The United Nations, the European Union, presidents, the leaders of nations, and politicians offer mealy-mouthed talking as the solution to invasions of sovereign states.
At the head of the talking class are fast-talking President Barack Obama and Queen of Blah German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both saying that “broad new economic sanctions would be imposed on Russia “
if” its threat to eastern Ukraine disrupts the country’s presidential election later this month.
Given that 42 people have already lost their lives in the Black Sea Port of Odessa and Odessa Jews are already preparing for emergency evacuation, “
if” is a wobbly word.
That Obama considers Merkel one of his “closest friends among international leaders” should be sounding off the warning bells. He’s also simpatico with the Muslim Brotherhood, who shun all attempts at peace through diplomatic talk.
“Even in the early afterglow of Obama’s 2008 election, Merkel was unafraid to call on the popular new president to begin winding down stimulus spending long before others. Obama later urged Merkel to help bail out flagging euro-zone nations to revive Europe’s economy, then a drag on the U.S. recovery. (
Washington Post, May 2, 2014)
“Last year, however, the two fell out after disclosures by Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, that included a “head of state” collection program that monitored Merkel’s personal cellphone. Obama said he was unaware that Merkel, who was raised in the East German police state, was a target and announced later that it would no longer continue.
“Obama said Friday he was “pained” that the disclosure had upset Merkel, calling her one of his “closest friends” among international leaders.
It’s all Snowden’s fault.
Just talking about it healed Merkel’s misgivings about her private cellphone being monitored by the NSA which makes one wonder how sincere her “fall out” with Obama really was.
The Obama-Merkel talks produced a warning during a White House news conference and according to the mainstream media “provided for the first time a specific threshold that Russia must not cross if it is to avoid further sanctions from Europe and the United States”.
Red Lines, Obama style, have been treated as a joke. Ditto for the new ‘Merky Red Line’.
“Those measures could include sanctions against Russia’s lifeblood energy sector, banking system and mining industries, moves that would hurt Europe primarily but also ripple through the U.S. economy.” (Washington Post)
It is never part of any big international gabfests, but Obama has already ruined the U.S. energy sector (forcing dependency on foreign oil and shelving the Keystone XL Pipeline); the banking system (Freddy Mac, Fannie Mae and the Dodd-Frank bill) and the mining industry (where thriving coal mines face the threat of deliberate bankruptcy under Obama).
“For weeks, the Obama administration has declined to specify what, short of a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, would trigger the most severe sanctions to date in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s seizure of Crimea and support for pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine. (Washington Post)
“But both leaders expressed reluctance to carry out the threat, a reflection of the deep European uncertainty over the costs of doing so.”
Those who never forgot classic Neville Chamberlain “Peace in our time”-style appeasement, could be forgiven for asking: Why talk about it if you’re not going to do it?
“The idea that you’re going to turn off the tap on all Russian oil or natural gas exports, I think, is unrealistic,” Obama said during the Rose Garden appearance. “But there are a range of, you know, approaches that can be taken not only in the energy sector but in the arms sector, the finance sector, in terms of lines of credit for trade, all that have a significant impact on Russia.”
“Standing next to Obama, Merkel acknowledged that “further sanctions will be unavoidable” if Ukraine is unable to hold the May 25 presidential election, although she added that this is “something we do not want.”
“But, she said, “we are firmly resolved to go down that road.”
The road Obama and Merkel travel is one of only useless chatter and appeasement.
Putin, meanwhile, has gone way beyond the road of chatter.
“Putin has already seized and annexed Crimea, a move the Obama administration does not recognize but acknowledges it can do little about. Obama has sought to prevent Putin, who has about 40,000 Russian troops on the Ukraine border, from pushing into the former Soviet republic through the threat of sanctions against whole sectors of the Russian economy.” (Washington Post)
“Obama said planning for sector sanctions has been “stepped up.” He also condemned as “disgraceful and inexcusable” the detention of monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including a German citizen, by a pro-Russian group in eastern Ukraine.
“In recent weeks, Obama and Vice President Biden have traveled to Europe to reassure NATO allies that the United States would honor the pact’s collective defense commitment, known as Article 5, should Russia enter a member country. But Obama has also warned NATO member nations that, given Russia’s ambitions, each must also contribute fairly to the group’s defense, including more spending and new commitments of military resources.
“German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called anew for an expanded OSCE role, saying its observers had provided highly important information. Steinmeier said new talks are needed in the wake of recent violence to produce a “clear conclusion as to how this conflict can be brought to a halt.”
“He said he has been pushing for the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.” (
Fox News, May 5, 2014).
All proven members of the ‘Talk, Talk, Talk Society’.
Meanwhile, for all of the hype and photo ops, Obama and Merkel did not reach agreement on a deal to stop surveillance of each other’s governments — something Merkel had hoped to secure. At the news conference, she said the deal would continue to be discussed in the weeks ahead.
We all now know what Obama’s “closest friend” among international leaders likes best: the sound of Obama’s voice.
