I keep hearing that journalism is dying, but after seeing articles like the following, I’m ready to dance on its grave:
Again and again, Barack Obama has told the world it is no longer American foreign policy to pursue U.S. interests abroad. It was at a NATO meeting where he announced he no longer believes America is exceptional — at least any more than any other country believes it’s exceptional.
So why should America put its national interest in Ukraine over Russia’s national interests? It’s not so much that Obama is anti-Ukraine. He’s just absent.
Nature abhors a vacuum, Aristotle wrote. And so does geopolitics. As America moves out — of Europe, of the Middle East, of Asia — others are jumping in. Russia, of course. China. Iran.
The idea that Russia’s pursuit of imperial expansion is somehow caused by Obama (or any American president, past or future) is simply childish. Russia’s central guiding idea for centuries has been insistent and rapid expansion of its colonial domination. Putin’s attempts to dictate Ukraine’s policy is nothing new. Ukraine was a colony of Russia between 1665 and 1991. Not only Obama but even the US didn’t exist back in 1665.
As I keep saying, many things happen in the world – both good and bad – without absolutely no influence whatsoever from the US. Russian imperialism has existed long before Obama was born and will continue to exist long after he dies. Short of launching a nuclear attack against Russia, there is absolutely nothing whatsoever anybody can do to stall Russia’s attempts to mess in the affairs of neighboring countries.
P.S. Thank you, reader Titfortat, for this link.
Clarissa's Blog 
Lol, I love it. I am no longer curious what you think. 🙂
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The whole ‘civilized’ world, including West Europe and North America, is supposed to adore those countries that have oil and/or gas and/or atom bombs, such as Russia. The rest of the world, including Ukraine, doesn’t matter.
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I thought the Ukraine had some of its own natural resources?
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Everything but oil. Which is the only resource that matters these days.
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No one is (or should be) say that Obama directly caused Russia’s imperial desires or efforts. However, by Obama giving up the “bully pulpit” and hegemonic status that the US has he has certainly made it easier for them to meddle with eastern European countries. His unilateral withdrawal of the US’s missile shields bush has promised to put up in Poland (or maybe Ukraine?) was complete folly.
I am not an Obama-hater. He is certainly not my cup of tea as a leader, but to be fair, a good bit of his ideology really is around the idea that we aren’t special. Which is complete crap. The US has been the most benevolent unipolar power in the history of the world, and while we are MILES away from saintly, America truly is special and its role of power has been that way.
So, while I don’t know the complete issue with Ukraine here, over the last decade Russia has used oil (and really natural gas mainly – through Russia’s state owned Gazprom) to extract concessions and prices out of eastern Europe. If Obama had continued to build the missile defense systems, either they could disassemble them in return for HUGE concesssions, or use the CREDIBLE threat of building a missile shield to get better rates.
And that is how Obama’s pandering and lack of power really has hurt the US’s allies in a HUGE way.
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” If Obama had continued to build the missile defense systems, either they could disassemble them in return for HUGE concesssions, or use the CREDIBLE threat of building a missile shield to get better rates.”
– No, what would have happened – and this is based on my knowledge of Putin’s policies – this would offer a great excuse for Putin to ramp up his anti-American imperialist rhetoric.
“The US has been the most benevolent unipolar power in the history of the world”
– Have you met anybody not from the US who would agree? 🙂 🙂
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Yep. My buddy from Canada agrees. So definitely have met at least one who would say that 🙂
Very liberal cohort so I know I am dodging bullets here, but the truth is that Peace through strength (uncle Ronnie did a great job ending Iran hostage and cold war… but I am sure that is just made up too)..
I realize my tone may be coming off harsh/aggressive. Not my meaning. But yeah, the US is pretty amazing. After world war I Europe decided to punish Germany so hard that it led to economic strife so much that Hitler could come to power by blaming the Jews. After World War II, we created the Marshall Plan for Europe and rebuilt Japan… now Germany and Japan are some of our best allies. and There hasn’t been another world war once the US has become the world’s solo major power. Rock on USA 🙂 People are always going to hate on the person/country in charge.. but yeah… pray do tell who you would rather have in power? Russia? China?
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” pray do tell who you would rather have in power? Russia? China?”
– I’m for democracy, not authoritarianism. So I’d prefer the UN to have the power to regulate world affairs.
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And it’s nice to have you back, Matt. 🙂
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Here’s something from my homies. The accent of the rescuers is white Zimbabwean.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/world/divers-find-man-alive-in-sunken-boat/2013/12/03/4623bab7-73f3-4742-996f-c751ea19f2a7_video.html
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