The Wrong Exit

Remember months ago when there was a crisis in Crimea?  That province of Ukraine was being taken over by Russia, and president Obama told America that his goal was to give Vladimir Putin and Russia an "off ramp" so that they could move away from annexation.  Well, that strategy did not work as Russia moved ahead with full annexation of Crimea into Russia.  Today, nobody even talks about Crimea anymore.  Then came the moves by Russia and its proxy forces in Eastern Ukraine.  So called separatists took over large swaths of the east around Donetsk.  At that point, the Ukrainian forces started to fight back.  Obama, of course, did nothing.  He was probably still looking for the off ramp for Putin.  Then the Russians shot down the Malaysian airliner.  Obama had his predictable response:  nothing.  Now Russia has actually invaded Ukraine.  We do not know if the Russians will move only into the eastern area previously taken by the separatists or if the move will take the Russian army into Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.  The Ukrainian army is outgunned and outmanned.  It is no match for the Russians.

Twenty years ago, the United States agreed with Ukraine that it would guarantee the borders of Ukraine in exchange for Ukraine getting rid of its nuclear arms.  Ukraine disarmed.  America, under Obama, has done nothing in response to the invasion.  In fact, Obama is doing all he can to avoid having to act.  Yesterday, he even called the invasion by Russia an "incursion". 

Here's a news flash for the White House and the media.  An incursion happens when some country temporarily crosses the border into another and quickly leaves.  An invasion is when forces cross the border and stay to fight.  This is an invasion by Russia of Ukraine.

Someone in Washington better explain to Obama that Russia does not want an exit from Ukraine.  They also better explain to him the long term implications of Russian domination of Ukraine.  They are not good.