Day: March 3, 2014

Money talks

Charles King (not further identified) says in this morning’s New York Times:

Mr. Putin used a novel justification for his country’s attack on a neighboring state: protecting the interests of both Russian citizens and “compatriots” — code not just for ethnic Russians but for anyone with a political or cultural disposition toward Russia.

Novel is in the eye of the beholder.  Only someone unaware of the dissolution of former Yugoslavia in the 1990s could call this notion novel.  And only someone unfamiliar with the doctrine of responsibility to protect could call it R2P, as King does. Strategic interest is far more important to Putin than protection of civilians, no matter what their nationality. Crimea may be an ethnic mosaic to King, but it offers a nice warm water port with a mostly friendly local population to Putin.

The question is Lenin’s:  what is to be done?  In the Administration they are concluding correctly that there is little the West can do to reverse the situation in the near term.  None of the tough talk includes tough action.  Kicking Russia out of the G8, canceling trade missions, travel bans, visits to Kiev and consultations with allies are all more symbol than substance.  Even reviving missile defense is not something that will force Russia out of Crimea any time soon.  The offer of European observers to protect the Russian-speaking population of Crimea is clever–because Putin will reject it, thereby undermining in Western eyes his rationale for sending in troops–but it will do nothing to alter the situation on the ground.  Russian troops are in Crimea to stay for the foreseeable future. Read more

Tags : , , , ,
Tweet