Putin seeks Ukraine troop deployment

[Pooky 3,783]

A most curious response in this thread. You laugh about the fact that in your imagination the US is being laughed as a result of Obama being the president? How does that begin to make sense in your heads? Seriously, I am curious to understand this.

The simple response is that President Obama has threatened consequences and President Putin appears to be daring him to follow through on them.

All of this ignores the bigger picture, which is a whole lot bigger than the simple picture above paints.

[Peikko 1,575]

The simple response is that President Obama has threatened consequences and President Putin appears to be daring him to follow through on them.

All of this ignores the bigger picture, which is a whole lot bigger than the simple picture above paints.

Which provokes laughter and cries of weakness? I like living in the US, I don't blame everything that is wrong on Obama, why would anyone do that? A complete nonsense and a deflection. He's the symbolic head of the country, he has certain political powers but he's not a dictator, Putin is. Putin can engage in all kinds of brinksmanship politics that would sit foolishly on the shoulders of the US president. Focusing on these issues as 'Obama weakness' is simply facile and juvenile.

[luckytxn 2,264]

No we are laughing at how weak Obama is and his ridiculous bluster. It is pathetic and laughable.

Which provokes laughter and cries of weakness? I like living in the US, I don't blame everything that is wrong on Obama, why would anyone do that? A complete nonsense and a deflection. He's the symbolic head of the country, he has certain political powers but he's not a dictator, Putin is. Putin can engage in all kinds of brinksmanship politics that would sit foolishly on the shoulders of the US president. Focusing on these issues as 'Obama weakness' is simply facile and juvenile.

[Pooky 3,783]

Which provokes laughter and cries of weakness? I like living in the US, I don't blame everything that is wrong on Obama, why would anyone do that? A complete nonsense and a deflection. He's the symbolic head of the country, he has certain political powers but he's not a dictator, Putin is. Putin can engage in all kinds of brinksmanship politics that would sit foolishly on the shoulders of the US president. Focusing on these issues as 'Obama weakness' is simply facile and juvenile.

You can't really be that naive, can you?

President Obama had drawn red lines and lines in the sand and then failed to follow through on them before. He is the head of state and when he makes these statements, he is the one who, in this country, is held responsible for following through on them. When he fails to do so, what other conclusions can be drawn?

This is not Russian brinkmanship, by any means. President Putin is playing a bigger game than just the Ukraine. He has been for some time. The President of the United States, regardless of who that may be, is one point of focus in his ongoing foreign policy. Showing that the "Leader of the Free World" is essentially powerless to respond to Russian foreign policy is one of the main goals he has. President Obama just happens to have been in office when two major opportunities to move this policy forward have arisen. And this Administration has obliged the Russians on both occasions.

[Peikko 1,575]

You can't really be that naive, can you?

President Obama had drawn red lines and lines in the sand and then failed to follow through on them before. He is the head of state and when he makes these statements, he is the one who, in this country, is held responsible for following through on them. When he fails to do so, what other conclusions can be drawn?

This is not Russian brinkmanship, by any means. President Putin is playing a bigger game than just the Ukraine. He has been for some time. The President of the United States, regardless of who that may be, is one point of focus in his ongoing foreign policy. Showing that the "Leader of the Free World" is essentially powerless to respond to Russian foreign policy is one of the main goals he has. President Obama just happens to have been in office when two major opportunities to move this policy forward have arisen. And this Administration has obliged the Russians on both occasions.

You can't possibly be so naive as to suppose that international foreign policy is dependent on the incumbent president or that it's a good idea to be a US citizen and divorce oneself from the consequences of policy that is the collective responsibility of all Americans and just treat Obama as a laughing stock for doing what every other US president would do in the same position. Or, are you?

No we are laughing at how weak Obama is and his ridiculous bluster. It is pathetic and laughable.

You are laughing at yourself then. Well, fair enough, if you think such things are funny. I don't suppose the Ukraine does though.

[Dakine10 5,452]

http://rt.com/news/russia-ukraine-approve-miltary-371/

Russia’s Federation Council has unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to use Russian military forces in Ukraine.

[Pooky 3,783]

You can't possibly be so naive as to suppose that international foreign policy is dependent on the incumbent president or that it's a good idea to be a US citizen and divorce oneself from the consequences of policy that is the collective responsibility of all Americans and just treat Obama as a laughing stock for doing what every other US president would do in the same position. Or, are you?

If the President is not responsible for foreign policy, why does he make statements threatening consequences, if he does not have the power to follow through on them?

[Peikko 1,575]

If the President is not responsible for foreign policy, why does he make statements threatening consequences, if he does not have the power to follow through on them?

The president is the figure head, he will be making statements that have been determined as the correct response for the US at this time. Whether they are right or wrong is not my point, the point is, pointing fingers at Obama for weakness is bizarre. US citizens may as well point fingers at themselves and say 'we are weak, we have no world power, we grandstand and do not follow up militarily'. Seen like that, maybe some of the posters here would realize what the real issues are and what the right response might be. Blaming Obama is pointless, stupid.

[luckytxn 2,264]

No. I am laughing at Obama and the fools who elected this inept weak man.

You can't possibly be so naive as to suppose that international foreign policy is dependent on the incumbent president or that it's a good idea to be a US citizen and divorce oneself from the consequences of policy that is the collective responsibility of all Americans and just treat Obama as a laughing stock for doing what every other US president would do in the same position. Or, are you?

You are laughing at yourself then. Well, fair enough, if you think such things are funny. I don't suppose the Ukraine does though.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

It's obviously not Obamas fault but he shouldn't talk big if he can't follow it up with action. Nobody did anything to help Georgia against Russia so why would anyone help Ukraine? All part of Putins big plan.

Will be interesting what the Tatars will do when Russia occupies the Crimea, they loathe Russia going back to the days of Stalin and won't sit and do nothing if Russia takes over IMO,

[Peikko 1,575]

No. I am laughing at Obama and the fools who elected this inept weak man.

American foreign policy is not dependent one one man. Are you saying that you believe that had Mitt Romney been president at this time the US would just ignore external politics and engage in isolationist policies? Or are you saying that the US should have engagedin protracted military intervention in Syria and first strike against the Russians now? I am a bit perplexed as to why you believe it's Obama and everyone else but not you that is laughable. Are you not a US citizen? Do you only recognize someone as president if you voted for them?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The president is the figure head, he will be making statements that have been determined as the correct response for the US at this time. Whether they are right or wrong is not my point, the point is, pointing fingers at Obama for weakness is bizarre. US citizens may as well point fingers at themselves and say 'we are weak, we have no world power, we grandstand and do not follow up militarily'. Seen like that, maybe some of the posters here would realize what the real issues are and what the right response might be. Blaming Obama is pointless, stupid.

From my observation quite a few Americans take a view that a good president is one who projects an image of strength. It often has little to do with their actual performance. I put it down to grandstanding media and an election system that amounts to an extended exercise in image management.

It's similar to how a lot of Russians (perhaps due to being brought up on a diet of political propaganda from the Soviet days) have a rose tinted view of Stalin, despite him being responsible for 20 million deaths.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

You can't really be that naive, can you?

President Obama had drawn red lines and lines in the sand and then failed to follow through on them before. He is the head of state and when he makes these statements, he is the one who, in this country, is held responsible for following through on them. When he fails to do so, what other conclusions can be drawn?

This is not Russian brinkmanship, by any means. President Putin is playing a bigger game than just the Ukraine. He has been for some time. The President of the United States, regardless of who that may be, is one point of focus in his ongoing foreign policy. Showing that the "Leader of the Free World" is essentially powerless to respond to Russian foreign policy is one of the main goals he has. President Obama just happens to have been in office when two major opportunities to move this policy forward have arisen. And this Administration has obliged the Russians on both occasions.

Yes he can

[luckytxn 2,264]

Exactly. Obama needs to shut up and go smoke his presidential blunt on the golf course. He couldn't even do anything in Syria and pretty much has done NOTHING ever in his political career of note.

The Tatars have no choice but to allow it or be removed ...again.

It's obviously not Obamas fault but he shouldn't talk big if he can't follow it up with action. Nobody did anything to help Georgia against Russia so why would anyone help Ukraine? All part of Putins big plan.

Will be interesting what the Tatars will do when Russia occupies the Crimea, they loathe Russia going back to the days of Stalin and won't sit and do nothing if Russia takes over IMO,

[Peikko 1,575]

From my observation quite a few Americans take a view that a good president is one who projects an image of strength. It often has little to do with their actual performance. I put it down to grandstanding media and an election system that amounts to an extended exercise in image management.

It's similar to how a lot of Russians (perhaps due to being brought up on a diet of political propaganda from the Soviet days) have a rose tinted view of Stalin, despite him being responsible for 20 million deaths.

The political system is a bit f'd up tbh. I would really like to see a cap on how much can be spent on political campaigns and the length of time the campaign should run. Seems to me that American politics is all about what we could do next if we were in power, not what we should all focus on and achieve now. Sad really, a great country that has a corrupt and morally bankrupt political elite. Makes Cameron look positively squeaky clean.