Israel Matzav

Putin cleaning Obama's clock

How's that re-set going Barack? Peter Wehner counts some of the many ways in which Russian President Vladimir Putin has outflanked US President Barack Hussein Obama.

Russia is defying America by granting Edward Snowden, who exposed some of the most classified secrets of our government, safe haven as he continues to elude capture.

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This comes on top of Russia defying America’s wishes in the Syrian civil war, with Russia once again reasserting its presence in the Middle East after having been essentially expelled from there in the 1970s (a product of Henry Kissinger’s masterful diplomacy).

Russia was an early and strong supporter of the Assad regime, while America is a late and weak supporter of the rebel groups. President Obama wants Russia to help us; Putin wants Assad to win. And thanks in good measure to Russia, Assad (and hence Iran) is winning.

The Syrian debacle comes in the aftermath of Obama scrapping in 2009 a missile-defense system the Poles and the Czech Republic had agreed to house despite Russian threats, as a way to pacify Putin. (“The U.S. reversal is likely to please Russia, which had fiercely opposed the plans,” CNN reported at the time.)

Add to that Putin’s support for Iran’s nuclear ambitions and his crackdown at home. (The Washington Post writes that in “an attempt to suppress swelling protests against his rigged reelection and the massively corrupt autocracy he presides over, Mr. Putin has launched what both Russian and Western human rights groups describe as the most intense and pervasive campaign of political repression since the downfall of the Soviet Union.”). Taken all together, you can see that the Obama “reset”–which at the dawn of the Obama administration was described as a “win-win” strategy for both nations–has been a rout for the Russians.

The best line I saw about Russia's behavior in the Snowden affair was this one on Twitter (I've added a link to the Super Bowl ring story):

How is the American government supposed to get Russia to give up Edward Snowden when Putin won't even give up a Super Bowl ring?
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) June 25, 2013

Oh and how's that re-set Barack?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, National Security, Robert Kraft, Russia, Russian re-set, Vladimir Putin

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:26 AM