This blog has considerable readership in Russia … which has
always puzzled me since my politics are mostly antithetical to the brand
currently being practiced there. Perhaps
the KGB (its secret police whose famous graduate, Vladimir Putin, is currently
attempting to restore the Bear to a much larger den) believes that my opinions
are somehow representative of America.
Shh, don’t tell them how askew my political thinking is.
Nevertheless, Russia is in the process of taking back the
Crimean peninsula and the warm-water Black Sea port of Sevastopol, … which Nikita Khrushchev so thoughtlessly
gave to the Ukraine way back in 1954. This might cost Russia more on the world stage than it expects.
Even our fearless leader, Obama, might throw a snit on his 19th
hole. This aggression is occurring despite the fact that both the United States and Russia had guaranteed
the integrity of the Ukrainian borders (including the Crimea) back in both 1994
and 2009. Oops!
So far the United State’s response has been subdued and
rather wandering. As a result, talking heads and Op-Ed pundits are climbing over each other offering our
“leadership” much and varied advice. Here are a few ossified opinions on this
whole brouhaha (not that my opinions aren’t.)
Henry Kissinger believes that the Ukraine is not worth any hostilities
and must become a “bridge” between Russia and the West (I think kind of like Switzerland’s status during WW
II) … for his specific recommendations see: Washington Post Op Ed.
Zbigniew Brzezinski (President Carter’s chief appeaser …
err, adviser) thinks Russia may be trying to duplicate Hitler’s seizure of the Sudetenland before WW
II. He, surprisingly suggests that the
West should risk hostilities and bolster the Ukrainian military with armaments ... but also simultaneously seek
rapprochement with Russia over the Ukraine's future … see his suggestions
here: Another Washington Post Op Ed
But the opinions that I respect the most swirl around that
Diplomad blogster, W. Lewis Amselem, and those that comment on his
writings … see: The Diplomad Blog
A few comments in this link that I particularly like are:
Putin of course knows what realpolitik is and uses it to advantage, act first, allow limited diplomatic discussion after. He has also perceived that a country that will not secure its own borders is unlikely to assist others to secure theirs (think UK, Germany, USA, the entire EU) -- "Cascadian" commenter
"Despite his upbringing as a Communist, he is now devoutly religious and wants to see religion restored to Russian life. As the jihadis have discovered, they have in Putin a rival as ruthless and religiously committed as they, and not bound by the conventions of political correctness." I believe you [the Diplomad] have put your finger on Putin's next international gambit once the dust from the Crimea mess has settled. I've been wondering lately who, if any, is going to stand up for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East and Africa. It certainly won't be the pro-Islam Obama or the post-Christian leaders of Europe. I believe it will be Vladimir Putin. He will speak out on behalf of the persecuted Copts and Nigerians. He may even begin sending them aid and weapons. And Christians around the world will flock to his banner, bringing the idea of Moscow as the "Third Rome" to fruition. -- “Anonymous” commenterMy own simple suggestion would be for the United States to immediately reverse itself and place its anti-ballistic missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic ... to which we had previously committed (and Obama had reneged on). This way Putin will quickly see a real cost to his colonial expansionism.
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