How do you counter Putin?

Question

The EU gets a large amount of its oil and natural gas imports from Russia (something like 40%). Russia depends on the European market...so avoiding conflict is mutually benefitial. If this is the new model for most superpower relationships (US-China for instance), what is to prevent Putin from staging another invasion, this time in Transnistria or Nagorno-Karabakh, especially if the Ukraine snuggles closer to the West. What keeps China out of Taiwan or the Stans?

I really don't know the answer, does anyone have suggestions? Can we counter with Chinese pressure in Central Asia? Can we realistically keep Russia out of trade organizations (and will they function without Russia?) The whole model of USA-EU-China superpower balance based on mutual economic interest has sort of gone out the window.

Should I just move to the EU?

Answer 1

by driving down the price of oil , gas , metals...their lifeblood.

Answer 2

With anybody but Bush or a Republican

Answer 3

Putout?

Answer 4

Invite him to Dubya ranch in Crawford.  Take him for a ride in a pick up, after you give him an expensive stetson. Look into his eyes and know when you are looking into the soul of an honest man.. Then call him your best friend and have a BBQ. Shake hands and know all is well.  

Answer 5

Why do Americans constantly feel threatened when no one is threatening them. Heaven forbid there is another economically powerful nation....

Other nations seem to get along with each other, but the US doesn't seem to get along with anyone.

China is not a superpower. China is a world power, but not the superpower. The US has been the only superpower since the Soviet Empire collapsed.

Answer 6

they are making moves to counter US actions, that's geo politics, issue are never black and white, and no side is right 100% or wrong 100% that only happens in comics and TV, look at the PNAC and note they plan to destroy any nation that tries to compete with US interests how is that free market? we use every means short of war to destabilize others for our gain. PNAC is couched in nice rhetoric but is in fact aggressive

The Project for the New American Century

June 3, 1997

American foreign and defense policy is adrift. Conservatives have criticized the incoherent policies of the Clinton Administration. They have also resisted isolationist impulses from within their own ranks. But conservatives have not confidently advanced a strategic vision of America's role in the world. They have not set forth guiding principles for American foreign policy. They have allowed differences over tactics to obscure potential agreement on strategic objectives. And they have not fought for a defense budget that would maintain American security and advance American interests in the new century.

We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership.

As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievements of past decades? Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests?

We are in danger of squandering the opportunity and failing the challenge. We are living off the capital -- both the military investments and the foreign policy achievements -- built up by past administrations. Cuts in foreign affairs and defense spending, inattention to the tools of statecraft, and inconstant leadership are making it increasingly difficult to sustain American influence around the world. And the promise of short-term commercial benefits threatens to override strategic considerations. As a consequence, we are jeopardizing the nation's ability to meet present threats and to deal with potentially greater challenges that lie ahead.

We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Reagan Administration's success: a military that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibilities.

Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. The history of this century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American leadership.

Our aim is to remind Americans of these lessons and to draw their consequences for today. Here are four consequences:

• we need to increase defense spending significantly if we are to carry out our global

responsibilities today and modernize our armed forces for the future;

• we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values;

• we need to promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad;

• we need to accept responsibility for America's unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.

Such a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity may not be fashionable today. But it is necessary if the United States is to build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security and our greatness in the next.

Elliott Abrams Gary Bauer William J. Bennett Jeb Bush

d**k Cheney Eliot A. Cohen Midge Decter Paula Dobriansky Steve Forbes

Aaron Friedberg Francis Fukuyama Frank Gaffney Fred C. Ikle

Donald Kagan Zalmay Khalilzad I. Lewis Libby Norman Podhoretz

Dan Quayle Peter W. Rodman Stephen P. Rosen Henry S. Rowen

Donald Rumsfeld Vin Weber George Weigel Paul Wolfowitz

  

Answer 7

I think Putin is making hay while the sun shines. He knows the White House is filled with helpless incompetency (all talk, zero action, or bad moves when it does act). Bush is a very weak president, always has been, Rice is worthless as a diplomat, a failure, the US military is stretched to the breaking point, and the American public is absolutely opposed to any saber-rattling right now. Further he has a reasonably good case for doing what he did---perhaps overly reacted, but nonetheless, Georgia pulled Russia's tail and they got bit.

Putin is no dope. He knows JUST HOW FAR to push and when to stop. Right now, he's in the driver's seat. The Russians love him.

I only hope he does not prove to be reckless.  

Answer 8

Show him a picture of Sarah 'barracuda', he drops dead, we won

Answer 9

WAKE UP AMERICA

As a disabled Veteran, I don't have any children, I am above the draft age and married to a foreigner; I've got somewhere to go, the rest of you better wake up, before John McCain gets elected and finishes the destruction of this country that George bush started.

Americans need to get out of this sexist/racist ostrich head burying trip and start thinking about the future of this country. We can not survive on this planet alone. George bush has made us more isolated and less secure than we have been since the colonies told England to shove it. We are in Iraq virtually alone because it is wrong, period.

George Bush and John McCain keep telling us that we are safer today than we were on 9-11; lets do the math;

• 2,974 people from 115 countries, died on 9-11.

• 4,151 deaths and 30,182 wounded US military in the Iraq war.

How in the h**l are we safer?

Everyone continues to give Ronald Reagan credit for the break up of the Soviet Union. In reality the reason it failed was the cost of the soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Russia went broke. Not pressure from the US, or Ronald Regan's cute little speech "Gorbachev tear down this wall..." Russia just went broke, period and with 10 billion a month spent on Iraq and record debt to China (communist China by the way) to pay for oil from Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela (countries who's leaders hate us) America is broke! And let’s not forget: George Bush went to Saudi Arabia to beg for more oil and they laughed in his face.

By the way the inflation rate is the highest it's been in 17 years, guess who was president then? You guessed it, George Bush Senior.

As for John McCain’s choice of VP, it is another case of poor judgment. The choice of Gov. Palin is very disturbing at best;

Alaska’s gross state product is less than $40 Billion as compared to Chicago’s approximate $442 billion. Chicago is rated as having the most balanced economy in the United States, due to its high level of diversification.

The Alaskan economy, on the other hand is dominated by the oil and gas industry with petroleum extraction making up more than 80% of the state's revenue.

Alaskan State operations are completely funded by oil revenue.

There are less than 700,000 people in Alaska (less than 25% of the Chicago population 2,833,321), so between the oil revenue and minimal population, what governing experience does she have. She was not elected Governor, she was appointed by the oil companies. It is clear to me that she is in the pocket of the oil companies, she has to be, they pay her salary.

And now there are allegations that Gov. Palin used her position as Governor to get a State employee fired? If this turns out to be true, what does that say about the people of Alaska who would sit back and accept this kind of corruption? This also speaks volumes about her and the Republican party’s character and Judgment. If the facts are true, she should be immediately removed from the ticket, impeached as Governor, and criminally prosecuted for at least abuse of power. We already have enough megalomaniacs in the Whitehouse. She can no more put Americans first than John McCain or George Bush has. 4 more years of the same.

Answer 10

You have to look into his eyes......and see his soul......or some s**t.....

Answer 11

BTW...Russia does not depend on Europe. Russia owns 10% of at least one of the oil pipelines (as does Iran) The MS Media has not reported this whole thing very well. they did not even report that Russia asked for UN help to stop the killing in South Ossetia before they went in. Georgia had already killed some of their peacekeepers that were there and many other Russian Citizens. They asked for help and were turned down on August 5th. There are videos by Euro reporters of Russian tanks starting to roll in late on the 8th and arriving on the 9th after Georgia bombed the capital city of South Ossetia.

The UN is having hearings and looking at the evidence. Both Germany and France are quite aware of the facts as are many Europeon countries that had their reporters there before Russia came in. They both want the US to stay out it but the US is applying a lot of pressure. (The US and Israel were against non-military solutions and said so at the UN on the 7th...which is why Russia was turned down at the emergency meeting)

Answer 12

This country is strong, stay in America. I think oil is a dying market, the US is the biggest consumer and we are trying to get off foreign oil and eventually off oil (almost) entirely (a lot of stuff is made for oil, i believe stuff like plastic bottles is one example). If we leave the oil market then the price would drop, Russia would still be making money but a lot less. Also I believe our foreign oil addiction is our biggest weakness. If we fix that we will be a much stronger nation.

If Pelosi would actually do something instead of playing politics that might actually get done.

As for dealing with Russia and China if they tried to expand, i guess we could get the UN to write them an angry letter. If we would use military force it would end up in WWIII, people keep saying that WWIII is coming and point to any conflict as the beginning of it, but i think one very powerful nation would have to attack another (US-Russia/US-Chian) for that happen