On Thursday night, the best assessment from the U.S. intelligence community—and for that matter most experts observing events in Ukraine—was that Vladimir Putin’s military would not invade Ukraine. Less than 24 hours later, however, there are reports from the ground of Russian troops pushing into the Ukrainian province of Crimea; the newly-installed Crimean prime minister has appealed to Putin to help him secure the country; Putin, in turn, is officially asking for parliament's permission to send Russian forces into Ukraine. It’s not a full-blown invasion—at least, not yet. But it’s not the picture U.S. analysts were painting just a day before, either.
The story comes from Eli Lake of the Daily Beast, a solid reporter with good sources.
Here's the assessment he got from a former intelligence officer:
“Putin's aim is to show that he is in the catbird seat, and there is nothing we can do about it,” this former officer said. “He's like a kid with a can of gasoline and a book of matches, and he laughs as Obama tries to deliver lectures on how fire is dangerous. Indeed, Putin throws banana peels on the ground, and Obama manages to slip on every one of them. I've never seen anything like it.”
Lake goes on to talk about Russian disruption of Internet service in Crimea, and the gathering sense of resignation in Washington.
We all knew there'd come a point when there wasn't anything cute about decline.
By the way, did you know the Russian parliament cheered after it voted 87-0 to authorize the invasion of Crimea?
UPDATE: The upper house of the Russian parliament is demanding to recall Russia's ambassador to the US.
Reset much?
Gotta love you patriots!
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Hannity and his troglodyte listeners is that they think Putin is the best President we’ve ever had. The violence in the Ukraine was sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych inching closer to his BFF Russian President Putin, while rejecting a deal for closer integration with the European Union.
Read more at http://freakoutnation.com/2014/02/21/sean-hannity-violence-in-the-ukraine-is-obamas-fault-and-by-the-way-putin-is-a-cool-guy/comment-page-1/
Have I ever put forth Hannity as a model spokesperson for a conservative foreign policy?
ReplyDeleteWhat does his convoluted view of the events of two days ago have to do with the facts on the ground now?
And The MEC has been a factor to the extent that he's been an utter failure re: Russia policy from Day One.
Sorry, difficult not to lump all you cons together. But together we stand internationally if not domectically. This is a job for NATO. Great to have our self-described patriots damning our own president in dire situations. Obama was voted-in to power after the obvious, if not admitted, failure of preemptivity and other foreign policy faux paux by the previous Republican administration which left in its wake all preemptors. Y'all sound like it is US that is under attack.
ReplyDeleteUm, it's called strategic interests. Putin is determined not to let Ukraine flirt with becoming a Western nation.
ReplyDeleteSorry, don't like your attitude, still sucks. We'll see if your ilk has power enough to make a difference with your griping. We realize you think that the past is prologue, but exactly what is it you want for the immediate future of this situation? And what is your view of the role of NATO in its resolution or its stalemate or WAR? Aren't there international agreements operating here? What would Ronnie do, call a press conference, talk tough, threaten, and/or mobilize aircraft carriers to the region? With or without NATO? What would Cheney/Bush/Rummie do? When and how would they have preempted this situation?
ReplyDeleteNever engage in that reset nonsense in 2009. Not dismantle the missile-protection agreement with Poland and Czech Republic. Insist that Russia vote for really consistent and crippling Iran sanctions in the UN Security Council. Not dither in a situation like Syria, where Russia has made the Assad regime a strategic cause.
ReplyDeletePutin cares as much about international agreements as the American cattle people do about freedom.
ReplyDeleteThen all deals made while we pussified our policy are off since Putin has pissed on them.
ReplyDeleteAnd this should settle any debate about downsizing our military now. In fact, why don't you donate any social security benefits to the cause?
ReplyDelete