Cruz Calls For Missiles In Eastern Europe

NewsMax ^ | Monday, 17 Mar 2014 06:24 PM | Jason Devaney

[SoConPubbie]

Sen. Ted Cruz is calling for the Obama administration to place missile installations in Eastern Europe in the wake of Russia’s moves in Ukraine.

The Washington Post reports the Texas Republican made the comments during an interview Monday.

"Beyond sanctions and aid to Ukraine, the most important thing we could be doing right now, with respect to Russia, is installing anti-ballistic missiles in Eastern Europe," Cruz said.

"Appeasement has not worked. After more than five years of being unwilling to stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Russian aggression, it is time for the United States to honor our commitments to our friends."

The proposal is not a new one. President Bush recommended the U.S. have missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic during his time in office, but in 2009 President Obama scratched the plan and instead focused on defending against threats from Iran.

And last year, the administration scrapped a proposal that would have deployed a missile shield in Eastern Europe.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney called for the U.S. to install weapons systems in Europe last week.

"Look, I’m encouraged the sanctions are moving forward, and I hope they can be implemented quickly, before Russian officials can move their assets," Cruz said in the Post story. "Any sign of admonition is encouraging. But it is not enough."

Crimea Sunday voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, a move that bolsters Russia’s military presence in the region — especially given the location of the Black Sea peninsula. The U.S. hit Russia with sanctions and promised more in the near future.

[SoConPubbie]

	"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

[dfwgator]

It’s not “Eastern Europe”, it’s “Central Europe.”

[Timber Rattler]

Naturally, I love Cruz, but I disagree with him strongly here. What exactly is America’s strategic interest in Ukraine? Are we willing to risk war with the Rooskis, especially with our severely weakened military and woefully inept political leadership?

[The_Republic_Of_Maine]

Thank you. given enough time and enough rope, every member of Congress will eventually prove they are not in office for us the people, but for money, power, and other less seemly things. First Rubio, then Mike Lee, then Rand Paul and now Ted Cruz.

[cuban leaf]

Think Cuban Missile Crisis.

Also, what were our interests in Europe after September 1st, 1939?

[DoodleDawg]

So...we spend billions of dollars on a missile shield for Europe which will do nothing to defend us from Russian nukes, and which Europe doesn’t want, and which they won’t contribute a dime to pay for anyway. Good plan.

[cuban leaf]

...or after March 12th, 1938, when Austria was annexed.

[cuban leaf]

So...we spend billions of dollars on a missile shield for Europe which will do nothing to defend us from Russian nukes, and which Europe doesn’t want, and which they won’t contribute a dime to pay for anyway. Good plan.

---

...assuming his goal for this rhetoric is to actually put missiles in place. Ever barganed for something you don’t even want, but your negotiating opponent wants even less, to get something you DO want?

[dfwgator]

This whole thing is fascinating, because in a way, now we better understand how people felt during that time, without the benefit of hindsight....Almost every argument we are having now about Putin and Russia was going on back then about Hitler and Germany.

[SoConPubbie]

Thank you. given enough time and enough rope, every member of Congress will eventually prove they are not in office for us the people, but for money, power, and other less seemly things. First Rubio, then Mike Lee, then Rand Paul and now Ted Cruz.

And just how is Ted Cruz not in office for we the people?

How in this world could you draw a straight line from his desire to put Russia in check to your nonsensical statement?

[SoConPubbie]

Naturally, I love Cruz, but I disagree with him strongly here. What exactly is America’s strategic interest in Ukraine? Are we willing to risk war with the Rooskis, especially with our severely weakened military and woefully inept political leadership?

I'm pretty sure that Senator Cruz is thinking strategically.

His concern, I'm sure, is regional, just not the Country of Ukraine.

There are a lot of former communist satellite countries in Europe that I am sure Vladimir Putin would just love to gobble up.

This would be like a shot across the bow without ever having to fire a shot.

[listenhillary]

Someone will have to tell 80 million Americans receiving entitlements they will need to tighten their belts and plant victory gardens. Ration coupons, meat free Fridays, tire coupons, gas coupons.

Then see if China has any money they can loan us so we can buy missile systems to put in Europe.

[mac_truck]

At least the neocons have dropped the pretense that putting missiles in Poland was supposed to protect Europe from Iran. That’s progress.

[DoodleDawg]

...assuming his goal for this rhetoric is to actually put missiles in place. Ever barganed for something you don’t even want, but your negotiating opponent wants even less, to get something you DO want?

So what does Cruz expect? Putin will withdraw from the Ukraine because we threaten to put missile in Europe? And what makes him think the Europeans will play along with escalating the situation? It seems like an empty, expensive threat to me.

[SoConPubbie]

So...we spend billions of dollars on a missile shield for Europe which will do nothing to defend us from Russian nukes, and which Europe doesn’t want, and which they won’t contribute a dime to pay for anyway. Good plan.

There are two countries that are directly impacted by this a missile defense shield, Poland and Romania, who seem to disagree with your "factoid".

[cuban leaf]

This whole thing is fascinating, because in a way, now we better understand how people felt during that time, without the benefit of hindsight....Almost every argument we are having now about Putin and Russia was going on back then about Hitler and Germany.

---

You are in my head. I compared Putin’s actions to Hitler’s even before Hillary did. :-P

[Zman]

Of course! Cruz missiles.....

[AnAmericanAbroad]

Perhaps what Sen. Cruz is thinking is a containment strategy; a cordon sanitaire around Russia. The idea is to prevent Russian expansionism into the former Warsaw Pact nations that are now members of NATO, including the Baltic states, all of which have sizable Russian-minority populations. And it's no secret that Putin uses that as his excuse; he stirs up trouble in a land he covets by using ethnic Russians as agents provocatuers .

[SoConPubbie]

So what does Cruz expect? Putin will withdraw from the Ukraine because we threaten to put missile in Europe? And what makes him think the Europeans will play along with escalating the situation? It seems like an empty, expensive threat to me.

I'm pretty sure Putin (and Russia by extension) will look at the placement of missiles in country on their border as most sane people would.

If you attempt to take these countries or violate their borders, there will be a price.

Much as Reagan did with the USSR. He built up our defensive and offensive capabilities, and yes it was expensive, but it force Russia to do the same and it bankrupted them and their Evil Empire fell.

It sends a message.

But you know that, it's just your Libertarian, head-in-the-sand politics that keep you from saying it.