Is anybody listening?
President Barack Obama appears to be at some distance from reality. He's issuing statements about the Ukrainian situation as though he were the maximum leader of a vast empire that includes just about everywhere except Russia and China.
The scope of the president's edicts is remarkable considering the lack of public support, even interest, in using the influence of the United States in this conflict. In addition, the Obama threats and actions are riddled with inconsistencies.
When the elected president of the Ukraine was ousted by violent demonstrations, the administration endorsed the street coup by recognizing the new government. It didn't matter that the change came through violence. It didn't matter that the core leadership of the street protests consisted of neo Nazi organizations. The new leaders favored a closer relationship with the European Union and the United States.
Anticipating a response from Russia, Obama issued his first edict, a warning to President Vladimir Putin:
"Any
violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be
deeply destabilizing. It would represent a profound interference in
matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people." President Barack Obama, February 28
Two days later, Russian troops took control of the Crimea, a part of the Ukraine with a Russian-speaking majority.
Obama threatened sanctions against Russia for actions in the Crimea. He also dispatched Secretary of State John Kerry to the Ukraine's capitol, Kiev.
When the Crimean government announced a popular vote on the question of leaving the Ukraine to join Russia, another edict flowed forth from the would-be emperor:
"Any
discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate
government of Ukraine. In 2014, we are well beyond the days when
borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders." President Obama, March 6
The legitimate government of the Ukraine is an unknown. The elected president fled the country leaving behind a substantial portion of the wealth he'd stolen while in office. The new leader, as it turns out, is the same person selected to take over by Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and the U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine. The two made this clear in taped conversations released on February 4.
There was no election to endorse the ouster of the former president, a crook, or ratify the insertion of the new leader, a U.S. selected puppet.
Assistant Secretary Nuland had made her choice after vetoing a unity government: --I don't think it's necessary ... I think Yats (Yatseniuk) is the guy ... " Why bother with an election. The U.S. had made its choice. Leaders of the violent protests dutifully named Yats the Ukraine's new prime minister on February 26.
In his most ambitious flight of fantasy and hypocrisy, the president warned the Crimea against holding a vote to choose between remaining as a part of the Ukraine or join Russia. In true imperial fashion, the emperor in his own mind is now opposing democratic elections.
The president is not alone in his fantasies of influence and power.
The Abbot and Costello team of Republican war hawks, Senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain, are bitter that the president isn't doing more. The Greek chorus consisting of the Council of Foreign Relations, fellow travelers, and their media properties are also demanding more action from the president.
Obama objects to events that he and others created
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