russia is run by a KGB plant, Putin. Putin is arming Iran, so yes, they are working against the interests of the United States and the West in general. Does this mean we want war with Russia? No. But let’s marginalize Russia whenever and wherever we can. Building strong alliances among its neighbours, such as Georgia, is one way to do that.
>>>But let’s marginalize Russia whenever and wherever we can. Building strong alliances among its neighbours, such as Georgia, is one way to do that.<<<
I hate to say this but if Russia were involved in Mexico to hurt the US, if they were involved in Afghanistan and Iraq (on the insurgents’ side)as much as US was in Georgia, if they were as active within black movement as they were back to 1960s, if they were active within muslim communities in US it could be a real nightmare.
In fact right now Russia has all the opportunities to hurt the US (even Afghanistan campaign is supplied through Russia) and US has really few options to hit back.
“but they now HATE Russia”
You mean pressing the reset button is so hateful ?
We shouldn't antagonize Russia just for the sake of it, but we should be aware of the challenges Russia represents to U.S. interests.
It might have to do with the fact that Russia now has illegally invaded both Georgia and Urkraine. They have illegally annexed Crimea and they have threatened the Baltics, forcing us to move a brigade of troops to the area as a tripwire.
Russia is going to be in for a big surprise if a Republican is elected. Putin has overplayed his hand.
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