The Obama Years- A GOP love story

This is the type of statement that I am talking about:

Breaking News ‏@BreakingNews 7m

President Obama says military confrontation between Russia and the US is 'not in the cards'

In a liberal democratic ideal world, this is a tension easing statement. Can't we all just get along, group hug, and group think to solve a problem. That works well for internal US politics, because we have a national history and similar core beliefs that say, Yes, we should not use military confrontation to resolve our issues. (Hence why Ferguson blew up when it looked like the local police were going military - though interesting that national guard troops helped quiet it, but even in that case the national guard was seen as limiting militarized police, in addition to force against the public unrest).

BUT, to put that statement out there for global politics is to tell those who don't share that mentality, that it's ok to carve Ukraine up. We will be very mad and disappointed, but there won't be any "real" consequences. And if you think Putin cares about his people - a) he has a 80% popularity rating (I heard it will be 85% after the next KGB sweep ;) ), b) his response to our sanctions was to take food off his foodstore shelves with his own sanctions.

You mean the same foreign policy they've had for about 50-60 years now?

No I mean the Obama foreign policy as where he just got on national tv and said his administration haven't got a strategy on Isis yet. He just said that

In essence, make it clear we are no longer the world's policeman but will, instead, use both our military and economic might to protect clearly defined policy goals. Regardless of what the actual policies may be, clarity and consistency are incredibly important. If you disagree with my proposed policies on China and Russia, fine. I am not wedded to either. Whatever our policy is, however, our line in the sand and the penalty for crossing it must be clear. Lacking the recognition that a line must be drawn and that it must be clear invites the destructive misunderstandings that triggered WWI one hundred years ago.

So we aren't the Worlds Police (i agree) but then we draw a line in the sand and say cross it and we will fight you , the only way that works is to back it up, sorry nope . The people in this country are tired of fighting wars ,they are tired of sending their Fathers/Mothers and Sons/Daughters off to die in another country to protect a policy .Obama knows this so his options are limited .

No I mean the Obama foreign policy as where he just got on national tv and said his administration haven't got a strategy on Isis yet. He just said that


Ok , what do you want him to do ?

Ok , what do you want him to do ?

You're satisfied with this admission? Lololololololol.....

So we aren't the Worlds Police (i agree) but then we draw a line in the sand and say cross it and we will fight you , the only way that works is to back it up, sorry nope . The people in this country are tired of fighting wars ,they are tired of sending their Fathers/Mothers and Sons/Daughters off to die in another country to protect a policy .Obama knows this so his options are limited .

You want isolationism? Fine. Announce it. Cede our economic interests to China & Russia and the ME to extremists. I am fine with that (basically). Just make clear where the GD line is. What are our national interests? Where do we draw the line?

For Europe, Obama has just announced it is not in Ukraine. Is the Danube? The Oder? The Elbe? The Rhine? Brooklyn? With this administration, I just don't f'ing know and, more importantly, I don't think they know either.

No I mean the Obama foreign policy as where he just got on national tv and said his administration haven't got a strategy on Isis yet. He just said that

I am sure they will just hug it out.

So we aren't the Worlds Police (i agree) but then we draw a line in the sand and say cross it and we will fight you , the only way that works is to back it up, sorry nope . The people in this country are tired of fighting wars ,they are tired of sending their Fathers/Mothers and Sons/Daughters off to die in another country to protect a policy .Obama knows this so his options are limited .

Good leaders can draw appropriate lines, AND explain to tired fathers/mothers/sons/daughters WHY the line is drawn, and why we need to be prepared for all eventualities. You can do this with phrases like, but not limited to:
- the United States upholds the long standing belief that civil society depends on free trade, and respect for a country's soveriegn borders. What is happening today in Ukraine is unacceptable for a neighboring country to take another country's land and resources through military force. We as a nation cannot let that aggression go undeterred, because through the course of history, we have learned that agressors rarely stop with one bite. And Russia is already on it's 2nd, having seized portions of Georgia in 2008. To this end, we will, with Ukrainian support place a F-18 squadron temporarily in Kiev. And we will begin regular patrols over Ukraine sovereign air space. We do not want war, but if our forces are attacked on patrol we will respond. We call on Russia to stand down from their aggressive advances in Ukraine. And we call on nations around the world to work with us in order to deter them from any further incursions.
-- end statement
Now before you cry that this will start a war -
a) a war is already started
b) we are clearly stating a long held US and international principal of sovereignty
c) we are not saying that we will attack, only that we will respond. if Russia doesn't want a war, then they will step back.

obviously, you have to have Ukrainian buy in. And you have to present it to the US public as a valid policy requirement. If the US is not willing to then the President should make the following (or equivalent):

Russia has determined that it is going to seize portions of a sovereign nation. When Iraq did this to a US Ally with recognized treaties of protection, we responded by driving Iraq's forces out within months. We hold our treaties and friends in high regards and will support them always. To the Ukrainian citizens who Russia has deemed to invade, we express sympathy. To the world at large, we ask that the UN General Assembly immediately vote to strip Russia of any and all guarantees as they have broached the UN charter. And we proclaim to our treaty allies of Estonia, Poland, Latvia, that we stand with you as we stood with Kuwait. You will not fall under a Russian territorial grab. To US citizens, we are members of NATO because it gives us a common protective force that keeps aggressors away from us, our friends, and our allies. We must always remember that our way of life and prosperity comes in many ways from the protective alliances which have allowed markets to grow and economies to be resilient. We do not want to see troubled waters, but we cannot allow our long time friends and allies to return to the days of shadows and doubt. We say to Ukraine that we see your struggle, and for now, offer the hope that one day Ukrainians will join side by side in the EU, and NATO.


Sure, I am not a politician, so there are multiple layers in both those things that diplomats and their ilk would iron out. But the point is that you be decisive and you lay out the national political values of why, if it is, this fight needs to be fought, or you let the world know that this is not our fight, but if you want to make it our fight, we will do our best to kick your a$$

Instead, what we get is a mad parent setting curfews, withholding allowances, waggling his finger at what he sees as a rebellious child. Putin is not a rebellious child, he is an attack dog, and he will attack (when the moment is best in his judgement) until he has a reason not too.

^^ This +1

You're satisfied with this admission? Lololololololol.....

Didn't say that, I asked you ,what it is you want him to do ?