Posted on 03/25/2014 6:57:38 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Russian President Vladimir Putin has a long-festering grudge: He deeply resents the West for winning the Cold War. He blames the United States in particular for the collapse of his beloved Soviet Union, an event he has called the "worst geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century."
His list of grievances is long and was on full display in his March 18 speech announcing the annexation of Crimea by Russia. He is bitter about what he sees as Russia's humiliations in the 1990s—economic collapse; the expansion of NATO to include members of the U.S.S.R.'s own "alliance," the Warsaw Pact; Russia's agreement to the treaty limiting conventional forces in Europe, or as he calls it, "the colonial treaty"; the West's perceived dismissal of Russian interests in Serbia and elsewhere; attempts to bring Ukraine and Georgia into NATO and the European Union; and Western governments, businessmen and scholars all telling Russia how to conduct its affairs at home and abroad.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
He should have no fear. Obama is on the job. The USA is collapsing as we speak per Obama’s plan (along with Europe and NATO) and Mother Russia will reap the whirlwind.
Tell Putin not to worry; Comrade Obama is doing more damage than several Russian nukes could ever do. He’s paying us back every day he’s in office...
Putin needs to worry most about Islamics.
Secretary Gates writes:
“Western investment in Russia should be curtailed; Russia should be expelled from the G-8 and other forums that offer respect and legitimacy; the U.S. defense budget should be restored to the level proposed in the Obama administration’s 2014 budget a year ago, and the Pentagon directed to cut overhead drastically, with saved dollars going to enhanced capabilities, such as additional Navy ships; U.S. military withdrawals from Europe should be halted; and the EU should be urged to grant associate agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.”
I agree...except I would put one brigade of airborne infantry in Kiev immediately....followed by a heavy (armor) brigade. This would send a serious message to Putin. Unfortunately, we have a weak liberal POTUS in Mr. Obama, and the Republican party has been infiltrated with traitorous isolationists like Rand Paul.
The last adult; the ONLY one in this administration.
I always liked Gates. He was a pragmatic man. Unlike Rumsfeld.
Mark your calendars for posterity with March 25, 2014.
That’s the date that an ineffectual leader of the superpower, the US, told the Russian hardliner that his country is a pissant “regional power” without the financial capacity to deal with the US or the rest of the world!
Really!
Russia, a “Regional power” with more nukes than the US; same number of ships, planes; more conscripted troops! And, with the US financial strength burdened with $17 trillion in debt, climbing by $1 trillion a year, whilst we gut our military.
A “regional power”, yet capable of running one of their nuke subs, up through the depths of the Ambrose Channel, able to make a direct missile hit onto lower Manhattan to take out the new Freedom Tower, or anything they wish
Never in history has such arrogant stupidity, had one pussy president slapped a power hungry dictator across the face with a Michael Jackson gay glove, and totally dis-respected a strong adversary!
Remember March 25, 2014, like you remember Sept 11!
Remember too that McCain called Russia a gas station. Meaning, it’s only a corner Stop n Go.
US army brigades in Kiev? Uh, no. We have no defense treaty with the Ukraine, and no vital interests there. It cannot be America’s job to be everywhere, all the time. That’s how empires crash.
On the other hand, sending US army brigades to the Baltic states (NATO members), well that does make some sense.
Forget about it. America under Obama will not protect Europe, NATO or not. I don’t even know if he would protect the mainland U.S.
Putin was against Reagan, Thatcher, Solidarity, and the Pope. How amazing is it that there are here people who support Putin, then.
But we do have repeated Security Assurances to them. If we are too weaselly to honor those, we should at least return their 5000 nukes, or equivalent value in military gear.
Putting troops in Ukraine would likely be met by more annexations and would be strongly opposed by almost everyone.
Regarding the Security Assurances, you certainly have a point there.
“Not only are we going to Ukraine, we’re going to Georgia and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and then we’re going to Moscow to take back the Kremlin! YEEEEEEAAAAAAAH!”
No matter how one plays it...no Nations adhering to any Laws......they're simply “using” them when it benefits their cause and agenda.
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