Quote Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09 View Post
David--you are totally correct.

What worries me as an American watching this at a distance from DC but actually close to the Ukraine and having a close Ukrainian SF friend now in the heavy fighting---is to listen to the Obama press conference from yesterday.

How can it be that the US civilian leadership of a superpower has "no stated strategy for the Iraq and or Syria and or both of them"?

How can it be that during a 20 minute press conference where there is a war going on in Central Europe---the first war in Europe as a whole since 1945 -Obama has about five minutes of time to say anything about it.

How an it be that the Obama has truly no strategy for the Ukraine that anyone can make out?

How can it be that the US/Obama and DoD does not fully understand the new Russian military doctrine nor understands exactly what UW is in support of political warfare.

How can it be that Obama and DoD do not fully understand what the ethno nationalist imperialism being practiced by Putin is?

How can it be that US media asks tons of questions about IS which the JCoS stated is not a direct threat at the moment to the US but is for it's neighbors BUT virtually nothing about events in the Ukraine?

How can it be that the Obama advisory teams did not anticipate exactly what Putin is doing now in the Ukraine.

Putin openly stated his intent during the Duma speech ESPECIALLY check the statements he has made today at the School.

Sometimes residing overseas sets a different perspective--maybe the White House should move to say Berlin for a couple of years to expand their world views.

Reference the Europeans--this came over the blogs today and it does make one really wonder if both Europe and the US are in an alternate state of reality when it comes to Russia?

Instead of the sectoral sanctions on energy, EU considering restrictions on vodka, caviar, diamonds. Seriously?

Europe and the US does have massive pressure points;
1. cut all 90 day lines of credit to any Russian company, bank or Gazprom
2. sanctions Putin's wealth as a war criminal
3. cut all banking ties to Russian individuals, companies and Gazprom from Europe and the US

Have actually been waiting for the Ukrainians to shut off the gas flows to deny Russian cash flow and to finally pressure the EU into waking up and smelling the coffee.
Outlaw09,

I do not understand US politics within 'The Beltway' enough to even hazard a guess why President Obama and others cause you to ask such questions.

After a few moments thought recent history and strategic shifts since the end of the Cold War help to explain the personal factors involved.

The USA has gradually withdrawn from continuous engagement with Western Europe (a broad term) and has drawn down its military deployments. There has been an expectation, even after Bosnia, that Europe would remain at peace even if conflicts persisted. Now whether the Ukraine and Russia are considered to be within Europe is a moot point.

Instead the USA has been engaged heavily in the Middle East, mainly Iraq & Iran, and South Asia, mainly Afghanistan. It's energy and attention has been there. Not to overlook the complexities of countering Jihadists and the potential for an attack within the USA.

Then there is the strategic shift to the Pacific.

Above all thinking, let alone planning for a conventional war in distant Ukraine, is simply too difficult and against Russia - an 'old enemy'.