The all-powerful US president?

[mazzarro]

There are some days that I wake up just feeling contrary. Today is one of those days.

It often happens after I clue in to the conventional wisdom that seems to suddenly be everywhere in Washington.

The new line on Russia's actions in Crimea can be summed up by this question from David Gregory on Sunday's "Meet the Press" programme speaking to an Obama administration official:

Gregory: "Let me talk about the crisis in Ukraine. Since this started the president and his top officials have issued it seems like line after line and Putin seems to have crossed them all? Why does the president and the United States generally have so little influence over this?"
First of all, I can't remember any lines the president has issued. I'm pretty sure after what happened with a potential Syria intervention, he's banned from even mentioning the colour red.

What the president has done is ask the Russians to talk, say it's a violation of international law and warn that the Russians would be isolated internationally.

.... skip ....

I am not writing any of this to cast judgement on what Russia has done. That is not for me to say as a journalist in Washington, DC. I do think it is my job here to point out some of the hypocrisy in this town. When US commentators talk about the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, perhaps Yemen and Pakistan should come up in the next sentence.

When people talk about a weak president, perhaps the next step shouldn't be to look at his personality, but the position of the country.

The US has been at war since 2001, it is $17 trillion in debt and its economy seems to be growing only for the very rich. Americans didn't want war with Syria; do you really think they are in the mood to take on Russia?

These commentators and politicians would probably respond by saying they aren't talking about going to war. That's true, but they do seem to be saying the president should be able to prevent one with a stern glance and a strong warning.

Link

Just like the author of the article, I sometimes feel that those who huff and puff about forcing Russia to back down over Ukraine need to realize that power is sometimes relative and does not solve all problems regardless of our wishes; unless we are prepared for an all out war, possibly including nuclear war.

[Scuba]

1. "Dances with Roves" may be safely ignored.

[treestar]

2. Right wingers are obsessed with power over the world

and they wish to see it embodied in the Presidency. Look at how they tried to prop up the Shrub as a major world leader.

When in reality, who cares, what do we get out of it?