Lots of examples of Putin honoring the Christian faith. Not one, that I've seen, of him bowing to a muslim leader.
I don’t necessarily agree with Buchanan or Cohen, but I do not think we have a stake in the Ukraine, nor do I think we have any realistic cards we can play to change things.
It might have been different eight years ago, if we had moved closer to an actual military alliance back then, but even that is not very realistic.
At this point we just need to sit down and shut up because the only thin we are doing is making ourselves look even weaker by squawking about things we have no way to change.
Apologists? We have a bunch of cheerleaders for Putin right here on good old FR.
Look at the problems of the world. Look at Kerry, Obama, Biden and the rest of the crew who represent US foreign policy. Other than promoting gay rights, sexual perversion and irresponsibility, what are they good for? What are they doing when faced with Putin and an aggressive Russia? ...Obama is an effeminate fairy whose thoughts on foreign policy and world peace were formulated while chooming with his faggoty, druggie friends. Biden and Kerry don’t know what their foreign policy visions are, or whether or not they have any, at least any that represent the best interests of the US. Forgive our obvious lack of confidence in the will and force of the US to prevail in a showdown over Crimea. Maybe if Crimea could become a gay thing....
Did the author say when he was planning to volunteer for the Ukrainian army?
With Obama, a weakened wimp, known the world over, Putin is fully aware that he has a three year window to expand the Russian empire. He’s started with Crimea, then Ukraine. He has eyes on Estonia, Latvia, and many of the countries that were formerly in the Soviet Union before being brought down by Reagan. The line will have to drawn at some point. Reducing our nuclear capabilities and armed forces to 1940 levels is insanity.
Does he not have a point?
Not on this, because Americans voted for this, twice.
Then, there is the Fred Phelps wing that thinks its the governments job to harass gays. And since Putin's good at that they admire him. Now, most conservatives are way past disgusted with the US governments pro-gay policy, so it's easy to see why Putin not being PC on gays appeals to the Fred Phelps types.
Then, there are the old school "blame America Firsters' of the Left. Their arguments have bled over to some on the right. It used to be the old right thought American was too good to involve itself with the wretched old world. Now, even on the right there are those who say America simply isn't good enough to criticize Putin or his bullying. Unless we're perfect with no abortions and no gays, we' should never criticize Putin.
Some, too, believe that Putin is leading the world towards a conservative utopia. But this is like believing if you give an autocrat enough unlimited power he'll create perfect equality. You cannot get equality with unlimited power and you won't get a conservative utopia either.
It's too much power that is the problem with Putin. It's that he doesn't follow the rule of law that makes him a threat to his own people and now to that of his neighbors.
There are those who think as long as we have Bozo as president it's okay for Putin to send troops to Crimea in their unmarked uniforms. Apparently, these people are so mad at America that they believe the world must be punished too for the USA having a weakling in the oval office.
And? The author attacks Buchanan but offers no explanation or argument to refute Buchanan's statements.
Once again, leftists like Stephen Cohen join with paleoconservatives like Pat Buchanan in opposing a stand for democracy, and in charging critics of Putin with unfairly and aggressively opposing Putin's supposed just and necessary policies.
Who is standing for democracy? Certainly not Obama. Or, actually Obama and his ilk want a true democracy. That's their plan to create a progressive utopia.
Crimea had a vote. Russia won. Regardless of what we think of the vote and the result the people of Crimea want to be under Russia's aegis. Is that not democracy?
Finally, is this author willing to send his sons to stop Putin? I am not. Putin is handling the muslim thing in his sphere of influence while we allow muslims to wreak havoc on Western Civilization. For that alone I respect Putin.
Those on the board who think we should attack Russia, or in some other way stop her, please tell us how you would? Does anyone here see any way to change the course Putin's taking? I don't.
Rock-smashingly stupid.
If Putin’s goal was to control all of the Ukraine, he would not want Crimea to secede, just like a Republican wouldn’t want Texas to secede if he wanted to win a presidential election in the U.S.
Crimea was always Russia. They seceded separately from the Ukraine, and joined the Ukraine on the agreement that they could be autonomous and pursue their own relationships. The Ukraine unilaterally rescinded that autonomy, something they had no right to do.
Lots of examples of Putin honoring the Christian faith. Not one, that I've seen, of him bowing to a muslim leader.
Buchanan is not a conservative.
Truthfully, it is not “apologetic” to look at Putin objectively, for what he is and what he wants to do. But you must observe the ground rules.
1) Putin is a Russian. Russia is his country. He is not an American, does not have American values, and sees America as a competitor, not an ally.
2) As leader of Russia, he puts Russia first, and tries to do things that make it stronger, if he feels he can get away with it.
3) Since the time when the Czars wrested Crimea away from the Ottoman Empire, Crimea was part of Russia. They saw it as strategically vital, because it gave Russia a warm-water port. Though Stalin enigmatically gave it to Ukraine, when the Soviet Union broke up, Ukraine had to offer that port to Russia on a very long-term lease, or, even in its weakened state, Russia would have tried to take it.
Okay, so add this together, and it should be no surprise that when the pro-Russian government of Ukraine fell, the Russians took the opportunity to snatch Crimea back.
But this being said, there is still great risk here. To start with, eastern Ukraine is heavily Russian, and a tempting target for Putin to snatch as well.
Likewise the Baltic states, importantly, *not* just Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, but also Finland, only gained independence from Russia after WWI, and only Finland kept theirs after WWII. They know all too well that Russia may try to eat them again.