Posted on 05/13/2015 12:39:43 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
In reacting to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine in early 2014, the US government did not call the Sixth Fleet into action; it did not ban all exports to Russia; it did not stop all cultural and educational exchanges. Rather, key elites close to “a senior Russian government official”—President Vladimir Putin—were targeted with asset seizures and visa bans.
Probably the most serious international crisis since the end of the Cold War, and the White House targets individuals? It seemed an odd response to some observers. But it made sense. At last, after 14 years of dealing with Putin as a legitimate head of state, the US government has finally acknowledged that he has built a system based on massive predation on a level not seen in Russia since the czars. Transparency International estimates the annual cost of bribery in Russia at $300 billion, roughly equal to the entire gross domestic product of Denmark, or many times higher than the Russian budgetary allocations for health and education. Capital flight totaled $335 billion from 2005 to 2013, or about 5 percent of GDP.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldaffairsjournal.org ...
“Within weeks of Putin’s coming to power in 2000, the Kremlin began to erode the basic individual freedoms guaranteed under the 1993 Russian Constitution. Beginning immediately to deny citizens the rights of free press, assembly, and speech, Putin was assisted by very favorable global economic conditions that muted dissent over what was happening. Indeed, as the price of oil shot up to more than $140 a barrel, the Kremlin was initially able to provide an increased standard of living for ordinary Russians and the emerging middle class while also creating greater social stability.”
“the US government did not call the Sixth Fleet into action”
What do you think the 6th fleet should have done? Sail around and look scary? Or do you think they should have literally attacked something in support of Crimea?
Or I guess not what do you think 6th fleet should have done since those aren’t your words. But I have never heard anyone advocate that he 6th fleet should have been sent into some sort of action. All I ever hear is show a presence.
Which can work if the indented target of the show thinks you might attack them, but I doubt Putin for a minute believed the US forces would fight over Sevastopol and Yalta.
In that case a show of force becomes a show of farce if nobody thinks youll actually do something.
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