Washington Post; Obama dithers on Ukraine
The Washington Post‘s editorial board took hard right turn this morning when they decided to criticize the Obama Administration for dithering when it comes to the “red line” that John Kerry drew for the Russians last week;
Thursday, Secretary of State John F. Kerry was very explicit about U.S. expectations. “We fully expect the Russians?.?.?. to demonstrate their seriousness by insisting that the pro-Russian separatists who they’ve been supporting lay down their arms [and] leave the buildings” in eastern Ukraine, he said. “I made clear to Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov today that if we are not able to see progress?.?.?. this weekend, then we will have no choice but to impose further costs on Russia.”
The weekend has come and gone, and far from standing down in eastern Ukraine, Russia has continued to escalate. Its operatives and those they control have not withdrawn from the government buildings they occupy. In Slovyansk, the crossroads where Russian military operatives appear to be headquartered, a shooting incident early Sunday morning has been seized on by Moscow’s crude propaganda apparatus, which is claiming — based on what looks like fabricated evidence — that a Kiev-based right-wing group was involved.
When the White House loses the Post, they’ve lost most of the country. Meanwhile, Joe Biden was in the Ukraine today “pushing for peace” according to Fox News. That doesn’t seem to have worked so well, since, while his seat at the table was still warm, the Ukraine government announced more “anti-terror” operations reports the Associated Press.
Terrorists “are beginning to torture and kill Ukrainian patriots. They are impudently rejecting the calls of not only our country but of all the world’s society when they demonstratively mock the decisions taken in Geneva,” he said.
“These crimes are being done with the full support and connivance of Russia,” Turchynov added.
The acting government, which took over after President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia in February, says Russia is behind the outbreak of unrest in eastern Ukraine with the possible aim of provoking violence that could be used as a pretext to invade. Last month, Russia annexed Crimea several weeks after seizing control of the peninsula.
Kerry and Biden should not look for help from Republicans. Bob Dole injected himself into the discussion yesterday by telling the administration they should send small arms to the Ukraine. I just saw Bill Richardson on Fox News saying the same thing.
The time to act tough with Russia passed years ago. A crawler at Fox News says that the Obama Administration wants to deploy 600 troops to the Baltic states to act as speed bumps if the Russians feel froggy. Being a pussy has a price, unfortunately, that price is going to paid by the troops…as always.
ADDED: PintoNag sends and NBC News link about the 600 troops going to the Baltics region.
The first company of soldiers (members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade) will arrive in Poland on Wednesday, officials said.
Three additional company-size units will deploy to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for similar infantry training and exercises. They will be in place in all four countries over the next week.
Pentagon spokesperson Rear Admiral John Kirby said the bilateral exercises were a result of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Kirby added that “since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine” began, the U.S. has constantly been looking at ways to reassure U.S. allies and partners.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Media, Military issues
Pentagon spokesperson Rear Admiral John Kirby said the bisexual exercises were a result of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
I wasn’t certain I read that correctly so I didn’t use quotes. Besides, if it’s wrong, I like my version better.
I’m sorry, the *what* exercises?
Dammit, AirCav, I was just about to drink the hot tea!
If our Perfumed Princes keep drawing red lines that they have no idea what to do with, they probably shouldn’t be shocked to eventually find one drawn up the middle of their backs — courtesy of the Russians.
THAT line will be yellow
With so many lines being drawn, the Obama foreign policy looks like a Jackson Pollock painting. Putin knows that Barry is a sissy man and Kerry is a francophile. Nothing to fear from either of them.
Is anyone really surprised at this point at how badly the current administration is handling this situation? I’d say its pathetic, but I think we’ve gone a step beyond.
Here’s hoping the guys that we have in Poland will have an uneventful and peaceful “show of force” deployment before coming home.
Farflung Wanderer…”Here’s hoping the guys that we have in Poland will have an uneventful and peaceful “show of force” deployment before coming home.”
That is my prayer.
That’s my prayer as well. May St. Michael protect these small bands of paratroopers. May they shoot straight and shoot first. And if they’re called home, if that day truly be the day, may they be found in a pile of spent brass.
“Airborne All the Way…And Then Some.”
Jesus. The 173rd again?
Those guys are getting deployed somewhere every time they turn around. I know they are our “Fire Brigade” but still…..
I have to say, this is one time that I’m happy my son is no longer with the Thundering Herd.
So do we cede Hawaii or Alaska first?
GT…No oil in Hawaii, so I say let’s see if they can surf and how soon their pasty, white asses sunburn.
“Ivan don’t surf” LTC Kilgore in Apocalypse Soon…
Illinois.
Hey, now, let’s not be *too* hasty.
Naw. Rhode Island.
Hey-maybe the Rooskies will clean up the corrupt Chicago political class.
They couldn’t be any worse.
I say give ’em Chicago, Messychew-its, and CT as well as LA and San Foo-foo!
But, But wait! Obumbles toured the world and apologized profusely for our “imperialism” and they pushed the reset button and everything! That’s gotta count for something right?
Worst. president. EVER. I pray nightly that we will survive another 3 years of this buffoon.
I grew up believing I was going to die in the fulda gap, an etool clenched in one hand a block of c4 in the other. And I was going to take a shit ton of commies with me.
Now that I’m older, and have led a good full life, I pray that they’ll send me rather than some kid who has his entire life in front of him.
Let me carry the burden that politicians play, because I didn’t do enough to stop this from happening.
SGT Kane, if I had the money, I’d put what you just said on a bronze plaque somewhere.
And you did a lot more than most to try and stop this from happening.
Kinda makes us miss Reagan doesn’t it?? I almost miss my time in the Gap with the 11th ACR. We really thought that WE could stop the entire Red Hoard. I think we could have too.
Having met no small number of Vietnam-era 11 ACR (including my old man) and later, I have no doubt in that, nbcguy.
I MISS Ronald Reagan the Great!!
Sergeant, while I appreciate your willingness to go there should the need come, your generation has done its time on the line. It is up to my generation to fix the mess we made by voting this idiot in.
Appreciate the thought, FW, but we still have a vested interest in putting a stop to this nonsense if it gets worse. And none of us feel we’re ‘special’, just American.
Sgt Kane, 2ACR? Or a support unit?
“We fully expect the Russians to demonstrate that they are pro-Russian.”
There. Fixed it into something sensible instead of the skittles and unicorns from a lefty.
Hey, gang! Hold the phone! Didn’t POTUS Big Ears tell Medeved or some other lackie that he needed more time until after after the elections when he’d have more freedom to act on something?
Street, that was Putin, and bodaprez said he’d have more flexibility after the elections.
And Putin smiled knowingly, and started making plans.
“Now don’t cross this line!! …er, ah, THIS line!….uh, this line!!” Truly our foreign policy at its ineffective best. Or worst.