LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES JUST
DON’T LOOK GOOD IN ARMOR.
March 13, 2014
Joseph Chez
The dreadful 3 am call is ringing at the White House and President Barack Obama answers the call as expected - status quo ante. Of course, being the President of the United States of America comes with the assumed title of, Leader of the World. At least that is what all Americans have grown up to understand and believe. Accordingly, the President must thus answer to any and all incidents, in any part of the world, whether it concerns national security or not. The NOT part is when any one party may challenge US prestige or attempt to topple US from the top of the hill. After all, this nation is exceptional and endowed with the grace of God.
However, we must ask why Liberal Democrat presidents feel the need to act like Republican hawks, when in fact, their liberal credentials placed them in office in order to establish a more tolerant and peaceful foreign policy. That is not to say, that liberals can’t kick butt. They can, just that liberals by nature should, first exhaust all the possible remedies before relying on physical force. After all, intellect and reason is mightier than the sword. Thus, armor is simply not in their style.
Conservatives hawk Republicans on the other hand, react with the greatest of sincerity, to love of flag, country and God. They have the solid held-belief that our nation is exceptional like no other, thus granting the nation and president inherent rights to be the leader of the world and take action as deemed fit to our wishes. As absurd as it sounds, the caveat for the world is that Republicans mean what they say and they do what they mean, even if acting unreasonably. So don’t tread on them.
In the United States of America, two distinct political philosophies thus prevail; Liberal Democrat vs. Conservative Republican. However, it is the conservative Republican mantra that seems to afflict Democrats, especially concerning issues of national security and use of the military as an option to further American destiny. Thus, it is expected of Liberal Democrat presidents, to at least thump their chest and climb the hill. Antithetical perhaps, but the pseudo nationalistic fever is in full display these days, as is the case today with the crisis in Ukraine.
So what drives our Democrat presidents to act like a Republican? Is it fear of being seen as too weak, unpatriotic or just plain, un-American? Consistently, Democrat presidents have put on a suit of armor which is uncomfortable and does not fit their core political and philosophical beliefs. Yet, they wear it… and onto war we go. F-16s to the Baltic, frigates to the Black Sea, Crimea for you we die, bluster and thunder. It is not to let Russians win, it is not for US to ask why, but to do … and die. On ward foolish brigade, bluster and thunder.
In the immediate crisis in Ukraine, history will record that the US government seeded the insurrection and ultimately midwifed the coup d’état. And while the European Union was partially to blame, by pushing them to consider militarily and economically association with the European Union, the US was using the dire economic situation in Ukraine to bolster a Maidan Square insurrection against the democratically elected Ukrainian government, whose leader had strong ties with Russia. That’s right, US official Victoria Nuland advised US ambassador to Ukraine, to f_ _ k the EU and for US to midwife the situation. That is to say, that the US must give birth to a new government, one that would follow Washington’s orders. US hubris notwithstanding, little did we not understand or consider, were the unexpected events that followed. Russia responded methodically and with precision; militarily encapsulating the entire Crimean Peninsula. Sure, we strongly protested Russia’s intervention, but do we have any justification for our premeditated actions on the matter? Conversely, are Russia’s excuses any better than ours? In the end, the Russians have justified their actions as coming to the aid of the ethnic and Russian speaking residents of Ukraine, especially in the Crimea peninsula. More importantly however, is that perhaps, the Russians decided not to take more of the West encroaching on Russian’s Near Abroad, comprising of the tier of former Soviet republics bordering Russia, or risk loosing their premier naval seaport at Sevastopol, in the Crimea.
As expected from a status quo ante US president, the Obama administration reacted with indignation and bluster. Its Secretary of State, John Kerry tirelessly attempted to get unanimity support from Europeans, but few want the confrontational approach the Obama Administration was blustering. So what dire consequences will the US put in place? Well, to show resolve and a US stalwart foreign policy, F-16 are now patrolling the Baltic, US Navy Frigates are in the Black Sea, US and Poland are conducting war maneuvers on the Western front, plus other “planned war maneuvers” are to be initiated with Bulgaria and Romania, on the Eastern front. How is that for resurrecting old grudges with the Russians? Needles to say, President Obama assumed his role as leader of the world and took to the pulpit to address the situation in Ukraine. But wait a minute, are disputes between nations not come under the jurisdiction of the United Nations? So why is UN Sec. Ban Ki-moon not out-front addressing the situation? The one thing that is clear is that our presumptuous world leadership compromises the prestige and role of the United Nations. Further, speaking in behalf of Ukraine and all of Europe exacerbates the crisis by making it a US vs. Russia issue. Therefore, it must be asked of our government, why would an economic issue in Ukraine is now a potentially military confrontation with Russia? Further, why must any more American soldiers as well as civilians’ lives, be place in the harms way, or be used as battlefield fodder?
Clearly, Ukraine’s economic woes are now a world crisis, with implications that may have catastrophic results. The moral imperative before us all is whether the American public should allow this self-destructive course to continue? For if this Liberal Democrat president believes wearing armor is the appropriate tool for diplomacy in resolving the Ukraine crisis, I can tell you right away, that Republicans will not give him one iota of credit for his perceived well intended actions. However, Liberal or conservative hawks should keep in mind the ol’ saying; you break it, you own it. Onward goes the foolish brigade, bluster and thunder…
This last weekend, at a bar, I heard some boys at the bar say; “those Russians want to invade US in Ukraine and we should kick their ass!” Later that night, one of them asked me if I shoot. I replied, “Hell yeah man!” He then proceeded to tell me he just got a new M16A1, but then asked me what I shot. I told him that I got me a D600 – Nikon, which I use to shoot a lot. “Camo”, he asked? I said, “Its black.” And with beer in hand, we both bumped fists. He then said, “alright bud … 2nd Amennnndment!” And with a big smile and looking up to the ceiling, he robustly yelled, “God bless America, land of the free!” But, whether he understood the context of what I shoot is simply endowed with his political beliefs. Mine? Liberal.
So you see folks, it’s important we liberals, know our style of shootin’. Diplomacy, tolerance, and being a role model for the world, is the way to spread a free and open society, rather than impose our American destiny beliefs in other places where we have no dog in the yard.
PEACE.