There is a great deal to be said about American foreign policy these days. With so many trouble spots, it is hard to know where to start. The issues are confusing, with conflicting interests to a degree I don't remember seeing before. From Libya, to Syria, to Ukraine, American foreign policy seems confused, adrift.
Of course, it doesn't help that Republicans are flying all over the world criticizing Pres. Obama. But this is one situation where Republicans, though devoid of policy solutions, are not especially to blame.
The Ukrainian situation seems the most important, involving as it does our relationship with the other major nuclear power, Russia. We certainly hear through our government and media the U.S. side of the story -- how Russia is behind the separatists, and even how Russian is poised to start sending tanks across European borders.
The Russians have another side of the story. According to them, the new Ukrainian government resulted from the overthrow of a democratically-elected President and is thus illegitimate. It is the west, especially the U.S. and Britain which are fomenting unrest.
With all due respect, I suggest the Russian position is actually closer to the truth. Sadly, we in America have learned not to necessarily believe our own government, and especially not our media. (Case in point: the Brian Williams fiasco.) In the absence of facts on these shores, the Russian explanation actually makes sense. Now, I happen not to believe necessarily every point the Russians make. But their characterization of the Cameron government, for example, as a purely hostile operation is fairly devastating.
Is it possibly true, just possibly, possibly true that Western financial interests are driving American foreign policy? As Pres. Putin has sought to re-establish a stronger sense of sovereignty, has this stimulated fears and anxieties of something less than an open market there? Are the oligarchs of the west fearful of a return to a more socialized orientation in Russian economics? Could these fears lead to a more aggressive, hostile U.S.-British policy? After all, the American people as such are not clamoring for a new cold war. And they certainly don't want a World War III.
Let America tend to its own needs. And may both Russian and Ukraine be allowed to flower both democratically and economically.
Of course, it doesn't help that Republicans are flying all over the world criticizing Pres. Obama. But this is one situation where Republicans, though devoid of policy solutions, are not especially to blame.
The Ukrainian situation seems the most important, involving as it does our relationship with the other major nuclear power, Russia. We certainly hear through our government and media the U.S. side of the story -- how Russia is behind the separatists, and even how Russian is poised to start sending tanks across European borders.
The Russians have another side of the story. According to them, the new Ukrainian government resulted from the overthrow of a democratically-elected President and is thus illegitimate. It is the west, especially the U.S. and Britain which are fomenting unrest.
With all due respect, I suggest the Russian position is actually closer to the truth. Sadly, we in America have learned not to necessarily believe our own government, and especially not our media. (Case in point: the Brian Williams fiasco.) In the absence of facts on these shores, the Russian explanation actually makes sense. Now, I happen not to believe necessarily every point the Russians make. But their characterization of the Cameron government, for example, as a purely hostile operation is fairly devastating.
Is it possibly true, just possibly, possibly true that Western financial interests are driving American foreign policy? As Pres. Putin has sought to re-establish a stronger sense of sovereignty, has this stimulated fears and anxieties of something less than an open market there? Are the oligarchs of the west fearful of a return to a more socialized orientation in Russian economics? Could these fears lead to a more aggressive, hostile U.S.-British policy? After all, the American people as such are not clamoring for a new cold war. And they certainly don't want a World War III.
Let America tend to its own needs. And may both Russian and Ukraine be allowed to flower both democratically and economically.
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