Word is out tonight that the deployment of American troops in Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia is being increased to 150 soldiers in each country. In addition, while these soldiers will only be in these countries for a short time, when they leave, new American troops will be sent for more "military exercises".
I have to wonder why it is that our president and his advisors always seem to limit themselves to symbolic moves. 150 troops in one country or 150 troops in each of four countries will not make any difference to Putin and the Russians. The only moves that might influence Putin would be ones that change the actual situation in Europe for Russia.
Were Obama to approve export licenses for LNG facilities in the USA, Putin would understand that for the next thirty years, Russia would get substantially less revenue from its natural gas activities. Since sales of this energy is the single biggest chunk of Russia's economy, such a price and revenue decline would have real impact on Russia. Putin would actually be paying a price for invading Ukraine (and the USA would get tens or hundreds of thousands of new jobs and a burst of economic growth to boot.)
Were Obama to begin negotiations with Poland and other countries about building anti-missile defenses in eastern Europe, Russia again would pay a real price. Putin strongly opposes such a system even though it is not aimed at Russia. Why not have old Vlad lose a round or two?
Were America to bomb Syrian chemical facilities now that Assad is once again using chemical weapons on his own people, it would also be a major blow to Putin. The prestige that Putin gained from getting Obama to back down on getting rid of Assad for using chemical weapons would be lost. And let's not forget, such a move would impose a major price on Syria for using such heinous weapons. It would also be a blow to Iran, the foreign master of Assad.
Who knows; if things get worse in Ukraine, maybe Obama will up the American troops in the other countries from 150 to 155. That should surely make a difference (in Obama's world, not reality).
I have to wonder why it is that our president and his advisors always seem to limit themselves to symbolic moves. 150 troops in one country or 150 troops in each of four countries will not make any difference to Putin and the Russians. The only moves that might influence Putin would be ones that change the actual situation in Europe for Russia.
Were Obama to approve export licenses for LNG facilities in the USA, Putin would understand that for the next thirty years, Russia would get substantially less revenue from its natural gas activities. Since sales of this energy is the single biggest chunk of Russia's economy, such a price and revenue decline would have real impact on Russia. Putin would actually be paying a price for invading Ukraine (and the USA would get tens or hundreds of thousands of new jobs and a burst of economic growth to boot.)
Were Obama to begin negotiations with Poland and other countries about building anti-missile defenses in eastern Europe, Russia again would pay a real price. Putin strongly opposes such a system even though it is not aimed at Russia. Why not have old Vlad lose a round or two?
Were America to bomb Syrian chemical facilities now that Assad is once again using chemical weapons on his own people, it would also be a major blow to Putin. The prestige that Putin gained from getting Obama to back down on getting rid of Assad for using chemical weapons would be lost. And let's not forget, such a move would impose a major price on Syria for using such heinous weapons. It would also be a blow to Iran, the foreign master of Assad.
Who knows; if things get worse in Ukraine, maybe Obama will up the American troops in the other countries from 150 to 155. That should surely make a difference (in Obama's world, not reality).
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