“Not being George W. Bush is not a foreign policy.” —Peggy Noonan
What most gratifies me about world news is that Americans are not our planet’s only morons. There are others, and while I won’t waste your time making the case for one group of imbeciles over another, I think it is fair to say that Ukrainians are striving to achieve the top five ranking, and were this not true, then why would they expect the United States to “save them” from the re-emerging Soviet machine? Are they daft? Is it a matter of watching one too many Eliot Ness re-runs on Channel One when they ought to have been watching ICTV News reflecting Obama’s withdrawal the United States from its former leadership position?
If there is one thing we can say for certain about the Obama administration, it is that it has redefined foreign policy. Now it is more on the level of foreign non-policy, or perhaps the Hinny Youngman Hour, where every time Barack Obama or his secretaries of state make a public statement, the world's diplomatic community falls down laughing.
Pragmatically, there is only one thing the USA could do (or should do) about the Ukraine situation. It could stop making public statements that only make the government of the United States appear more naïve. So I think “shut up” is a viable alternative to what we keep hearing in the press —and relevant advice to a government that apparently has forgotten what happened exactly 100 years ago.
I don’t condemn the Ukrainian people for ridding themselves of a Vladimir Putin shill in the form of Viktor Yanukovych. From all I understand about this fellow, he should never have won the 2010 election with 48.95% of the popular vote (See note 1). I just keep wondering why they think the USA offers them any safety. Don’t they realize that we are ourselves on the verge of another civil war?
No, I think the Ukrainian people got themselves into this mess, and they will have to find their own way out of it. And I urge them to stop pleading for assistance from the US because they aren’t going to get it. Besides, appealing to the US and European governments for aid only strengthens Putin’s resolve. So grow up, Ukraine —and do it quickly.
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Notes
1. There could be a lesson here for all of those Americans who think we need more than two political parties in the United States.
Pragmatically, there is only one thing the USA could do (or should do) about the Ukraine situation. It could stop making public statements that only make the government of the United States appear more naïve. So I think “shut up” is a viable alternative to what we keep hearing in the press —and relevant advice to a government that apparently has forgotten what happened exactly 100 years ago.
I don’t condemn the Ukrainian people for ridding themselves of a Vladimir Putin shill in the form of Viktor Yanukovych. From all I understand about this fellow, he should never have won the 2010 election with 48.95% of the popular vote (See note 1). I just keep wondering why they think the USA offers them any safety. Don’t they realize that we are ourselves on the verge of another civil war?
No, I think the Ukrainian people got themselves into this mess, and they will have to find their own way out of it. And I urge them to stop pleading for assistance from the US because they aren’t going to get it. Besides, appealing to the US and European governments for aid only strengthens Putin’s resolve. So grow up, Ukraine —and do it quickly.
___________
Notes
1. There could be a lesson here for all of those Americans who think we need more than two political parties in the United States.
Sam,
ReplyDeleteRecently, this ecent essay by the editorial board of the WaPo appeared in the print edition and online: President Obama, disregarding his own red line, dithers on Ukraine. Note paragraph four:
Again Vladimir Putin is flagrantly disregarding the warnings and “red lines” of the Obama administration. He has reason to do so: President Obama also doesn’t observe them. Despite Mr. Kerry’s clear words, sanctions that have been prepared against cronies of Mr. Putin and companies involved in his Ukraine adventure remain on ice at the White House, where they have languished for more than a week. When asked Monday how much longer they would be held back, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, “I don’t have an end date for you.”
And every day Obama or a member of his administration issues some kind of statement about Ukraine. Blah, blah, blah.
Our foreign policy is ludicrous -- and that word doesn't begin to describe the inanity on display.
I had to laugh this morning when a talking head at CNN went on to discuss this administration’s options. The Obama administration is so weak and effeminate that it has only one option: do nothing. Putin figured this out years ago, and has been planning on it ever since. Good job, leftist voters. Meanwhile, I agree with you ... Ukraine had better find a way to resolve this problem or they will once more become part of a Soviet state.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a solution, mustang, we'd love to hear it.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you foment palace coups.
Typical neocon foresight.
It's way too late for a "solution". Remember when our Limp Wrist-In-Chief
ReplyDeletewas caught on camera assuring outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he will have "more flexibility" to deal with contentious issues? Putin probably knew that he had [us] the moment he realized that the US demonstrated it's collective loss of fortitude and cognizance back in 2008.
love the Noonan quote!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent point Sam. The rest of the world should take it as well. Including those pissants, the north Koreans. I truly believe the obama administration couldn't go to war with the luge team of Jamaica.
ReplyDeleteduck, maybe if you posted cookie recipes instead of trying to talk like an adult you'd provide some value. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteIngredients
Original recipe makes 35 Zeppole
2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a medium saucepan, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir in the eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla. Mix gently over low heat until combined. Batter will be sticky.
Drop by tablespoons into the hot oil a few at a time. Zeppole will turn over by themselves. Fry until golden brown, about 3 or 4 minutes. Drain in a paper sack and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm.
Sounds pretty good duck. You know, I used to sneak downstairs when I was about 7 and mix up some flour, milk, butter and sugar in a medium skillet and make myself a huge sugar cookie at 3 AM, then take it back to bed and eat it. Not bad I have to say.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to doing something about Russian intrusion into Ukraine, if not us, who? If not now, when?
ReplyDeleteI am not advocating going to war over Ukraine, but this drawing lines, making empty threats, and shouting like schoolboys on a playground has to stop. Either we will help, or we will not. In this case it would be interesting to see what G W Bush might have done. In my opinion he would not be making empty threats only to back down. He is too smart for that.
It is all about the reset, Bob ...
Delete