Posted on 03/16/2014 9:10:32 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Having failed to prevent a Russian-sponsored referendum in Crimea, the Obama administration and its European allies refocused their efforts Sunday on keeping Moscow from annexing the autonomous Ukrainian region and expanding its military moves into other parts of Ukraine.
In a telephone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin — his third in two weeks — President Obama said that the referendum “would never be recognized by the United States and the international community” and that “we are prepared to impose additional costs on Russia for its actions,” the White House said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Putin is no saint. However he is a Russian nationalist and a serious man. When the chaos in the Ukraine offered an opportunity, he fulfilled a Russian nationalist dream and reincorporated the Crimea into Russia. The West had no more power to stop him than they had the power to stop China from seizing Tibet. Obama , Kerry and McCain made the situation worse with their rants and pouting. Their comments simply underscored the disastrous foreign policy of this administration and the prior debacles. Arab spring,Libya, Egypt, Afghanistan, the Iran deal, Iraq, Venezuela, China all reflect a critical misunderstanding of political realities and the long term detrimental consequences of American actions. Americans (at least those who care) have realized that there are critical flaws in American leadership and policy.
Putin rectified Khrushchev’s mistake.
Gay Life?
This is similar to the T-Rex testing the electric fence in “Jurassic Park” after it was turned off.
A most dangerous exercise, strong-arm negotiating from a position of weakness...
Exactly - Russia is not going to be deterred by weak men from achieving its interests.
Having secured Crimea, Moscow opened the door for secessionists to carve up the rest of Ukraine. And the helplessness of the Kiev regime makes their job all that much easier.
Putin doesn’t have to risk outright war to dismember Ukraine. The playbook he appears to be executing appears to leave the West with no clear way to stop him. He knows it and they know it in the Western chancelleries.
Putin holds all the cards.
Just like we did Yugoslavia when Russia was too weak to do anything about it.
They haven't forgotten.
Wait I hear that Barney Frank will lead our new DoD legion of transvestites. That’ll scare ol Putin.
The only thing that will stop Russia from taking the rest of Ukraine is for the Ukrainians to arm themselves; every man, woman, and child capable of learning, and willing to respond.
From what I've seen, their military is outnumbered about 10 to 1 by the Russians, and disorganized. The citizens are arming themselves, and have bought up all the 7.62x39 and shotgun shells available, along with the available rifles and shotguns. This sort of citizen militia may be no match for planes and tanks, but it does give pause to infantry.
Bawney Fwank is on his way over for borscht and kielbasa as we speak.
Obama is probably calling Putin right now and saying, “Dude, how did you fix the election in Crimea so totally awesome? I thought I was good, but you are the s___! BTW, I told you I would have more flexibility after the election. Who luvs ya baby?
Another “red line?”
Yup. So here’s a likely scenario if he indeed has intentions beyond Crimea.
He restarts nuke tests. Liberals have fits. He ramps up tests. Liberals start making deals and giving away whole countries in the Chamberlin style. He ignores them and plays musical chairs with his troops. Libs go to him begging for peace.
He gets all he wants and never fires a shot. And the above is not hard to imagine with America weakened from within and the EU run by likehearted cowards.
Pink, to go with Barry’s lipstick.
Much more concerned about American mistakes. Kerry went around claiming that severe sanctions would be imposed on the Russians. He only succeeded in making the United States appear foolish and powerless. If there were foreign policy professionals advising him, he would have been told that there could be no unified Western sanctions given Germany and the EU’s dependence on Russian oil and gas. The Germans fearing an EU economic downturn, despite Merkel’s schoolmarmish lecturing to Putin, would never agree to effective sanctions. Why make threats or propose policies that cannot or will not be implemented? Kerry should travel less and think more. Jet lagged grandiose rhetoric does not serve American interests.
Much more concerned about American mistakes. Kerry went around claiming that severe sanctions would be imposed on the Russians. He only succeeded in making the United States appear foolish and powerless. If there were foreign policy professionals advising him, he would have been told that there could be no unified Western sanctions given Germany and the EU’s dependence on Russian oil and gas. The Germans fearing an EU economic downturn, despite Merkel’s schoolmarmish lecturing to Putin, would never agree to effective sanctions. Why make threats or propose policies that cannot or will not be implemented? Kerry should travel less and think more. Jet lagged grandiose rhetoric does not serve American interests.
Are you suggesting that Kerry didn’t pass the “Global Test”?
“While Obama was studying Alinsky’s “rules For Radicals”, Putin was studying Machiavelli’s “The Prince”.
Money quote of the day! Maybe of the week!
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