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Obama dismisses Russia as ‘regional power’ acting out of weakness
The Washington Post ^ | 25 Mar 2014 | Scott Wilson

Posted on 03/25/2014 11:58:36 AM PDT by mandaladon

THE HAGUE — President Obama acknowledged Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea would be difficult to reverse, but he dismissed Russia as a “regional power” that did not pose a leading security threat to the United States.

Concluding a summit here on nuclear security, Obama also warned that broader Russian military intervention in neighboring countries would trigger further economic sanctions that would disrupt the global economy but hit Russia the hardest.

“Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors — not out of strength but out of weakness,” Obama said in response to a reporter’s question about whether his 2012 election opponent, Mitt Romney, was right to characterize Russia as America’s biggest geopolitical foe.

“They don’t pose the number one national security threat to the United States,” Obama said in a news conference. “I continue to be much more concerned when it comes to our security with the prospect of a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan.”

Defending his response to the Ukraine crisis, Obama dismissed criticism that a perception of weakness abroad had prompted Putin to seize Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region this month, an act the United States and Europe have called a violation of both Ukrainian and international law. But Obama made clear that no military response is being contemplated, unless Putin pushes into NATO member nations on Russia’s western border.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: americaindecline; lordhelpus; obama; obamaquotes; projection; putin; russia; themouththatroared; ukraine; viktoryanukovich; yuliatymoshenko
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To: All

Whether Russia is or is not a “regional” power is beside the point. Obama made himself look like a foolish, petulant child by responding to Romney’s criticism and, in the process, needlessly antagonized a nuclear power. What a statesman we have as President.


81 posted on 03/26/2014 7:06:00 AM PDT by PAR
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To: mandaladon

And the people who continue to support him.


82 posted on 03/26/2014 7:06:45 AM PDT by CommieCutter ("For an idea to be too simplistic, it must first be proven wrong" --Thomas Sowell)
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To: mandaladon

It’s quite a “regional power” that has 2,723 nuclear warheads capable of hitting the USA and its allies.

Indeed, given Obama’s biggest fear is a nuke in NYC, I would think the 2,723 nuclear weapons held by Russia, not to mention Russia’s aid to Iran, would be distinctly relevant.


83 posted on 03/26/2014 7:22:17 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: Gen.Blather

Good lord Ol’ Abe was right and to think that man had no formal schooling to speak of yet he could express his thoughts in a way no politican alive today can. We truly are a dumbed down country.


84 posted on 03/26/2014 7:38:45 AM PDT by dowcaet
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To: dowcaet

“Good lord Ol’ Abe was right and to think that man had no formal schooling to speak of yet he could express his thoughts in a way no politician alive today can. We truly are a dumbed down country.”

All it takes is a strong foundation in reading, writing and arithmetic. I have spoken to numerous twenty-something’s who sound articulate, but know nothing about history, don’t read and can barely do math. But they know all about gender subjects, the importance of free abortions, global warming and “sustainable” use.


85 posted on 03/26/2014 7:43:35 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: mandaladon
"Weakness." Right.

1. War is peace
2. Freedom is slavery
3. Ignorance is strength

Russian military might is more than just for show. They are increasing their military spending by double digits, while we slash ours.

And Rand Paul the Liberatarian is not going to save us.

86 posted on 03/26/2014 8:09:44 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: bert
Putin is not financially able to project real military power beyond his immediate borders.

Are comms and intel and other critical satellites within borders? "National Emergency" might require those to be shut down, rendering millions of Americans without the next episode of "The Voice", causing mass riots.

87 posted on 03/26/2014 8:25:45 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
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To: mandaladon

“Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors — not out of strength but out of weakness,”


This is the same language libs use to describe bullies, isn’t it? That bullies strike out because they use violence to hide their own perceived weakness?

The thing about bullies is they will keep being violent until they are stood up to and punched in the nose.

So...who’s going to punch Putin in the nose? Obama? The EU? NATO? The UN?

Riiiiight...


88 posted on 03/26/2014 8:41:05 AM PDT by Personal Responsibility (I'd use the /S tag but is it really necessary?)
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To: rbmillerjr

“...Now they are acting out like a petulant child....”

Actually... they’re acting like Russians act when they know they can get away with something with little or no push back...


89 posted on 03/26/2014 8:48:06 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: mandaladon

I don’t know a single argument that could be made against that conclusion.


90 posted on 03/26/2014 8:56:41 AM PDT by RipSawyer
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To: mandaladon

Lets try substituting a few words to show just how stupid Obama is:

Neville Chamberlain dismisses Germany as ‘regional power’ acting out of weakness.

Unbelievable.


91 posted on 03/26/2014 8:59:21 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied .. the economy died.)
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To: mandaladon

What a damned fool! He’s going to talk us into WWIII!


92 posted on 03/26/2014 9:01:49 AM PDT by pgkdan
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To: mandaladon

Russia is threatening to cut itself off from the US economically?

Ha - Obama cut us off from the US economy years ago and nothing’s ever been better. :)


93 posted on 03/26/2014 9:25:47 AM PDT by Tzimisce
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To: mandaladon

“I honestly feel that Obama is a bigger threat to the US than any other country or terrorist group.”

he is a foolish man.


94 posted on 03/26/2014 9:47:02 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: mandaladon; GeronL; Revolting cat!

Ironically, Obama’s goal is to turn America into a weak regional power.


95 posted on 03/26/2014 9:56:39 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The Texas judge's decision was to pave the way for same sex divorce for two Massachusetts women.)
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To: bytesmith

This kind of Fo Po (Foreign Policy) Smash Mouth talk is just going to piss Putin off.


96 posted on 03/26/2014 10:14:10 AM PDT by Rockitz (This is NOT rocket science - Follow the money and you'll find the truth.)
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To: mandaladon

Like most introverts, Obama seeks to avoid conflict.


97 posted on 03/26/2014 11:12:19 AM PDT by mandaladon (If you're going through hell, keep going. ~Winston Churchill)
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To: mandaladon
Obama dismisses Russia as ‘regional power’ acting out of weakness

Thx Obama, you just dared Putin to prove his dominance. Wonder who he'll takeover next?

98 posted on 03/26/2014 12:16:46 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: rbmillerjr

They can certainly influence global affairs. They are a permanent member of the security counsel; That alone gives them more than regional influence. They are starting to play nice with Syria, ,Iran and have had a pretty good relationship with Venezuela for some time now. Strong relationship with China as well. I think the infrastructure of allies that they are starting to build up points to more than just a regional power. They are certainly not a super power (I’m not sure the U.S is really a super power anymore either), but they do have more influence on how the world works then you give them credit for I think.

If this continue to progress the way they are we may soon find that they have more sway over events in the middle east than the U.S does (after all, U.S warnings to Iran and Syria did little to change events there. The world is changing


99 posted on 03/26/2014 12:19:23 PM PDT by wiseprince
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To: Gen.Blather; mandaladon

The MSM is the Country’s greatest threat.


100 posted on 03/26/2014 12:30:26 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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