Pirate's Cove

So, Obama called a for a quick statement, then showed up late, as usual. People who show up late aren’t particularly trust-worthy. But, maybe it makes him feel special and powerful. In reality, it shows a profound lack of respect. Anyhow

(The Hill) President Obama warned Friday there “will be costs” if Russian takes military action inside Ukraine.

In a brief appearance in the White House press briefing room, Obama said his administration was “deeply concerned” by reports that the Russian military is already intervening in the Crimea, an area of Ukraine with strong Russian ties.

“Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe,” Obama said. “It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people.”

He warned Russian military intervention would be a “clear violation” of its international commitments, and noted the action came on the heels of the Winter Olympic games.

All in all, it was a pretty weak statement, even for Obama, who has apparently either learned nothing during his 5 years in office or just can’t be bothered. Or both.

(Fox News) Charles Krauthammer told viewers Friday on “Special Report with Bret Baier” that President Obama’s statement on the latest Ukraine developments showed “weakness,” and implied that “we’re not really going to do anything” about the political upheaval in Ukraine. (snip)

“He said, any violation of Ukrainian territory is destabilizing, and that’s not in Russia’s interest. He is instructing Putin on what’s in Russia’s interest?” Krauthammer said. “I can assure you, Putin has calculated his calculated his own interests, and he’s calculated that detaching Crimea from Ukraine and making it, essentially, a colony of Russia, is in Russia’s interest – because he knows he has nothing to fear from the west, because it’s not led by anybody. It used to be led by the United States.”

And

(Fox News) “This administration’s policy toward Russia has been a failure,” Brookes said, later adding, “There is some value in strategic ambiguity because you are trying to deter the Russians from going any further, you’re trying to involve yourself in preventive diplomacy, but this should have been done a long, long time ago. And unfortunately this administration, like so many issues, is behind the power curve.”

Even Sarah Palin chimed in

In 2008, when she was the GOP vice presidential nominee, Palin questioned in a speech whether then-Sen. Barack Obama would have the foreign policy credentials to handle a scenario in which Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.

“After the Russian army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama’s reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence – the kind of response that would only encourage Russia’s Putin to invade Ukraine next,” she said in Reno, Nevada on October 21, 2008.

The former Alaska governor was happy to highlight her prediction on Friday and scold those who criticized her 2008 comments.

“Yes, I could see this one from Alaska,” she said on Facebook. That remark was a reference to a 2008 interview in which Palin argued that Alaska’s proximity to Russia helped boost her foreign policy experience.

And, once his brief slight finger wagging comments were concluded, it was happy hour

President Obama himself, having delivered a limp warning to Vladimir Putin, decamped for a meeting of the Democratic National Committee, where he told a cheering crowd: “Well, it’s Friday, it’s after 5:00. So this is officially happy hour with the Democratic Party.”

I’m going to do something strange: I’m going to somewhat defend Obama. Throughout this entire thing, no one has really offered a better idea as to what Obama should have said, and what he should threaten. Seriously, what can he say? What can he do? Is there anything that would dissuade Russia and Putin? This isn’t the cold war time, and we won’t be covertly sending weapons and aid. One thing I used to always say to my employees is “if I don’t have a better idea, I won’t criticize you”.

On the flip side, I wasn’t POTUS. And I wasn’t the one who became a joke in the international community, at least amongst the leaders of countries around the world. For the most part, Obama is seen as weak and wishy-washy, particularly after his Syrian “red lines” walkback. And then running off to a fundraiser, rather than heading back to the office to keep an eye on things, shows a fundamental disconnect to the issues roiling the region.

His dealings with Russia have always been pathetic, starting with the “reset button” gaffe. He’s always appeared weak and ineffectual. George Bush may have been “hated” around the world, but, for the most part, he was respected as a leader with convictions, keeping the USA strong. Obama is more of a seagull pigeon leader: he flies in (late), makes a lot a bit of noise, some cooing sounds, craps all over everything, then flies off. Usually for personal/fundraising business, not Executive Office business.

Crossed at Right Wing News.