It’s not been about Freedom and democracy for Ukraine? "
No, that's what Russian propaganda says.
Freedom and democracy are included in my item #3 above, note especially the map of countries by democracy index, and graphic showing the march of dictatorships in recent years.
JonPreston: "And isn’t stealing natural resources from lesser nations part of your Neocon foreign policy?"
The only leader in American history to call for taking another country's oil is Donald Trump, but that was a very specific case, where he said we should never have invaded Iraq in the first place -- because Saddam was Iran's enemy! -- but once we did invade, then we should have charged Iraq for the war costs by taking their oil in payment.
Of course, Trump does not consider payments for services rendered as "stealing" their oil, nor has anyone ever accused Trump of being a "Neocon", to my knowledge.
JonPreston: "So why can’t Russia do the same? "
So, you wish to analogize Iraq with Ukraine??
Well then, let me count the ways -- before Vlad's invasion in 2014:
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never invaded Kuwait or any other neighbor.
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never waged years' long wars against Iran, so Ukraine's military in 2013 was more-or-less useless.
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, had not allied with Russia's enemies.
Indeed, even in 2013 both Ukraine and Russia were NATO "Partners for Peace"!!!
2014 was not even about NATO, it was about a proposed trade deal with the EU. - Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never mass murdered its own people, to include with WMDs (poison gas).
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never sponsored terrorists who attacked its neighbors and threatened the US (or Russian) allies.
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, was never in violation of a single UN Resolution.
Iraq's numerous violations in 2003 included: failure to disarm and end the development of WMDs, refusal to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors, and failure to comply with obligations regarding the treatment of prisoners of war and Kuwaiti property. - Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never attacked a Russian warship such as the USS Stark in May 1987, with Exocet missiles, killing 37 US sailors, injuring 21 more.
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never tried to develop nuclear weapons, indeed Ukraine gave up its stockpile of nukes in exchange for security promises from Russia!
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never threatened anybody with Weapons of Mass Destruction, real or imagined.
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, had & has a constitutionally structured & democratically elected government.
- Ukraine, unlike Iraq, never replaced its government in a "coup".
Ukraine did once, in 2014 constitutionally replace its traitor stooge Pres. Yanukovich by a vote of Ukraine's parliament -- 328 to zero, and then quickly held new certified valid elections. - Ukraine, unlike Iraq, is an 85% Christian country, at peace with its neighbors and eager to join the community of civilized countries as represented in the European Union and NATO.
Sen. Graham represents the people of South Carolina who elected him, the same people who also elected Sen. Scott and voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump.
In recent years, Sen. Graham has allied strongly with Donald Trump and in this particular quote can easily be thought of as "channeling" his "inner Trump", in Trump's concern for economics and the Art of the Deal.
JonPreston: "And who the hell does America think they are!"
Americans.
JonPreston: "Now type, dammit."
