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Posted on 02/24/2014 9:35:02 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
While George W. Bush was inspired by the Orange Revolution of 2004 and weeks later vowed in his second inaugural address to promote democracy, Barack Obama has approached the revolution of 2014 with a more clinical detachment aimed at avoiding instability.
Rather than an opportunity to spread freedom in a part of the world long plagued by corruption and oppression, Mr. Obama sees Ukraine’s crisis as a problem to be managed, ideally with a minimum of violence or geopolitical upheaval. While certainly sympathetic to the pro-Western protesters who pushed out President Viktor F. Yanukovych and hopeful that they can establish a representatively elected government, Mr. Obama has not made global aspirations of democracy the animating force of his presidency.
“I just think this president is not going to lean forward on his skis with regard to democracy promotion,” said John Lewis Gaddis, a Yale University historian who advised the Bush White House as speechwriters worked on the former president’s January 2005 inaugural address promising to combat tyranny abroad. “If anything, he’s going to lean back and let natural forces take us there, if they do.”
Mr. Obama’s handling of Ukraine reflects a broader “policy of restraint,” as Mr. Gaddis termed it, keeping the United States out of crises like Syria, minimizing its involvement in places like Libya, and getting out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It reflects, he said, not only fundamental differences between the presidents but an underlying weariness on the part of the American public after more than a dozen years of war.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I wish the Ukrainians all the best. But any support from us should be limited to arms shipments, if it comes to that. We spent a few billion dollars to keep the mujahidin in Afghanistan supplied, and they wore down the Soviet will to continue fighting. I suspect a few billion a year for the Ukrainian military will be enough to hold off any Russian invasion without anywhere near the casualties taken by the Afghans. The former Soviet bloc countries that are now NATO members have tons of mothballed equipment that could be purchased for peanuts and handed over to the Ukrainians.
Is this because he got burnt on the Arab Spring, or because it’s something between white folk?
Neither side prays toward Mecca so dear leader doesn’t know who to support.
If anyone can screw up the situation, Obama can. Fortunately, he really doesn’t have any real influence in this situation.
Is this because he’s the global village idiot, and both Russia and the Ukraine know it, or because he’s an American, or both?
The former I think.
Maybe world leaders are getting more than a little nervous about all of these movements overthrowing corrupt governments.
Especially corrupt world leaders...why, like...
Having NO CLUE nor INCLINATION is not being ‘wary’.
There is also one other thing, that I don't know too much about, but think is important. Ukraine had nuclear weapons and gave them up due to international pressure. When they did that then I am sure promises were made, but I don't exactly know what was promised.
Rather than an opportunity to spread freedom in a part of the world long plagued by corruption and oppression, Mr. Obama sees Ukraine’s crisis as a problem to be managed, ideally with a minimum of violence or geopolitical upheaval.
***
Of course, it’s just because he cares so much more about the world.
And, besides, Obama is focused on his great opportunity to spread corruption and oppression in a part of the world (the USA)long plagued (in his calculation) by freedom.
Obama is wary because he knows this kind of revolution by the little people can put an end to his big Marxist plans.
I am assuming that any Russian invasion will be preceded by surprise attacks on military bases and ammo dumps. If the Ukrainian military isn't currently on high alert, they will lose a huge amount of equipment when the Russians do a Pearl Harbor-style sneak attack. It certainly worked for the Japanese.
Neither side prays toward Mecca so dear leader doesn’t give a damn.
New “red line”: Obama vows there’ll be consequences if people “step over the line” in Ukraine
President Barack Obama condemned the violence in Ukraine on Wednesday, saying that the U.S. holds the government “primarily responsible for ensuring they are handling protesters peacefully” and that “there will be consequences if people step over the line.”“We expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence,” Obama said in Mexico. “We expect peaceful protesters to remain peaceful.”
-PJ
Barack Obama has approached the revolution of 2014 with a more clinical detachment aimed at avoiding instability. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Obama only wants instability to occur when it is related to Arab Spring and re-establishment of the Caliphate of Egypt, and then he becomes a flaming insensate, international bully ( Look what he did to Libya).
Obama knows full well that Monsieur Putin can reach out and touch him. (Even Obama does not want to be inflicted with radio active isotopes that would spoil his complexion?)I am convinced after witnessing Obama’s conduct over the past 5 years in relation to Putin, especially in relation to Syria, that Obama is scared to death of Putin. This was also revealed in the depricative manner in which Obama engaged in security issues surrounding US althletes in Sochi, he accepted the humble position of being relegated to the back seat and having a couple of ships putting around the Black Sea, one of which ran aground.without one armed agent with US athletes vetted by the Russians.
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