Ukraine crisis tests Obama’s foreign policy focus on diplomacy over military force

Washington Post ^ | 1 March 14 | Scott Wilson

[SkyPilot]

For much of his time in office, President Obama has been accused by a mix of conservative hawks and liberal interventionists of overseeing a dangerous retreat from the world at a time when American influence is needed most.

The once-hopeful Arab Spring has staggered into civil war and military coup. China is stepping up territorial claims in the waters off East Asia. Longtime allies in Europe and in the Persian Gulf are worried by the inconsistency of a president who came to office promising the end of the United States’ post-Sept. 11 wars.

Now Ukraine has emerged as a test of Obama’s argument that, far from weakening American power, he has enhanced it through smarter diplomacy, stronger alliances and a realism untainted by the ideology that guided his predecessor.

It will be a hard argument for him to make, analysts say.

A president who has made clear to the American public that the “tide of war is receding” has also made clear to foreign leaders, including opportunists in Russia, that he has no appetite for a new one. What is left is a vacuum once filled, at least in part, by the possibility of American force.

“If you are effectively taking the stick option off the table, then what are you left with?” said Andrew C. Kuchins, who heads the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I don’t think that Obama and his people really understand how others in the world are viewing his policies.”

[Texas resident]

You crack me up.

Infirmative action.

Da boy is WAY out of his league and it shows.

[Grampa Dave]

"Obama has made it clear to the world that when confronted with a crisis, he will do nothing. This reduces his options to zero and puts the United States and the world into a situation where rogue nations, non-state organizations, and gangs of thugs can do as they please with no fear of any meaningful response from the U.S. It makes the world a much more dangerous place."

Thanks to Daniel Greenfield for the remarks below to explain where we are with Obozo as POTUS.

The Post-American order stands for nothing except its own dismantling. That is why Obama sets red lines that he won’t enforce and issues threats that he doesn’t mean.

The only thing less appealing than selfishness is the complete absence of self. The only thing less appealing than empire is an anti-imperialism that so thoroughly negates its own power that it has no influence and no reason to exist.

Post-American America exists to destroy itself. Until that changes, it has nothing to offer the world except membership in a suicide pact.

[VerySadAmerican]

Everyone “blamed” obama for the sequestration cuts. Now we know it’s exactly what he wanted all along.

Pre-WWII levels. When the Japs hit Pearl Harbor we were not ready. And soon we will be at that exact same level. Actually, I don’t think we’re ready for anything big right now. Our military is dog tired.

[DarkWaters]

The problem with this whole thing is that the actors here are absolutely the worst actors I have ever seen. They have no heart in it, they are deliberately giving Putin what he wants, at least in part seemed to help incite the situation in Ukraine, Obama leaving or not showing up for a briefing, talking real big and then no action to look weak and impotent, and of course I could point out Obama’s rather close love affair with Russia (kind of like the one Old Bill Clinton had with China). The few of us left who actually give a damn about God, duty, honor, country, etc are being rolled by these Marxist nut jobs. We are being played. All they need to do here is continue to look week, and you can bet that is the plan, let the economy tank on its own at some point once we have been isolated enough from the rest of the world or if its going to happen to slowly then push it off the edge. Then the real fun hear at home begins, i.e. people (patriotic Americans and potential leaders) disappearing, ending up dead for some reason, creation of political action or propaganda zones, gun confiscation (at least they will try), use of the internet kill switch, concentration camps quickly becoming death camps when they get a taste of blood, you know the works. Ever since Obama has been elected, the speed at which this country has been marinaded for the meal of leftist, has exponentially increased. This is not the days of Carter, it is something far more sinister and diabolical.

[max americana]

and where are these “anti war” and “anti occupation” libtards now?

[Flotsam_Jetsome]

"Since Putin has all of Obama’s personal information, our whole nation is being blackmailed.

THIS.

[SkyPilot]

This is not the days of Carter, it is something far more sinister and diabolical.

I feel exactly the same way. I have spoken to people who have this heartfelt hope that we are repeating 1979, and that another Ronald Reagan is just around the corner, ready to save us.

Sadly, I don't think that will happen. Things are going to go from bad to worse.

[SkyPilot]

Since Putin has all of Obama’s personal information, our whole nation is being blackmailed. Thanks, Main Stream Media, for soooooo thoroughly vetting Obama.

I agree. Putin probably has the taped phone conversations of Obama having phone sex with Reggie Love. The Israeli Mossad had the tapes of Yassir Arafat having sex with teen age boys.

Moreover, Putin bagged Eric Snowden.

I can only imagine how Putin has been able to parlay the intelligence he has now gathered into raw, sheer power.

[lovesdogs]

If Putin can so easily read our idiot in chief and for all intents and purposes....give him a swirley on the world stage, why can the GOP not win one fight? So many resources and so much foot shuffling.

[dfwgator]

Amazing isn’t it?

Obama is an amateur on the world stage, but the Pubbies are still his little bitch.

[advertising guy]

the greatest story yet written is how New York and Hillary got their ass handed to em and more so, how all that Wall Street , K Street , D.C., power went to Chicago .

The answer is pure mathmetics.....there are a billion Muslims who want us dead. They got the call.

And a queer was chosen to lead all of this.

[DarkWaters]

Your right, another Reagan is not going to happen. Reagan was the last of the good breed in this country and even during the days of his younger years, pickings of his quality in that of men where rather slim then. Just look at how the greatest generation after coming back from the war raised such a spoiled rotten generation. We had long lost the culture even before WWII even started. We are now witnessing the shell of the hollowed out civilization beginning to crumble. And when it starts, it seems rather sudden and dramatic to most who are witnessing it for they don’t realize that they are living on the momentum generated by a much more moral and superior culture of God and humility that they themselves have rejected or maybe not even been taught since we are multiple generation into this decay.

[SkyPilot]

If Putin can so easily read our idiot in chief and for all intents and purposes....give him a swirley on the world stage, why can the GOP not win one fight? So many resources and so much foot shuffling.

Republican politicians have been grossly ineffective, that's true. Unless they really wanted to take the gloves off, Obama is going to beat them every time. The Republicans are still playing by the Marquess of Queensberry Rules while Obama, Holder, Reed, and Jarrett play by Stalin's and Pol Pot's Rules. The Republicans are battling Marxism and Communism, but they dare not say it because they might get accused of being racists.

They had Obama at his weakest after the 2010 elections, and they elicited budget cuts, but most of those were on the side of Defense, and ZERO came out of entitlements and give away programs. Fail. Pure fail.

When Reid went nuclear in the Senate and changed 200 years of decorum and procedure, the Republicans should have stormed into Reid's office and demand to be arrested if forced to leave.

The government shutdown was never an area to win. Without the Senate and the White House, there is little the GOP can do.

If I were Boehner, I would just impeach Obama and get it over with (the charges are numerous, and everyone knows it). The Senate would not even hold the trail this time, but so be it. At least the GOP would force the evil forces out into the open.

[mandaladon]

Rarely has a threat from a U.S. president been dismissed as quickly — and comprehensively — as Obama’s warning Friday night to Russian President Vladi­mir Putin. ..............Putin knows Barry is a wimp.

[Grampa Dave]

Ukraine crisis tests Obama’s foreign policy focus on diplomacy over military force.

Obama and his pro gay anti American minions flunk this test like every test he has had in life that he had to really take.

[Seizethecarp]

The WaPo chief White House correspondent, Scott Wilson, has affirmed that Sarah Palin’s 2008 warning has come true “according to analysts”:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ukraine-crisis-tests-obamas-foreign-policy-focus-on-diplomacy-over-military-force/2014/03/01/c83ec62c-a157-11e3-9ba6-800d1192d08b_story.html

“Now Ukraine has emerged as a test of Obama’s argument that, far from weakening American power, he has enhanced it through smarter diplomacy, stronger alliances and a realism untainted by the ideology that guided his predecessor.

“It will be a hard argument for him to make, analysts say.

“A president who has made clear to the American public that the ‘tide of war is receding’ has also made clear to foreign leaders, including opportunists in Russia, that he has no appetite for a new one. What is left is a vacuum once filled, at least in part, by the possibility of American force.”

Looks like the WaPo news editors can’t disguise their contempt for Barry any longer, if they let a story like this through!

[Red Steel]

‘Nature abhors a vacuum’

[hoosiermama]

Are they actually pulling the plug to let the sewage drain?

[hoosiermama]

Looks like they are all trying to hide their laughter at THE WON!

[Seizethecarp]

It appears that the national security “analysts” who confided in the WaPo chief White House correspondent are livid that Barry is slashing the military and just had Hagel declare that the US can’t be relied on to control the land, sea and sky like we used to.

Perhaps the DC elites including the media are at the tipping point and would be open to seizing an opportunity to dump Barry, even if that meant that Biden would be POTUS (cringe).