Obama's caution on Ukraine may loom over midterm election [also, live breaking news from Ukraine]

reuters ^ | March 3, 2014 | By Steve Holland

[Jim Robinson]

(Reuters) - With Russia's incursion into Ukraine reviving Cold War-style tensions, President Barack Obama is at risk of suffering a blow to his credibility at a time when he can least afford it: as he tries to convince voters to stick with his fellow Democrats in congressional elections that will help shape his legacy.

For five years, Obama has practiced a cautious approach to foreign policy crises, prizing sober diplomacy and the search for consensus over brinkmanship, in prolonged conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the deliberative style that Obama's team sees as a statesmanlike attitude in tune with Americans' war-weariness, was described as dithering in the crisis over Syria, where the United States long discussed military action without committing.

Facing his toughest test yet in Ukraine, Obama is once again finding himself portrayed as a weak leader, outmaneuvered by a wily, opportunistic Russian President Vladimir Putin intent on reviving the United States' nemesis.

[DemforBush]

“Obama has practiced a cautious approach to foreign policy crises, prizing sober diplomacy and the search for consensus over brinkmanship”

Seriously?

The guy who pulled the U.S. diplomatic rug out of a 30 year ally (if admittedly, a flawed one) in Hosni Mubarak favors a cautious approach?

The guy who spent the entire summer of 2009 dithering over Afghanistan, leaving our forces in a strategic limbo because he was trying to avoid alienating his base in order to have them on board his healthcare bill, is an example of sober diplomacy?

Good lord, these guys aren’t even bothering to mix the special Kool-Aid with water. They’re eating it right out of the can by the tablespoon!

[caww]

Amazing Military encounter Jim....Reporter tweeting as it happened:

This column of Ukrainian troops, (Belbek,Crimea)carrying the Ukraine and Soviet (!) flags, marched on the Russian occupied airstrip. ....reached Russian checkpoint. Russians begin firing in the air.... Ukrainians keep marching...Russians call commander to negotiate..... Troops have RPGs and machine guns trained on the column of unarmed Ukrainian soldiers... ...Russians back down, allow 10 Ukraine soldiers to take up positions at occupied base, but still awaiting orders from Moscow..

Face off between Ukraine base commander Col. Yuli Manchur and Russian officer at occupied Belbek airbase.....The red flag the Ukrainians marched with is the banner of the fighter pilots who fought Nazis in 1941 and guarded the Yalta Conference.......Ukraine Colonel still negotiates, Russian snipers & RPGs still aimed at column of soldiers. But deescalation is clear, at least in Belbek.....

(Last tweet)....Ukraine commander demands to guard the base jointly with Russians, who pledge to give their commanders' response by 12:00, in 2 hours

[Jim Robinson]

Interesting.

[caww]

Continued from above posts.....

Russian military truck just brought a handful of (probably Russian) news crews to the Belbek standoff. They’re now filming from Russian side

[caww]

Continued from above posts.....(no need to respond Jim, yes very interesting)

Still tweeting....Times reporter .......”Russian military truck just brought a handful of (probably Russian) news crews to the Belbek standoff. They’re now filming from Russian side”

[caww]

Still happening now...another photo...others are now following this as well...

[Gene Eric]

>> Caution

Trepidation.

[right way right]

Poor, poor Obama.
How can they polish this turd?
The Libs are hand wringing......over Obama.
God help us!

[caww]

Ukraine News picking up this live now as it's happening pictured...rather exciting we had it here on FR as it began

[caww]

[MagnoliaB]

All Obama voters care about is ‘free stuff’ and entitlements. They probably never heard of the Ukraine. All they have to do is start saying the ‘mean ole republicans’ are going to take away their ‘free stuff’ and they will come out like cockroaches out of the woodwork.

[caww]

Russian side...(will be last entry..didn't mean to hijack Jim's thread...but it's happening now)...

[Jim Robinson]

Ok, great. Bumped it up to breaking for you. Please keep it coming if you can.

[right way right]

I was referring more to the lefty pundits in the media and their obsession with the legacy of Obama but, I get what you are saying about voters and the up coming election.

Things are happening now.
It really would be best if Obama and McCain would just STFU.

I wish they both would just STFU!

I have an 18 year old son who is considering serving in the military after graduation, so this concerns me a lot.

[caww]

Ok will do Jim.....there’s more..I’ll go fetch it...

[Southack]

"For five years, Obama has practiced a cautious approach to foreign policy crises, prizing sober diplomacy and the search for consensus..."

The nonsense those idiots write! Ask Ghadafy about "sober diplomacy" or the Egyptians about "consensus"!

Good grief...

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Putin and Obama hate each other at this point I reckon.
Putin has Barry’s number and Barry knows it. And no fawning press or fake marble columns to put a nice face on it.

[caww]

A little earlier..but still going on...

Ukraine's 204th tactical aviation brigade when they just arrived to face down the Russians in Belbek

[caww]

Ukrainian soldiers in Belbek staying put but allowed to break ranks and smoke