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Putin Blinked
New York Times ^ | MAY 27, 2014 | Thomas L. Friedman

Posted on 05/28/2014 1:14:13 AM PDT by nickcarraway

There was a moment at the height of the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962 when Soviet ships approached to within just a few miles of a U.S. naval blockade and then, at the last minute, turned back — prompting then-Secretary of State Dean Rusk to utter one of the most famous lines from the Cold War: “We’re eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.”

The crisis in Ukraine never threatened a Cold War-like nuclear Armageddon, but it may be the first case of post-post-Cold War brinkmanship, pitting the 21st century versus the 19th. It pits a Chinese/Russian worldview that says we can take advantage of 21st-century globalization whenever we want to enrich ourselves, and we can behave like 19th-century powers whenever we want to take a bite out of a neighbor — versus a view that says, no, sorry, the world of the 21st century is not just interconnected but interdependent and either you play by those rules or you pay a huge price.

In the end, it was Putinism versus Obamaism, and I’d like to be the first on my block to declare that the “other fellow” — Putin — “just blinked.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: bhorussia; pussycat; putin; russia; ukraine
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To: nickcarraway
In the end, it was Putinism versus Obamaism, and I’d like to be the first on my block to declare that the “other fellow” — Putin — “just blinked.”

Who blinked on Syria?

21 posted on 05/28/2014 4:01:05 AM PDT by gusopol3
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: kearnyirish2

Excellent post. Freepers who aren’t aware of the true history of the Cuban Missile Crisis would do well to look into it closer now that the truth was revealed but not in a way that would dramatically tarnish the beloved Kennedy.

I’m wondering what else Putler may have gotten besides Crimea.


23 posted on 05/28/2014 4:50:51 AM PDT by meatloaf (Impeach Obama. That's my New Year's resolution.)
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To: F15Eagle

As always, the NYTimes is propping up Obama. “Putin blinked”, as I read their article is a conclusion they reach by way of (1) PUtin awaiting election results in the Ukraine, and (2) Putin signing a gas deal with China that might give the Chinese a bargain price.

Those are weak arguments.

It’s just as easy to use those same points to support a counter argument.

It’s in the category of: time will tell.


24 posted on 05/28/2014 4:52:52 AM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: meatloaf
"Freepers who aren’t aware of the true history of the Cuban Missile Crisis would do well to look into it closer now that the truth was revealed"

Yes, the truth was revealed in the 2011 movie X-Men First Class. We had our butts saved by mutants lead by Magneto and Professor Xavier. Certainly not by Kennedy...
25 posted on 05/28/2014 5:12:07 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: nickcarraway

The truth of the matter...revisited.


26 posted on 05/28/2014 5:19:44 AM PDT by exPBRrat
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To: Old Teufel Hunden

Don’t exert yourself. The Kennedy mystique is alive and well.


27 posted on 05/28/2014 5:46:29 AM PDT by meatloaf (Impeach Obama. That's my New Year's resolution.)
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To: The Duke
"INTIMIDATED_BY_MOM_JEANS_PING!"

--------------------------------------------->

*snicker*

#momjeans

28 posted on 05/28/2014 6:32:12 AM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Photoshop or does Putin go to same cosmetic surgeon as Kerry?

Heh.........

29 posted on 05/28/2014 6:33:27 AM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: kearnyirish2
"The BS from the Camelot myth was that Kennedy stood strong against the Soviets; the truth is that a deal was made where we would withdraw our missiles from Turkey (too close to them) in exchange for them withdrawing theirs from Cuba (too close to us)."

------------------------------------------>

Read once that Joe Kennedy money didn't hurt.

30 posted on 05/28/2014 6:36:59 AM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: SeeSharp

Yes, this is a nice spin piece, nothing more. Putin didn’t blink, he laughed his way to the bank.


31 posted on 05/28/2014 6:38:48 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Ukraine finally went to war, instead of rolling over. How much western influence is behind them finally fighting back I don’t know, but clearly the pro russians had infiltrated the highest levels of their government and military prior to Russia finally taking action... The purge of them has begun and they are fighting back.

I just wonder how much of that is due to western influence to fight back, or Ukrainians finally saying FU to the peace in our time appeasement westerners and going it alone.


32 posted on 05/28/2014 6:41:02 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: nickcarraway
Secretary of State Dean Rusk to utter one of the most famous lines from the Cold War: “We’re eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.”

Ha haaaaa!!!

That means Marilyn Monroe's boy toy didn't even tell his own Secretary of State that he had caved to Kruschev's demand that he pull American missiles out of Turkey.

33 posted on 05/28/2014 6:51:45 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: nickcarraway

Isn’t there a quote or something about declaring victory too soon.


34 posted on 05/28/2014 7:00:40 AM PDT by McGruff (What if I told you your leaders were lying to you?)
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To: nickcarraway
WTF?!


35 posted on 05/28/2014 7:21:11 AM PDT by GalaxieFiveHundred
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To: nickcarraway
In the end, it was Putinism versus Obamaism, and I’d like to be the first on my block to declare that the “other fellow” — Putin — “just blinked.”

And if you like your Ukraine you can keep it. Period.

36 posted on 05/28/2014 7:24:46 AM PDT by McGruff (What if I told you your leaders were lying to you?)
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To: nickcarraway

Putin blinked to get the tears out of his eyes from laughing so hard because of how easy it’s been for him to get everything he’s wanted, and knowing that no one in the west can stop him.


37 posted on 05/28/2014 7:52:28 AM PDT by dowcaet
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To: dowcaet
LMAO. Such great satire from the New York Slimes.


38 posted on 05/28/2014 8:01:15 AM PDT by NYRepublican72
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To: Texas Eagle
That means Marilyn Monroe's boy toy didn't even tell his own Secretary of State that he had caved to Kruschev's demand that he pull American missiles out of Turkey.

Or that the Soviet promise not to station nuclear missiles in Cuba wasn't going to apply to Soviet ballistic missile submarines.

39 posted on 05/28/2014 8:08:33 AM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: nickcarraway

Friedman, as always, is an *ss.


40 posted on 05/28/2014 8:09:01 AM PDT by WashingtonSource
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