Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
While I'm no fan of Obama, I'm amazed at the chicken hawks who think engaging Russia in an armed conflict is a good idea.
Seriously, how can people be that stupid?
I guess some of the far-right crazies just aren't happy unless we're at war all the time, and since apparently fumbling around in the Middle East for a decade while leaving behind a situation probably not much better than what we started with wasn't good enough, let's get into a war with a near-superpower with nuclear weapons. Yeah... smart idea!
Maybe if Dubya was still in power, he could have used this as an excuse to launch another war thanks to "God / Halliburton" telling him to do so while creating a nastier version of the Patriot Act to keep the citizens in line. Fortunately, our current leader isn't that stupid.
Who said anything about engaging Russia in an armed conflict?
Stop making things up to fit your failed straw man argument.
I trust oblamer ignores, from the 6th fairway, as this situation develops.
He tried to make a stand, called Putin, was put on hold for 89 minutes, laughed at for 1.
Maybe going to war with Russia and having a nuclear exchange would be in the best interests of the world...
Dear heavens, these chicken hawks are clueless. Everything can be solved in their little world with more bombs, bullets, and screaming of "Go Team USA!"
We get it - you don't like Obama... nobody cares.
The reality is that offering protests is about all that can be done, at least for now... asset freezes and PR humiliation of Russia are next up, and those can have an effect... and are certainly better than starting a war.
Putin has been pretty clever on this; he knows that not only is the USA war-weary after a decade in the Middle East, but he primarily knows that we need Russia's role in managing Iran and Syria; maybe China one day, too. It's a nice ruthless tactic of the Russians to not-so-secretly back rogue states like Syria and then insert themselves as the critical mediators for negotiated Western interests. Makes for good bargaining chips.
But the real reason that Putin is going into Crimea is strategic. That spot of land has his only naval base with access to the Mediterranean. He sees the EU as a genuine threat and can't afford to let those strategic assets be dismantled by a pro-Western Ukrainian government. It also suggests that he probably doesn't want to march into all of the Ukraine; just wants to keep that base at all costs and otherwise destabilize the pro-Western government through standard political / economic means. He's ruthless, but I don't think he's as maniacal as a Hitler.
Obama doesn't need to do some Clint Eastwood "last stand" military attack over Crimea. The way to hit back on this is to look at the things Russia will want two or three steps down the road and set up obstacles now. There is a lot that can and will be done to ostracize Russia from the international community, and it will cost them dearly - especially if we can exploit any kind of a rift between Russia and China and get the Chinese to back sanctions, etc. This may set Russia back a generation or two in terms of relations with the rest of the First World.
And furthermore, the West and EU should now make good on threats to build out military capabilities in Western Europe, including the missile defense shield.
It is rational as to why Russia wants to hold onto Crimea so badly. Maybe there is a way to negotiate safe access for the Russians to their military assets in that region, much like agreements we have with other countries. But given that this is the opening salvo in a new round of West / East conflict, I would make sure he pays a high price for it...and set up the roadblocks now that make it very clear that the next move will result in military counterattack. It will be back to the days of the Cold War standoff, but there's nothing that can be done about that.
If the President is powerless to do anything, as virtually every liberal on this thread claims, then they should also come forth and proclaim that Barack Obama should have never opened his Yap Trap to begin with.
Right???
Right.
But in doing so, they would be admitting the failure of this President to have proper foreign policy foresight. So they make every excuse in the book, including trying to revert the blame to conservatives for portraying this president as the abject failure that he is.
If the President is powerless to do anything, as virtually every liberal on this thread claims, then they should also come forth and proclaim that Barack Obama should have never opened his Yap Trap to begin with.
Virtually every liberal will say there is no viable military option - but inconjunction with the EU we can invoke economic sanctions including freezing of assets, travel bans (Russia's politicians and powerful don't like staying home), and boycotting the G8. What would you have the US & EU do?
Virtually every liberal will say there is no viable military option - but inconjunction with the EU we can invoke economic sanctions including freezing of assets, travel bans (Russia's politicians and powerful don't like staying home) , and boycotting the G8. What would you have the US & EU do?
Do you honestly believe that Barack Obama will order Harry Reid to draw up sanctions against Russia?
Virtually every liberal will say there is no viable military option - but inconjunction with the EU we can invoke economic sanctions including freezing of assets, travel bans (Russia's politicians and powerful don't like staying home), and boycotting the G8. What would you have the US & EU do?
Sounds like the righties would risk WWIII to make some frivolous point to Putin on how tough we are, Insane logic IMO.
I'll go with the more sensible and tactful route of economic sanctions including freezing of assets, travel bans (Russia's politicians and powerful don't like staying home), and boycotting the G8.
PS anyone want to guess what the body count will be in an all out war with Russia?
All the leaders of industrialized countries are boycotting the G8 summit. You want Obama to go in, with nukes and guns blazing?
"We note that Russia's actions in Ukraine also contravene the principles and values on which the G-7 and the G-8 operate. As such, we have decided for the time being to suspend our participation in activities associated with the preparation of the scheduled G-8 Summit in Sochi in June, until the environment comes back where the G-8 is able to have meaningful discussion”, the leaders of France, UK, United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, Italy, and the European Commission agreed in a joint statement. - See more at: World Leaders to Boycott G-8 Summit in Sochi - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency
Last edited by Ibginnie; 03-05-2014 at 06:51 AM..
Reason: rude
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Insane logic IMO.