Ukraine, Russia, and the US

Remember - Obama told us about how he was changing things, rebuilding relations, creating a strong consensus to stop Iran.

That has fallen apart and in large part due to the ineptitude and naivete of Obama / and or those who were charged with defining policy.

Under Bush, the US was pushing for the Ukraine to be added in to NATO.  The Ukraine wanted it - the military wanted it, the government wanted it, the people wanted it.  Poland is another case - the US wanted Poland admitted, and Bush was pushing for their inclusion.

Russia on the other hand didn't want either to join NATO and it exerted the only force it could - cutting off fuel supplies to the Ukraine.  Russia did this several times, a threat, or promise unstated - do not join NATO or worse will happen, the US cannot help you.  Bush pushed for the missile defense system, and then under Obama everything changed.

Obama made it clear the US could not get involved in foreign issues, we stopped the missile defense system - a capitulation to Russian demands.  But what did we get back from them?  We were to get Russian support against Iran, and for a few moments it seemed like Russia would.  In public statements Russia said it would consider all options, for five minutes, and then, with the missile defense system safely taken out of Eastern Europe, Russia reneged.

Still, NATO wanted the Ukraine, and until Obama made it clear that NATO would not be expanding - the Ukraine and Poland felt safe, and then the floor fell out - the US would not be a stand-up partner for them, they were alone. 

In the Ukraine, the US pulled back on ther NATO deal in an effort to secure Russian assistance against Iran.  Russia decided to push several pro-Russian candidates in the Ukraine into running for the presidency.  Both candidates in the Feb. 6 runoff (opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko) are effectively in favor of accommodation with Russia. Therefore, the American strategy in Russia just vaporized.  The one thing the Russians wanted from the US was recognition of their sphere of influence, and Iran was the carrot they were using to achieve that end.  Now, it doesn't matter - Russia has achieved what it wanted in the Ukraine without the US.  The entire American diplomatic effort in Iran depends on what the Russians do now and the US strategy on Russia is in shambles.


Amazing.














Obama