Friday, February 28, 2014

New York Times Editorial, "What Is Russia’s Aim in Ukraine?": Yes, Obama Is a Foreign Affairs Naif


Obama: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

Medvedev: "I will transmit this information to Vladimir [Putin]."


- Open mic dialogue between President Obama and outgoing Russian President Medvedev, March 26, 2012



"And indeed, the United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any [Russian] military intervention in Ukraine."

- Obama's Remarks from the White House, February 28, 2014


After Obama promised Putin "flexibility" in 2012, we can all be certain that Putin is trembling in his boots as a consequence of Obama's warning that there will be "costs" for Russian military intervention in the Ukraine.

Costs? What were the costs after Obama allowed Putin to arrange for the destruction of Assad's chemical weapons arsenal, after which Assad reneged on the deal? Answer: None. Meanwhile, Putin is bemusedly watching Obama dismantle the American military over the course of his second "flexible" term in office (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.co.il/2014/02/david-brooks-fake-putin-diary-did.html).

Today, in an editorial entitled "What Is Russia’s Aim in Ukraine?" (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/what-is-russias-aim-in-ukraine.html?ref=opinion&_r=0), The New York Times, i.e. the semi-official mouthpiece of the Obama administration, declares:

"President Obama, speaking at the White House, was right to warn Russia against any military move and to indicate that the United States would join the world in condemning a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. He also said that 'there will be costs' for any intervention in Ukraine, though it was not clear what, if realistically anything, that might involve."

It's not clear what those costs might realistically involve? At least Obama's toadies on the editorial board of The Times got that right.

The editorial concludes:

"Russia and the West need to work together to help stabilize the country politically and develop an economic and trade package that will begin to resolve the economic crisis.

Mr. Putin’s dangerous tactics are sure to backfire and do more to alienate Ukrainians than to encourage them to accept any Russian role in their nation’s future."

"Russia and the West need to work together"? In the same way that they worked together to destroy Assad's chemical weapons arsenal? In the same way that they have worked together in order to reach a "framework agreement" (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.co.il/2014/02/israeli-palestinian-talks-obama-seeks.html) for purposes of seeking something beyond a framework agreement for the cessation of Supreme Leader Khamenei's atomic weapons development program?

"Putin’s dangerous tactics are sure to backfire"? How reassuring coming from this coterie of  Obama bootlickers.

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