Op-Ed By Vladimir Putin for the American People

[L.K.Eder]

I'd never thought I'd live to see the day when a Russian leader is dictating foreign policy to our own president. It is reprehensible how far our country has fallen. I for one am not going to sit here and take this.

so, what are you going to do about this?

 

[Mac1958]

.

In a complicated world full of shades of grey, I can guarantee you one thing:

That Putin dude is diggin' this "fundamental change" thing.

.

 

[tinydancer]

Op-Ed Contributor
A Plea for Caution From Russia
What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria
By VLADIMIR V. PUTIN
Published: September 11, 2013 239 Comments


MOSCOW — RECENT events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies.


Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization — the United Nations — was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict between government and opposition in a multireligious country. There are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the government. The United States State Department has designated Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting with the opposition, as terrorist organizations. This internal conflict, fueled by foreign weapons supplied to the opposition, is one of the bloodiest in the world.

Mercenaries from Arab countries fighting there, and hundreds of militants from Western countries and even Russia, are an issue of our deep concern. Might they not return to our countries with experience acquired in Syria? After all, after fighting in Libya, extremists moved on to Mali. This threatens us all.

From the outset, Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not protecting the Syrian government, but international law. We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today’s complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not. Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression.

No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that militants are preparing another attack — this time against Israel — cannot be ignored.

It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.”

But force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their government would want to repeat recent mistakes.

No matter how targeted the strikes or how sophisticated the weapons, civilian casualties are inevitable, including the elderly and children, whom the strikes are meant to protect.

The world reacts by asking: if you cannot count on international law, then you must find other ways to ensure your security. Thus a growing number of countries seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This is logical: if you have the bomb, no one will touch you. We are left with talk of the need to strengthen nonproliferation, when in reality this is being eroded.

We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilized diplomatic and political settlement.

A new opportunity to avoid military action has emerged in the past few days. The United States, Russia and all members of the international community must take advantage of the Syrian government’s willingness to place its chemical arsenal under international control for subsequent destruction. Judging by the statements of President Obama, the United States sees this as an alternative to military action.

I welcome the president’s interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria. We must work together to keep this hope alive, as we agreed to at the Group of 8 meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June, and steer the discussion back toward negotiations.

If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. 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.

Vladimir V. Putin is the president of Russia.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?_r=0

Ronald Reagan would tell Vlady to go suck an egg, pretty much the exact thing Obama has done to date. Here's the funny thing; without the threat of attack, Putin never would have offered up his plan to have Syria turn over their chemical weapons to the international community to be destroyed. So many of you are acting like Putin is this great savior when in fact he's trying to save his own ass. It's incredible that you cannot see this.

Putin has freely admitted that he is worried about a regional war breaking out if Assad is toppled.

AND that the chemical weapons would fall into the hands of al Nusra or the FSA.

I thought Putin put it quite simply and accurately.

"Sryia is a lot closer to Russia than Washington".

I'm sure the thought of Chechens getting their mitts on some of these weapons has caused him to act to find a diplomatic solution and to draw his line in the sand with the US.

 

[tinydancer]

And the commiecon lovefest with their leader continues..

Who loves him? Putin is anxious to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Syria's chemical weapons. That's called a rational response to a tense regional situation.

On the other hand the US solution was to bomb the shit out of Syria in an attempt to weaken Assad and end up handing the country over to radical Islamists. Again.

 

[Sallow]

hate to admit it, but he did make some good points and made obama's speech look stupid.

i find it hilarious though that he cites the pope, as if he would listen to the pope. the wannabe shirtless bear hunter cries out with a glorious roar, but it sounds like the whimper heard round the world.

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.

Glad you and Putin agree.

It puts things in perspective.

 

[Mac1958]

And the commiecon lovefest with their leader continues..

Who loves him?

It takes the focus off of what's happening and puts you on the defensive, that's it.

Deflection.

It's just a game.

This is all pretty funny, huh?

.

 

[Sallow]

And the commiecon lovefest with their leader continues..

Who loves him? Putin is anxious to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Syria's chemical weapons. That's called a rational response to a tense regional situation.

On the other hand the US solution was to bomb the shit out of Syria in an attempt to weaken Assad and end up handing the country over to radical Islamists. Again.

The "rational" response would have been to condemn the usage of Chemical weapons from the onset and warn Syria not to repeat the event.

Putin waited until things got to this point. It was deliberate too.

Nice to see what side you folks are on.

It's definitely not America's.

It's your own.

 

[Sallow]

And the commiecon lovefest with their leader continues..

Who loves him?

It takes the focus off of what's happening and puts you on the defensive, that's it.

Deflection.

It's just a game.

This is all pretty funny, huh?

.

What game is that?

Since coming to power, Putin has stayed in power.

He essentially dissolved the Russian government and remade it in his image.

He's jailed and killed the opposition.

He's invaded other countries without good reason.

He's a real sweetheart, alrighty..and the toast of conservatism in this country.

 

[mudwhistle]

Putin feels it is dangerous to make voters think they're important. It's harder to oppress them that way.

I wonder why Putin felt the need to say this now? Obama has been telling the world America sucks. Could it be just an affirmation of all of that negativity toward America in general?

And to think that Obama won election because of a negative perception supposedly caused by Bush.

I think the liberals in the media have more to do with this perception than anything.

 

[Mac1958]

Who loves him?

It takes the focus off of what's happening and puts you on the defensive, that's it.

Deflection.

It's just a game.

This is all pretty funny, huh?

.

What game is that?

Since coming to power, Putin has stayed in power.

He essentially dissolved the Russian government and remade it in his image.

He's jailed and killed the opposition.

He's invaded other countries without good reason.

He's a real sweetheart, alrighty..and the toast of conservatism in this country.

And yet another vivid example of my point....

.

 

[mudwhistle]

Obama is good on foreign policy, actually. It's his greatest strength. He's been real tough with the drones, and has overseen the overthrow of dictators our country used to prop up and defend.

By threatening to use force, President Obama has gotten the Syrians and the Russians to admit to the chemical weapons that Syria had. The both of those countries really don't need the Americans to be bombing Syria, because then we begin to control the narrative then and not anyone else.

By threatening to bomb them, we'll get them to agree to everything we want them to do, and if they break the deal, we get to bomb 'em.

Sounds pretty good to me.

I'm tired of morons who seem to like Putin more than Obama. Go fucking live in Russia if you like Putin so much.

Bombing the fuck out of other countries is not the definition of "Good Foreign Policy".

 

[Sallow]

Putin feels it is dangerous to make voters think they're important. It's harder to oppress them that way.

I wonder why Putin felt the need to say this now? Obama has been telling the world America sucks. Could it be just an affirmation of all of that negativity toward America in general?

And to think that Obama won election because of a negative perception supposedly caused by Bush.

I think the liberals in the media have more to do with this perception than anything.

Link?

 

[Toro]

Vlad disses American Exceptionalism

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.

We aren't exceptional, fellow Americans, at least according to Putin.

 

[Sallow]

It takes the focus off of what's happening and puts you on the defensive, that's it.

Deflection.

It's just a game.

This is all pretty funny, huh?

.

What game is that?

Since coming to power, Putin has stayed in power.

He essentially dissolved the Russian government and remade it in his image.

He's jailed and killed the opposition.

He's invaded other countries without good reason.

He's a real sweetheart, alrighty..and the toast of conservatism in this country.

And yet another vivid example of my point....

.

Eyah.

On this very board there is thread after thread of right wing posters sucking up to foreign leaders that disagree with Obama.

I seldom ever saw that on the part of left wing posters in relation to George W. Bush, on the various boards of I have posted on.

Putin is a seriously vile Stalinist.

 

[Sallow]

Vlad disses American Exceptionalism

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.

We aren't exceptional, fellow Americans, at least according to Putin.

Yep.

Putin vigorously disagrees with Obama on that point.

Glad so many right wingers are in the Putin camp on this.

America is equal to Syria according to Putin and the Right Wing in this country.

 

[Edgetho]

What game is that?

Since coming to power, Putin has stayed in power.

He essentially dissolved the Russian government and remade it in his image.

He's jailed and killed the opposition.

He's invaded other countries without good reason.

He's a real sweetheart, alrighty..and the toast of conservatism in this country.

And yet another vivid example of my point....

.

Eyah.

On this very board there is thread after thread of right wing posters sucking up to foreign leaders that disagree with Obama.

I seldom ever saw that on the part of left wing posters in relation to George W. Bush, on the various boards of I have posted on.

Putin is a seriously vile Stalinist.

I was actually enjoying the posts of several Board members who gave us some insightful and thoughtful posts.

Then you come along and shit all over the thread.

As usual.

Go away.

Flashback: Obama Mocks Romney For Saying Russia Is Our Enemy…

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QS2a44F5TgM]Obama Chides Romney: 'The 1980s Are Calling, They Want Their Foreign Policy Back' - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Sallow]

Obama is good on foreign policy, actually. It's his greatest strength. He's been real tough with the drones, and has overseen the overthrow of dictators our country used to prop up and defend.

By threatening to use force, President Obama has gotten the Syrians and the Russians to admit to the chemical weapons that Syria had. The both of those countries really don't need the Americans to be bombing Syria, because then we begin to control the narrative then and not anyone else.

By threatening to bomb them, we'll get them to agree to everything we want them to do, and if they break the deal, we get to bomb 'em.

Sounds pretty good to me.

I'm tired of morons who seem to like Putin more than Obama. Go fucking live in Russia if you like Putin so much.

Like the great American Traitor, Eric Snowden!

 

[jon_berzerk]

Obama is good on foreign policy, actually. It's his greatest strength. He's been real tough with the drones, and has overseen the overthrow of dictators our country used to prop up and defend.

By threatening to use force, President Obama has gotten the Syrians and the Russians to admit to the chemical weapons that Syria had. The both of those countries really don't need the Americans to be bombing Syria, because then we begin to control the narrative then and not anyone else.

By threatening to bomb them, we'll get them to agree to everything we want them to do, and if they break the deal, we get to bomb 'em.

Sounds pretty good to me.

I'm tired of morons who seem to like Putin more than Obama. Go fucking live in Russia if you like Putin so much.

By threatening to use force, President Obama has gotten the Syrians and the Russians to admit to the chemical weapons that Syria had.

and to think obama spent years and years sayin the Reagan way was bogus

Ronald is looking down smiling

 

[mudwhistle]

Putin feels it is dangerous to make voters think they're important. It's harder to oppress them that way.

I wonder why Putin felt the need to say this now? Obama has been telling the world America sucks. Could it be just an affirmation of all of that negativity toward America in general?

And to think that Obama won election because of a negative perception supposedly caused by Bush.

I think the liberals in the media have more to do with this perception than anything.

Link?

Spare me.

 

[Sallow]

And yet another vivid example of my point....

.

Eyah.

On this very board there is thread after thread of right wing posters sucking up to foreign leaders that disagree with Obama.

I seldom ever saw that on the part of left wing posters in relation to George W. Bush, on the various boards of I have posted on.

Putin is a seriously vile Stalinist.

I was actually enjoying the posts of several Board members who gave us some insightful and thoughtful posts.

Then you come along and shit all over the thread.

As usual.

Go away.

Trying to suppress free speech, CommieCon?

I see what you are doing, you are pulling a "Putin".

Very shrewd Comrade..very shrewd.