Posted on 05/12/2013 4:21:43 AM PDT by billorites
Here’s an early sign of how successful the Obama administration’s plan to get Russia on board vis-à-vis Syria: Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, told the press today that Moscow will send air defense missiles to Syria after all.
Moscow plans to deliver already contracted ground-to-air missile systems to Syria, Russian officials said Friday, pressing ahead with an arms transfer that U.S. officials say could significantly strengthen Damascus’s ability to ward off an attack. [...]
Russian state television, reporting on Mr. Lavrov’s trip, went beyond the official line: “After the S-300s are put into service, a repeat of the Libyan scenario—the imposition of a no-fly zone over the country—would be extremely difficult,” said the Vesti-24 channel.
Mitt Romney was wrong to suggest that Russia is America’s biggest geopolitical enemy, but nobody should confuse it for a friend. Putin has no interest in helping the Obama administration look powerful or successful. On the contrary, the Kremlin believes that undermining American prestige and credibility worldwide is a vital Russian interest.
That does not preclude carefully negotiated bargains on areas of common interest, but that “carefully negotiated” part is a lot harder than it looks — and more desperate you seem to get a deal, the uglier the deal you will get.
Even if Russia and the US can ultimately agree on a course in Syria—and that’s a very big if—Russia will still be strongly inclined to do everything in its power to trip up the US and hand it a diplomatic defeat.
It’s a big mistake to underestimate the anti-American paranoia and deep-seated resentment that animates the Kremlin. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is hungry to avoid the humiliating impasse resulting from a succession of policy mistakes that have gotten it so entangled in Syria, which may make the administration less skeptical than it should be about Russia’s intentions here.
At this point in its history Russia has been reduced to an opportunistic power looking for ways to insert itself into world politics; it would be unrealistic to expect the Kremlin to do anything but try to make the most of what it must see as a rare, heaven-sent chance to gain the upper hand over the US on a high profile issue.
Moscow is likely to read the US response to this provocation very carefully; if the administration swallows the missile sale without response, Russia won’t see this as demonstrating US “friendship” and “sincerity,” it will see this as a clear sign of weakness and desperation and will push harder. Iran will see this too and the mullahs will draw their conclusions. It’s likely that the Gulf Arabs and the Turks have already significantly downgraded their assessments of American focus and will based on this news. In Jerusalem, too, where the missile story first surfaced, they are assessing the reliability of their American ally.
Is alienating our regional allies worth a dubious deal with the Kremlin? We are likely to find out in the not too distant future. But Russia’s goal is not to help us get out of our diplomatic predicament; it is to make us pay the highest possible price for our blunders.
In the end, the lesson isn’t “don’t do business with Russia.” The lesson is “when doing business with Russia you need to understand the rules of the game.” The administration needs to do something sharp and swift that Russia will feel, or it can expect a continuing succession of nasty surprises.
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving Communist.
"Sharp and swift" and not the first two words that jump to my mind regarding the Secretary.
I'm sure Putin knows more about Obama, Hillary, Kerry than we do.
He sure knew more about the marathon bomber....We blew off Russia's info....and everyone knows it.
I'm guessing Benghazi is the cover for not investigating the Boston bombing any further.
Obama should be impeached for BOTH coverups.
It is an easy thing to kick dirt into the face of a FARCE!
“Is alienating our regional allies worth a dubious deal with the Kremlin? We are likely to find out in the not too distant future. But Russia’s goal is not to help us get out of our diplomatic predicament; it is to make us pay the highest possible price for our blunders.”
Take one look at our present administration and someone , anyone please tell me that we have our best and brightest on top of it. Dear God this group of incompetent imbeciles is truly frightening
Here's a clue: If Putin is pulling his pants back up and buckling them, that wasn't "dirt".
The question is, would an inbred turd like Kerry know the difference?
But Kerry is a war hero, just ask him.
This administration is truly a circus full of clowns
Hey Horseface, here’s your Madeline Halfbright-endorsed “Kick Me” sign.
Tough to miss with a target that long.
Are the S-300’s in Iran?
Pretty big target for a solefull of soil...really, Pootie-Pootie has to be rolling on the floor laughing at these maroons....
Yeah, Kerry probably "soiled" himself.
The last 4 plus years have been an excersize in patience as I watch the most assinine and insane events and people parade across my brain ... and they stop to look and neener neener me ... and I stand stoicly, wondering ... How long, O Lord ... how long ?
Didn’t the Russians realize that John Kerry served in Vietnam?
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