It is two days since the Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine shot down a Malaysian Airlines plane killing all 298 aboard. Even though the separatists deny doing the shooting, there is enough proof to pin this crime on them. Specifically, the separatists used a Russian weapon which they possess in the area from which the missile was launched, and the launch site was deep within an area controlled by these separatists. It is essentially impossible for the Ukrainians to have been to blame here. The only remaining question is whether and to what extent Russia itself was involved in this mess. We all know that Russia supports the separatists, but we cannot be sure if the order to fire the missile at the airliner came from Moscow or just locally with the separatists.
We are witnessing, however, no move towards some response for the mass murder of innocent civilians. Instead, we are watching this mess sink into another of those "investigations" that are everywhere these days in Washington. President Obama does not talk about consequences of this act; his topic of discussion is preservation of the evidence for review by the investigators. It is a truly crazy position. What is being investigated? I mean really, what are the open questions? Our UN ambassador has already announced to the world that we know when and from where the missile was launched. That is the same as knowing that it was the Russian separatists who fired that missile. In other words, despite all the nonsense about preserving the evidence (as if this were some sort of crime that would then go to trial in a US courtroom), Obama well knows exactly what happened here.
Vladimir Putin is using Obama's strange focus on investigations to wriggle away from responsibility for this war crime. Right now, Putin is telling the world that there needs to be a negotiation between the Ukraine, Russia, the separatists and another country (perhaps the Netherlands or Malaysia) to come to an agreement on the parameters of any investigation. While this sounds okay to the uninitiated, Putin is asking Ukraine to sit and negotiate with people who the government of Ukraine considers traitors, terrorists and criminals. Putin wants Ukraine and the world to recognize these separatists as the de facto government of the area in question. Will the USA accept such a ploy by Putin? Are we going to pressure the Ukrainian government to recognize the separatists? If so, then this will be a major victory for Putin. My guess is that Putin must find it difficult not to laugh when he speaks to Obama on the phone. Just imagine, such a clueless man as the head of the world's only superpower.
Obama need not get enmeshed in the "investigation" nonsense. America can announce that we have proof from our satellites that it was the separatists who launched the missile and that it appears that they did so with support from Russia. That is the truth! Obama could then state that America will not stand by and watch any state in this region be subverted directly or indirectly by its neighbors. Accordingly, Obama could then announce a program to help arm the forces of Ukraine. There need be no American troops involved, but we could give the Ukrainians the means to defend themselves from the Russian actions.
Obama should also make clear that in the event that Russian subversion of Ukraine continues, the USA will impose further sanctions on Russia, and these sanctions will not be silly pinpricks like the ones already in place. America has immense power; this is a situation where it ought to be used.
We are witnessing, however, no move towards some response for the mass murder of innocent civilians. Instead, we are watching this mess sink into another of those "investigations" that are everywhere these days in Washington. President Obama does not talk about consequences of this act; his topic of discussion is preservation of the evidence for review by the investigators. It is a truly crazy position. What is being investigated? I mean really, what are the open questions? Our UN ambassador has already announced to the world that we know when and from where the missile was launched. That is the same as knowing that it was the Russian separatists who fired that missile. In other words, despite all the nonsense about preserving the evidence (as if this were some sort of crime that would then go to trial in a US courtroom), Obama well knows exactly what happened here.
Vladimir Putin is using Obama's strange focus on investigations to wriggle away from responsibility for this war crime. Right now, Putin is telling the world that there needs to be a negotiation between the Ukraine, Russia, the separatists and another country (perhaps the Netherlands or Malaysia) to come to an agreement on the parameters of any investigation. While this sounds okay to the uninitiated, Putin is asking Ukraine to sit and negotiate with people who the government of Ukraine considers traitors, terrorists and criminals. Putin wants Ukraine and the world to recognize these separatists as the de facto government of the area in question. Will the USA accept such a ploy by Putin? Are we going to pressure the Ukrainian government to recognize the separatists? If so, then this will be a major victory for Putin. My guess is that Putin must find it difficult not to laugh when he speaks to Obama on the phone. Just imagine, such a clueless man as the head of the world's only superpower.
Obama need not get enmeshed in the "investigation" nonsense. America can announce that we have proof from our satellites that it was the separatists who launched the missile and that it appears that they did so with support from Russia. That is the truth! Obama could then state that America will not stand by and watch any state in this region be subverted directly or indirectly by its neighbors. Accordingly, Obama could then announce a program to help arm the forces of Ukraine. There need be no American troops involved, but we could give the Ukrainians the means to defend themselves from the Russian actions.
Obama should also make clear that in the event that Russian subversion of Ukraine continues, the USA will impose further sanctions on Russia, and these sanctions will not be silly pinpricks like the ones already in place. America has immense power; this is a situation where it ought to be used.
No comments:
Post a Comment