As I am sure most of you know, Russia sent large numbers of troops into Ukraine over the past few weeks in violation of international law. The official claim from Moscow is that the invasion, which has so far been described as "low-key," is a peace keeping mission and an effort to protect Russian nationals living inside of Ukraine from imminent civil war. To the rest of the world, however, it looks like Russia is attempting to reacquire Ukraine, a nation that was previously a cornerstone of the Soviet Union. Vladimir Putin, went on record in 2005 saying "that the fall of the Soviet Union was 'the greatest geopolitical catastrophe' of the 20th century," so it seems logical to assume that this is a strategic political move and not a reactive peace keeping mission.
Since the invasion began, the United States has erupted with questions and accusations about Barrack Obama's effectiveness in dealing with the situation. One of the most common accusation among republican politicians is that Obama is a weak president and that his weakness has led Putin to believe that he can act with impunity. On Sunday, Senator Lindsey Grahram went on CNN to say that "Every time the president goes on national television and threatens Putin or anyone like Putin, everybody's eyes roll, including mine. We have a weak and indecisive president that invites aggression." Senator John McCain claimed that "this is the ultimate result of a feckless foreign policy where no one believes in America's strength anymore."
Now I am a pretty conservative person, and I disagree with most of Obama's policies, but these accusations are ridiculous. President Obama has authorized more drone strikes than any other president in history, and Osama bin Laden was discovered and killed on Obama's watch. But conservatives are trying to use this crisis to turn public opinion against Obama. Unfortunately, this is not unusual. Anytime any American president makes any decision about anything, the opposing political party attempts to undermine him. Obama has done everything he can to dissuade Putin from keeping troops in Ukraine. According to the Washington Post, "Obama authorized the Treasury Department on Thursday to impose sanctions on 'individuals and entities' responsible for the Russian intervention in Crimea or for 'stealing the assets of the Ukrainian people,'" but his options in dealing with Russia are limited. He cannot use military force without starting World War 3, and so far, the United Nations has done nothing except talk about taking action.
Honestly, I agree with the popular opinion that Russia sent troops into Ukraine because Putin sensed weakness, but it was not weakness in Obama. He knows that the United States is deeply divided, that most European countries will never take action, and that the United Nations is a joke. Putin is using Ukraine to test the rest of the world, similar to what Adolf Hitler did with Poland in 1939, but the world is too busy bickering to take any decisive action. I cannot believe that I am saying this, but Republicans need to get behind Obama on this one. This is too important of an issue to be turned into another internal political struggle. If anything, Americans should be angry at the Europe and the United Nations for dragging their feet on this issue.
Since the invasion began, the United States has erupted with questions and accusations about Barrack Obama's effectiveness in dealing with the situation. One of the most common accusation among republican politicians is that Obama is a weak president and that his weakness has led Putin to believe that he can act with impunity. On Sunday, Senator Lindsey Grahram went on CNN to say that "Every time the president goes on national television and threatens Putin or anyone like Putin, everybody's eyes roll, including mine. We have a weak and indecisive president that invites aggression." Senator John McCain claimed that "this is the ultimate result of a feckless foreign policy where no one believes in America's strength anymore."
Now I am a pretty conservative person, and I disagree with most of Obama's policies, but these accusations are ridiculous. President Obama has authorized more drone strikes than any other president in history, and Osama bin Laden was discovered and killed on Obama's watch. But conservatives are trying to use this crisis to turn public opinion against Obama. Unfortunately, this is not unusual. Anytime any American president makes any decision about anything, the opposing political party attempts to undermine him. Obama has done everything he can to dissuade Putin from keeping troops in Ukraine. According to the Washington Post, "Obama authorized the Treasury Department on Thursday to impose sanctions on 'individuals and entities' responsible for the Russian intervention in Crimea or for 'stealing the assets of the Ukrainian people,'" but his options in dealing with Russia are limited. He cannot use military force without starting World War 3, and so far, the United Nations has done nothing except talk about taking action.
Honestly, I agree with the popular opinion that Russia sent troops into Ukraine because Putin sensed weakness, but it was not weakness in Obama. He knows that the United States is deeply divided, that most European countries will never take action, and that the United Nations is a joke. Putin is using Ukraine to test the rest of the world, similar to what Adolf Hitler did with Poland in 1939, but the world is too busy bickering to take any decisive action. I cannot believe that I am saying this, but Republicans need to get behind Obama on this one. This is too important of an issue to be turned into another internal political struggle. If anything, Americans should be angry at the Europe and the United Nations for dragging their feet on this issue.