The Painful Truth From Putin
A New York Times op-ed by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agitated the American warmongers like a bully on the playground who at first chose not to fight.
Vladimir Putin photo Russian Presidential Press and Information Office www.kremlin.ru. via wikimedia commons
Public opinion stands against a strike on Syria, the GOP appeared divided on supporting the “limited” attack on the Assad regime and President behaved like a child lost in a crowded mall: confused and uncertain who he should ask for help.
Putin’s remarks will come across as an attack, a lecture or even instigation depending on where you stand on the Syrian War. The details and truths have quickly been lost in the commentary by talking heads and politicians.
For example, after saying he “wanted to vomit,” Bob Menendez, D-NJ, stated “I worry when someone who came up through the KGB tells us what is in our national interests, and what is not. It really raises the question of how serious the Russian proposal is.”
The ABC writer misunderstands Putin noting that “Putin denied protecting the Syrian government, writing, ‘it is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States.’”
Where is the denial in being an ally of Syira? Has not the US intervened in Egypt, Libya and countless campaigns that didn’t involve an attack on the US, an American or even an ally?
Putin notes the history of the Cold War, but also the partnership against the Nazis and the purpose of the UN to prevent these horrors from reoccurring. Now that the UN will not issue a resolution or support the move, America just moves ahead as though it knows better than the rest of the world.
Questions over the chemical weapons stems from reports back in May that the rebels aquired weapons, used them on civilians and Assad supporters. The UN officials confirmed these incidents and point to renewed attacks to lure the US into the conflict.
Where is the pause from an administration so certain the intelligence on Iraq was wrong over weapons?
Putin was accurate before and repeats the questions regarding the rebels: beheading Catholic priests, executing prisoners and even engaging in acts of cannibalism.
Supporters of the military campaign will always point to the Free Syrian Army as “friends,” but even this is true – how will the FSA take control of Syria and keep that power?
The Muslim Brotherhood is a strong, powerful Islamic group and they couldn’t maintain control in Egypt.
How will the FSA run a country full of butchers that are more aligned with the enemies of 9/11 than even the Assad regime?
Where is Israel on this crisis?
America’s greatest ally (arguably only ally in the Middle East) is siding with the UN that the threat is minimal at best and is advising the US to just keep eye on Iran. No politician or talking head is criticizing the Israelis for lecturing America on foreign policy.
Putin is no friend of America. He is likely very protective of Syria because of Russia’s port that is key to the country’s importing/exporting; however, his words are full of truths.
The greatest insult from Putin is targeting the term “exceptional” as an adjective for America.
And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.
So here’s where America has to take an “exceptional” stance. Mercy, grace and patience are not integral in the Putin led government where free speech is squashed, so why not call the bluffs and monitor the removal of chemical weapons? Why not coordinate with the UN to target the Syria stockpile?
Is the only option firing missiles at a country full chaos and uncertainty or is that the only option because that’s what we said we’d do?
Conservatives have countered President Obama over and over again as he apologized for America’s behaviors, abandoned soldiers and the ambassador in Benghazi, but all the while want to pretend that America is still exceptional?
If the campaigns of Iraq or Afghanistan were so exceptional and successful, where is there support now? Why is there not a widespread movement from Baghdad or Kabul telling nations that America is right and they need to adopt this approach to governance?
Maybe exceptional means doing something that even Russia doesn’t want us to do: wait, monitor, coordinate and control.
Maybe being exceptional means making an exception here and not intervening.
