How to respond to the Russian/Ukrainian Incursion
March 3, 2014 at 9:16pm
The Russian invasion of the Crimea of the Ukraine is a foregone conclusion and there is little that can be done to reverse this now that is is complete. It was indeed an issue to prevent and through effective foreign policy it would have been averted. It is now time for damage control literally, and it is time to prevent a further invasion of greater Ukraine.
The Crimea was traditionally a Russian protectorate and through this part of the Ukraine was used by Russia for its Black Sea access. It was populated by Russia with Russians for just that reason, and has been in the Russian eye since the Ukraine became independent of the USSR in 1991.
A weak foreign policy by our current White House was partially responsible but also our weakening and weakened domestic condition is also largely to blame. Our enemies see us overwhelmed here at home with joblessness, welfare, debt and a fattened government. They do not respect the ability of the USA to project its strength around the world.
All militaries know that you must have clear supply lines and abundant supplies to your forward deployed locations. Our government has been so weakened domestically that our enemies do not believe that we can meet the needs of a military for a long term because of this weakened domestic situation.
Putin is no exception. We have also allowed the politics of religion to bleed into our foreign policy choices such as in the case of Egypt where their military had to depose a religious fanatic to bring peace and safety back to the Egyptian people. Obama unable to recognize the desperate and dangerous situation in Egypt because of the religious fanaticism driving the civil war there chose rather to decrease our diplomatic and foreign policy involvement with Egypt because of his commitment to diversity even if it is Islamic Extremism.
Vladamir Putin swept into Egypt with a new "no strings" attached arms deal for the Egyptians because of our foreign policy failure there. Our president also planned to install a religious dictatorship in Syria over this past summer on trumped up charges that the Syrians used poison gas to kill its own people later to be found that it was Al Qaeda that used the gas. The plan was stopped by an uprising here in the United States against military force in Syria.
President Reagan said this about the projection of American Power Internationally.
"It is not equality in power that reduces hostility and conflict, rather it is power, dominance or submission. Peace is purchased by making yourself stronger than your adversary, or by dismantling power and submitting to one's enemies."
"Power is not only sufficient military strength, but a sound economy, a reliable energy supply and credibility. The belief by any potential enemy that you will not chose surrender as the way to maintain peace."
If we want to project liberty around the world then we must first fix our problems here at home and while fixing them work with our strengths to oppose Vladamir Putin's Russian Expansionist visions in Europe and the Middle East.
Start by repealing the law that prevents the sale of American Gas and oil to Europe. The law was put into place in the 70's because of the oil crisis' that ground our economy to a halt. It prevented us from exporting oil. We could amend that policy based upon known reserves and known discoveries and sell oil even in a short term. It will effectively mute Russian power by interrupting their top export. OIL.
We should also start drilling in the newly found oil fields in the San Joaquin Valley, Alaska and North Dakota. Immediately clear the way for the Keystone pipeline. Once these measures have been accomplished we can start selling oil and natural gas to the Europeans at prices less than that which the Russians currently sell. We slowly push back Russian oil and gas and their power.
Other options include going along with the European whispers and buzz that the Ukraine be federated. Invite the Ukraine into NATO. Sanction Russia (generally a weak response).
Instead of the media overreacting for ratings. Instead of congress overreacting for political purposes. Instead of the president acting feckless and impotent the Congress and the president need to get together and come up with a coherent unified American policy on how to deal with Russia with a strong domestic policy which is the basis of a strong foreign policy. The president and Congress should put aside their differences act in the best interests of the American people domestically.
The Russians will have their influences yes. Usually their influences are not for the purpose of liberating people but generally end up in the abuse of human rights wherever they land. They are a sovereign nation and therefore they have a role in international affairs, but they should understand that their roles should be one of a responsible citizen of the world where we and the international community are not chasing them around with handcuffs to try and prevent them from abusing human rights. We should give the Russians a carrot, but show them the stick economically. There should be incentives for them to begin to soften their xenophobic and nationalistic aggressions while providing painful remedies to their aggressive tactics.
March 3, 2014 at 9:16pm
The Russian invasion of the Crimea of the Ukraine is a foregone conclusion and there is little that can be done to reverse this now that is is complete. It was indeed an issue to prevent and through effective foreign policy it would have been averted. It is now time for damage control literally, and it is time to prevent a further invasion of greater Ukraine.
The Crimea was traditionally a Russian protectorate and through this part of the Ukraine was used by Russia for its Black Sea access. It was populated by Russia with Russians for just that reason, and has been in the Russian eye since the Ukraine became independent of the USSR in 1991.
A weak foreign policy by our current White House was partially responsible but also our weakening and weakened domestic condition is also largely to blame. Our enemies see us overwhelmed here at home with joblessness, welfare, debt and a fattened government. They do not respect the ability of the USA to project its strength around the world.
All militaries know that you must have clear supply lines and abundant supplies to your forward deployed locations. Our government has been so weakened domestically that our enemies do not believe that we can meet the needs of a military for a long term because of this weakened domestic situation.
Putin is no exception. We have also allowed the politics of religion to bleed into our foreign policy choices such as in the case of Egypt where their military had to depose a religious fanatic to bring peace and safety back to the Egyptian people. Obama unable to recognize the desperate and dangerous situation in Egypt because of the religious fanaticism driving the civil war there chose rather to decrease our diplomatic and foreign policy involvement with Egypt because of his commitment to diversity even if it is Islamic Extremism.
Vladamir Putin swept into Egypt with a new "no strings" attached arms deal for the Egyptians because of our foreign policy failure there. Our president also planned to install a religious dictatorship in Syria over this past summer on trumped up charges that the Syrians used poison gas to kill its own people later to be found that it was Al Qaeda that used the gas. The plan was stopped by an uprising here in the United States against military force in Syria.
President Reagan said this about the projection of American Power Internationally.
"It is not equality in power that reduces hostility and conflict, rather it is power, dominance or submission. Peace is purchased by making yourself stronger than your adversary, or by dismantling power and submitting to one's enemies."
"Power is not only sufficient military strength, but a sound economy, a reliable energy supply and credibility. The belief by any potential enemy that you will not chose surrender as the way to maintain peace."
If we want to project liberty around the world then we must first fix our problems here at home and while fixing them work with our strengths to oppose Vladamir Putin's Russian Expansionist visions in Europe and the Middle East.
Start by repealing the law that prevents the sale of American Gas and oil to Europe. The law was put into place in the 70's because of the oil crisis' that ground our economy to a halt. It prevented us from exporting oil. We could amend that policy based upon known reserves and known discoveries and sell oil even in a short term. It will effectively mute Russian power by interrupting their top export. OIL.
We should also start drilling in the newly found oil fields in the San Joaquin Valley, Alaska and North Dakota. Immediately clear the way for the Keystone pipeline. Once these measures have been accomplished we can start selling oil and natural gas to the Europeans at prices less than that which the Russians currently sell. We slowly push back Russian oil and gas and their power.
Other options include going along with the European whispers and buzz that the Ukraine be federated. Invite the Ukraine into NATO. Sanction Russia (generally a weak response).
Instead of the media overreacting for ratings. Instead of congress overreacting for political purposes. Instead of the president acting feckless and impotent the Congress and the president need to get together and come up with a coherent unified American policy on how to deal with Russia with a strong domestic policy which is the basis of a strong foreign policy. The president and Congress should put aside their differences act in the best interests of the American people domestically.
The Russians will have their influences yes. Usually their influences are not for the purpose of liberating people but generally end up in the abuse of human rights wherever they land. They are a sovereign nation and therefore they have a role in international affairs, but they should understand that their roles should be one of a responsible citizen of the world where we and the international community are not chasing them around with handcuffs to try and prevent them from abusing human rights. We should give the Russians a carrot, but show them the stick economically. There should be incentives for them to begin to soften their xenophobic and nationalistic aggressions while providing painful remedies to their aggressive tactics.
