Dems: Wait for Europe Before Hitting Putin’s Wallet

[DonViejo]

Josh Rogin

The Senate is trying to put together a tough bill to punish Russia for invading Ukraine, but Democrats don’t want to act until they know whether or not Europe is on board.

Senators are talking tough about a new bill to put economic pressure on Russia and speed aid to the new leaders in Ukraine. But behind the scenes there is an effort by Democrats to give President Obama time and space to negotiate with Europe on the sanctions, delaying quick action against Vladimir Putin.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that Congress should let the events in Ukraine play out for a while to see if Europe can be brought on board with the tough economic measures that many Senators in both parties are pushing. Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Chris Murphy said that he and other senators were working the phones this week, dialing up lawmakers in Germany, Britain, and other countries to make the case for strong sanctions against Russian now.

“Our sanctions are pretty toothless without Europe… I think there’s a legitimate question about whether we should wait to do this package,” said Murphy.

Murphy, who traveled with Sen. John McCain to Kiev during the protests that led to the latest Ukrainian revolution and the subsequent Russian invasion of Crimea, said the sanctions debate “really this comes down to whether Europe is going to join us.”

“Europe is not where they need to be right now. They are willing to give Putin a longer leash than we are. I’m trying to make the case to them that without Europe, our sanctions won’t be able to change the calculus in Moscow,” he said. “I think Europe is taking more of a wait and see approach than the United States bill right now. I think ultimately they may join us, but they just don’t have the urgency that we do.”

more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/05/dems-wait-for-europe-before-hitting-putin-s-wallet.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Wouldn't suggest they hold their breath.

14:21: The BBC's Mark Urban, who is at the EU summit in Brussels, writes about the history haunting the EU leaders in his blog: "The problem is that it's a different history that preoccupies each of them and hinders the search for consensus."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26463731

[bemildred]

2. Posturing buffoons. nt

[geek tragedy]

3. maybe they'll forget about war with Iran for a bit and we can pass the VA bill? nt