Russian militants shoot down Malaysian passenger plane

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I appreciate your perspective.

It was a mistake. This was a mistake too.

What is important is the circumstances surrounding the mistakes and how to prevent these sorts of mistakes.

Russians have no interest in preventing mistakes. People don't understand Putin, former KGB/FSB operative. The mindset is quite alien to what the rest of us use. Think, hunkered down, cheated, world seeking to deprive you of greatness, almost a Napoleon type complex, and you can begin to understand the current mindset of Putin and his силовики.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Russians have no interest in preventing mistakes. People don't understand Putin, former KGB/FSB operative. The mindset is quite alien to what the rest of us use. Think, hunkered down, cheated, world seeking to deprive you of greatness, almost a Napoleon type complex, and you can begin to understand the current mindset of Putin and his силовики.

I agree 100%. Spot on.

[MikeWaters]

Luckily we have a shrewd president who always knows how to handle these situations. :|

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Luckily we have a shrewd president who always knows how to handle these situations. :|

Really the only significant thing he could pull off at this point would be to convince Germany to impose big sanctions at great risk to their own economy. Probably not going to happen.

Other than this and broader US sanctions, I think Obama's hands are basically tied in terms of meaningful intervention.

[MikeWaters]

Instead just this week we had the administration's representative announcing that Russia "is not an adversary."

Good time to be a rogue regime right now. American foreign policy is worthless.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Instead just this week we had the administration's representative announcing that Russia "is not an adversary."

Good time to be a rogue regime right now. American foreign policy is worthless.

Mindful agrees with you.

[Mindfulcoug]

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

Mindful agrees with you.

I think I agree with Eric Zuesse.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/...er-downed.html

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by mindfulcoug

I think I agree with Eric Zuesse.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/...er-downed.html

Interesting read.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

Really the only significant thing he could pull off at this point would be to convince Germany to impose big sanctions at great risk to their own economy. Probably not going to happen.

Other than this and broader US sanctions, I think Obama's hands are basically tied in terms of meaningful intervention.

Obama's early interactions with Putin were wrong. He has never toed a tough line with him. You have a little Napoleon who has now thrilled his native base by repeatedly thumbing his nose at the US.

The US should never have backed down in Poland. That move is the reason we're seeing all of the other catastrophes Russia is pursuing. Millions upon millions will suffer because Obama did not understand Russian mentality. Obama has a severely misguided foreign policy.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Obama's early interactions with Putin were wrong. He has never toed a tough line with him. You have a little Napoleon who has now thrilled his native base by repeatedly thumbing his nose at the US.

The US should never have backed down in Poland. That move is the reason we're seeing all of the other catastrophes Russia is pursuing. Millions upon millions will suffer because Obama did not understand Russian mentality. Obama has a severely misguided foreign policy.

Putin's strength has grown because Russians are happier with their lives and their economy is better.

He had generated a tremendous propaganda machine.

I don't think Obama could have significantly affected either of these two major factors.