US hawks ready to fight Russia to last Ukrainian

[Muzh]

One of the few decent OP/EDs from the Kyiv post

There is one other reason why Kyiv should be wary of the Republicans. Ukraine’s future lies in modern Europe, both culturally and economically. This entails not only democracy - which Europe shares with the United States - but other values which make Europe different, such as social democracy, an economic safety net and the enlightened role of the government. The previous Republican administration was at loggerheads with Brussels and it even tried to split the former Warsaw Pact “new Europe” from the supposedly tired “old Europe.”


During the eight years of Obama’s presidency the Republicans, if anything, have become even more radicalized. If the next US president is a Republican, relations between the United States and its European allies are likely to worsen once more.


Putin, meanwhile, is looking forward to a Republican in the White House. And not only because he has good memories of George W. looking into his eyes to take the measure of his soul. The Kremlin believes that historically it has gotten along better with a Republican president than with a Democratic one. Democratic presidents tend to be high-minded and moralistic, and less open to Realpolitik arrangements Moscow favors. Republicans, on the other hand, start out with tough rhetoric but end up being more pragmatic.

http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/alexei-bayer-us-hawks-ready-to-fight-russia-to-last-ukrainian-389413.html?utm_campaign=traqli&utm_source=traqli&utm_medium=traqli&source=traqli

[jone]

Tell that to Gorbachev.

Reagan had him for Breakfast Lunch and Supper.

[Faux Pas]

Tell that to Gorbachev.

Reagan had him for Breakfast Lunch and Supper.

But Reagan spoke in tones that Russians understand. Direct and determined

[jone]

But Reagan spoke in tones that Russians understand. Direct and determined

Agreed.  Best US President we have ever had for dealing with the Russians.

[AC]

But Reagan spoke in tones that Russians understand. Direct and determined

You mean that the politically correct double-speak of the Obama administration does not work? 

[Boethius]

But Reagan spoke in tones that Russians understand. Direct and determined

I disagree.   The USSR reacted to Reagan not because of the way he spoke, but because the Soviet economy could not compete.  In Reagan's first term, there was no detente.   When the Politburo came to the conclusion that they could not compete economically, and the revolution could be lost, that is when they came to the table.


Had Soviet inefficiency and corruption not existed, there would have been no Reykjavik.

[Boethius]

You mean that the politically correct double-speak of the Obama administration does not work?

The world is no longer one of two military superpowers.  Obama's approach is allow the EU to lead.




Ukraine really is a European, not an American problem.

[Ed S.]

But Reagan spoke in tones that Russians understand. Direct and determined

It wasn't rhetoric, it was action. Reagan started another arms race after several administrations saying how wasteful and useless it was. He's also the first president to actually take the idea of rollback seriously, everyone since Truman were all about containment. George Kennan was right about it collapsing under itself, but Reagan accelerated the process in a way nobody dared to think was possible.

I don't expect the White House and State Department to deal with Russia appropriately, they're the same Sovietologists who were predicting the USSR well into the 21st Century, and even having the upper hand.

[fathertime]

Good read, I agree with the sentiments.  The title of the thread says it all: "US hawks ready to fight to last Ukrainian".


 Lot of good that does for them.


Fathertime!   

[mendeleyev]

Reagan is the one modern times USA president who is respected in Russia.

In Russian eyes: Carter was a joke, Clinton was seen as an ass-grabbing, sexophone player, and drinking buddy with Yeltsin, Bush (I) is barely an afterthought, Bush (II) a simple eye gazer, and the current alien on the Potomac a lightweight playing far above his league.

If you want to see how Russians view US presidents, all it takes is a quick stroll to one of the outdoor souvenir kiosks to check out the Matryoshka dolls for sale to tourists.

[JayH]

If you want to see how Russians view US presidents, all it takes is a quick stroll to one of the outdoor souvenir kiosks to check out the Matryoshka dolls for sale to tourists.

If you want to see how Ukrainians see Putin  you only have to look at any outdoor or indoor souvenir place to find toilet paper bearing the face of Putin ! 
http://emergingequity.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/putin-toilet-paper.jpg

[jone]

Reagan is the one modern times USA president who is respected in Russia.

In Russian eyes: Carter was a joke, Clinton was seen as an ass-grabbing, sexophone player, and drinking buddy with Yeltsin, Bush (I) is barely an afterthought, Bush (II) a simple eye gazer, and the current alien on the Potomac a lightweight playing far above his league.

If you want to see how Russians view US presidents, all it takes is a quick stroll to one of the outdoor souvenir kiosks to check out the Matryoshka dolls for sale to tourists.

Yeah, well, having Herman Muenster as your Sec State doesn't help much, either.