Posted on 03/03/2014 11:56:23 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement on events in Ukraine:
“The situation unfolding in Ukraine right now is a harsh lesson that no matter how great the victory, we must never rest on our laurels. After the United States won the Cold War and the Soviet Union ceased to exist in 1991, many on both sides of the aisle believed that the Soviet threat to freedom was a thing of the past and that the new, democratic Russia would be a reasonable partner and even an ally.
“The events of the last seventy-two hours demonstrate this is not the case. Vladimir Putin barely waited for the flame of the Olympic torch in Sochi to be extinguished before he turned his attention to crushing the most recent attempt of the Ukrainian people to move towards freedom and the West. Despite warnings and expressions of concern from the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Advisor, the Ambassador to the United Nations and even the President of the United States, Putin apparently feels he can act with impunity in what he considers to be his exclusive sphere of influence.
“He has good reason to do so. Over the five years of his presidency, President Obama has done nothing to help the people of Georgia reclaim the some 20 percent of their sovereign territory that was violated by the 2008 Russian invasion, instead instructing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to attempt to 'reset' the relationship with Russia in the hopes of pursuing more arms control agreements rather than forcefully defending American national security interests and those of our allies.
“This evening, President Obama spoke of his deep concerns about reports of Russian military action in Ukraine and urged Putin not to violate international laws. But as the President and his national security team are apparently the last to learn, Putin has scant regard for international norms when they run counter to his goal of re-establishing Soviet-style regional hegemony over unfortunate states like Georgia and Ukraine who have the temerity to want a more free, prosperous future for their people. And Putin is under no illusions that the President’s vague threats mean any more than his infamous ‘red line’ in the Syrian desert.
“If we were serious about standing up to Putin’s power grab, we would immediately suspend Russian membership in the Group of Eight (G8), which should consist of nations that can contribute to a civilized order. And if the Russians persist in this aggressive action, we should look into additional measures such as suspension from the World Trade Organization and even the United Nations Security Council.
“The United States should stand with Ukraine.”
Give ‘em H3LL Ted!
In before the anti Cruz
We, the USA should get the hell out of the UN as well.
Actions speak louder than words.
Even if Ted Cruz is elected, US foreign policy will not change.
It would continue to be run by financial elites.
Agree to disagree, Cruz.
His instincts are usually correct
Which Ukraine? The people are divided.
I like Cruz but he is wrong on this (as is Obama sending Kerry over there)
We need to butt out. This is Europe’s problem.
With all due respect to Senator Cruz, I think “standing with Ukraine” and being dragged into an all-out war with Russia would be a mistake. What the media is not emphasizing is that many in eastern and southern Ukraine are ethnic Russian, pro-Russia and would much rather be a part of Russia than Ukraine. They want Russia there. This is a very complicated and far more detailed and historical issue than just Russia invading Ukraine.
The West is playing with fire and they will get badly burned if they mess this up.
Good grief. It is not anti anyone to disagree with them. Next will you be calling people who disagree with Cruz on this issue Cruz ‘haters’?
Enough of this. We can say when we think a politician is wrong on a issue without it turning into a lynching.
What and cancel dumBO’s unending record of loosing?
Iraq: lost.
Afghanistan: lost
Egypt: lost
Iran: lost
Libya: lost
Syria: lost
Ukraine: lost
The Crimea is Russia’s REAL “red line.” (Note I said Crimea, not Ukraine.)
Crimea was part of Russia for over 200 years, since the 1780s, until Nikita Khrushchev literally gifted it to Ukraine in 1954 in order to purchase the support of their party bosses during his accession after the death of Stalin.
Before Russia, it belonged to the Ottoman Empire, now defunct. Before that, it belonged to the city-state of Venice, going back to before Columbus discovered America. But the Crimea was NEVER part of Ukraine, until Khrushchev’s unilateral “gift.”
(Imagine if President Eisenhower, as a dictator on his own, gave Long Island and NYC to Connecticut as part of an internal United States political deal to secure CT’s critically needed support during a contested election or coup. That is how Crimea became part of the Ukraine.)
In 1954, the political gift of the Crimea was an internal USSR matter, not an international matter. Ukraine was then the Ukraine SSR, within the USSR. In 1991, the USSR broke apart, and Khrushchev’s personal gift suddenly mattered. But despite the gift and the fluke that led Crimea to become part of the modern sovereign nation of Ukraine, Crimea has always been 90%+ ethnic Russian, and as always, it contains Russia’s most critical naval bases, air force bases and sea ports.
In fact, Crimea is far more Russian than Hawaii is American. It’s foolish and naïve to believe that the Russians will risk losing the Crimea during a period of chaos in greater Ukraine.
If you want to see Russia’s REAL “red line,” threaten their control of the Crimea, and its naval bases and seaports. I’m not supporting Russia’s position, I just want folks to know that this is a much more complicated picture than “Evil Russia invades poor innocent Ukraine,” which is the kindergarten/MSM version of Crimean history.
(Just ask the Brits about stumbling into wars in the Crimea.)
Get YOUR butt over there, and get in the Russians face, personally Ted, then get back to me.
Thanks for the history lesson. I appreciate it.
Not our fight.
Not one cent or drop of blood for anything outside of our borders.
So, the question is....... how greedy is Putin.
If he merely annexes the Russian eastern areas of Ukraine, he will be allowed to keep them. There will be some wailing and knashing of teeth but little else.
If he crosses some agreed to line in west Ukraine and is greedy, there will be repercussions of some sort. Aside from not inviting Putin to his birfday, Obama might create some financial disruptions.
I want an independent Ukraine.....They probably just need to give up The Crimea to get it.
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