In 2009, president Obama and his then secretary of State Hillary Clinton came forward with the so called "reset" with Russia. In simplest terms, the Obama/Clinton plan was (1) to drop all of the sanctions that had been put in place on Russia for its invasion of its neighbor Georgia and (2) to invite the Russians into full participation of all the key international negotiations and disputes. The hope was that Russia would be the leopard that actually changed its spots. The Russia that six months earlier had invaded a small neighbor and seized two provinces for itself would now morph into America's trusted friend who would help us deal with thorny issues like Iran and Islamic terrorism. There was nothing to indicate that the Russian government had changed its character; the same group that invaded Georgia was still in control. There was nothing to indicate that the sanctions imposed after that invasion had caused the Kremlin to even modify any of its plans. There was only hope, a hope that by treating Russia well we would engender gratitude from the imperialists in Moscow. In other words, the policy sounded nice in theory, but it was about as far from reality as one could get.
When presented with this new policy, the Russian leadership saw it for the opportunity that it was. It was not an opportunity for world peace; no, this was an opportunity for Russia to get something for nothing. Russian leader Putin, always the hard headed realist, recognized that in Obama (and Clinton) he had people who did not understand the realities of the world. Putin decided to make Obama work for the "reset". Putin demanded that the USA stop its installation of anti-missile defenses in the eastern part of Europe before he would commit Russia to the reset. Think about that move. The missile defense was to have gone into Poland and other former vassals of the Soviet empire and member states of NATO. By having Obama pull out the missiles to which these eastern European countries had agreed, Putin demonstrated to the region that the USA was not a dependable ally, he made clear that Russia was a major power that had to be assuaged and Putin also made clear to the entire world that Obama would give up something very real to get an imaginary benefit.
Despite the clear adverse results of the USA's pulling out the missile defense systems, Obama and Clinton agreed. The missiles were removed and Putin then reluctantly agreed to America's lifting all sanctions for the invasion of Georgia. In return, Obama got nothing.
Fast forward a bit. At that point, the world saw the start of the uprising in Syria. Bashir Assad, the Iranian client and friend of Russia was under assault by his own people. At the urging of the Kremlin, Obama (and Clinton) decided that the best course for the USA was to remain totally on the sidelines. Obama offered no help to the protesters. When the fighting began, Obama offered no support to the rebels who were fighting for their lives against well armed government troops. Russia did nothing to prevent the fighting; indeed, Putin sent military help to the Assad forces. Iran did that too, but let's focus on Russia for now.
Then a few years later came Obama's red line regarding chemical weapons in Syria. Obama told the world that America could not tolerate the use of chemical weapons. Then, of course, Assad used those weapons and Obama was fine with that. Only after the weapons were used nearly twenty times over four months did Obama come forward to condemn their use, and that was because video of people dying from the weapons finally made its way on the world's tv screens. Of course, Obama made a complete mess of the response to the chemical weapons, and Putin stepped into the mix once again. This time, he gave Obama a way out of the situation where Obama did not actually have to decide to use troops. In exchange, Putin got Obama to agree that Assad would remain in power and that America would take no steps to help those fighting against Assad. In other words, Russia got the exact result it wanted and all that it had to give up was a promise (not a reality) that Assad would give up his chemical weapons.
Today we see Russia and Putin on the march in Ukraine. In response, Obama is once again flailing wildly trying to come up with a policy that makes sense. Everyone knows that America under Obama will not actually take any step to confront the Russians. Ukraine is on its own. Obama has made that clear.
The entire world (not just America) is paying for the foolishness coming from the White House. America has no policy. No one is leading the opposition to Russian imperialism. It is a disaster!
When presented with this new policy, the Russian leadership saw it for the opportunity that it was. It was not an opportunity for world peace; no, this was an opportunity for Russia to get something for nothing. Russian leader Putin, always the hard headed realist, recognized that in Obama (and Clinton) he had people who did not understand the realities of the world. Putin decided to make Obama work for the "reset". Putin demanded that the USA stop its installation of anti-missile defenses in the eastern part of Europe before he would commit Russia to the reset. Think about that move. The missile defense was to have gone into Poland and other former vassals of the Soviet empire and member states of NATO. By having Obama pull out the missiles to which these eastern European countries had agreed, Putin demonstrated to the region that the USA was not a dependable ally, he made clear that Russia was a major power that had to be assuaged and Putin also made clear to the entire world that Obama would give up something very real to get an imaginary benefit.
Despite the clear adverse results of the USA's pulling out the missile defense systems, Obama and Clinton agreed. The missiles were removed and Putin then reluctantly agreed to America's lifting all sanctions for the invasion of Georgia. In return, Obama got nothing.
Fast forward a bit. At that point, the world saw the start of the uprising in Syria. Bashir Assad, the Iranian client and friend of Russia was under assault by his own people. At the urging of the Kremlin, Obama (and Clinton) decided that the best course for the USA was to remain totally on the sidelines. Obama offered no help to the protesters. When the fighting began, Obama offered no support to the rebels who were fighting for their lives against well armed government troops. Russia did nothing to prevent the fighting; indeed, Putin sent military help to the Assad forces. Iran did that too, but let's focus on Russia for now.
Then a few years later came Obama's red line regarding chemical weapons in Syria. Obama told the world that America could not tolerate the use of chemical weapons. Then, of course, Assad used those weapons and Obama was fine with that. Only after the weapons were used nearly twenty times over four months did Obama come forward to condemn their use, and that was because video of people dying from the weapons finally made its way on the world's tv screens. Of course, Obama made a complete mess of the response to the chemical weapons, and Putin stepped into the mix once again. This time, he gave Obama a way out of the situation where Obama did not actually have to decide to use troops. In exchange, Putin got Obama to agree that Assad would remain in power and that America would take no steps to help those fighting against Assad. In other words, Russia got the exact result it wanted and all that it had to give up was a promise (not a reality) that Assad would give up his chemical weapons.
Today we see Russia and Putin on the march in Ukraine. In response, Obama is once again flailing wildly trying to come up with a policy that makes sense. Everyone knows that America under Obama will not actually take any step to confront the Russians. Ukraine is on its own. Obama has made that clear.
The entire world (not just America) is paying for the foolishness coming from the White House. America has no policy. No one is leading the opposition to Russian imperialism. It is a disaster!
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