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Kerry on Ukraine

Posted: March 3, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Nuclear |10 Comments

I think I’ll file this reported quote from John Kerry under the “Did you think this through before you said it?” file:

Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday sharply denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “stunning, willful” actions in Crimea, characterizing the move as an “invasion” and saying “all options are on the table” as far as a U.S. response.

“You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th-century fashion, by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext,” Kerry said, appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

Hmmm, invading another country on a completely trumped up pretext . . . What other country has done that in the 21st century? Oh, I know: the US in Iraq in 2003. And I actually think that Kerry would himself largely agree with me in that assessment. So again, did you think this through before you said it?

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10 Comments on “Kerry on Ukraine”

  1. yousaf says:
    March 3, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    If anyone wants to understand what is going on in Ukraine they should read:

    http://nuclearrisk.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/ukraine-the-value-of-risk-analysis-in-foreseeing-crises/

    Reply
  2. Don Bacon says:
    March 3, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    There’s no evidence of any invasion.
    In the legal area, there’s this:

    Dec 5, 1994, Ukraine. Memorandum on Security Assurances
    Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

    Budapest, 5 December 1994

    The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

    Welcoming the accession of Ukraine to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapon State,

    Taking into account the commitment of Ukraine to eliminate all nuclear weapons from its territory within a specified period of time,

    Noting the changes in the world-wide security situation, including the end of the Cold War, which have brought about conditions for deep reductions in nuclear forces.

    Confirm the following:
    — The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the CSCE Final Act, to respect the Independence and Sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.
    — The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, and that none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defense or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
    — The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the CSCE Final Act, to refrain from economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the exercise by Ukraine of the rights inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind.

    Reply
    • Don Bacon says:
      March 3, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      If memory serves, Ukraine had about the world’s third largest nuclear weapon arsenal, and when it gave them up (to Russia?) this was Ukraine’s reward.

      Reply
    • Don Bacon says:
      March 4, 2014 at 1:08 am

      State confirmed today that there is no evidence of an invasion:
      QUESTION: So nothing – no independent knowledge of any Russian intervention in Crimea?
      MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any independent information to share with you.

      Reply
    • yousaf says:
      March 4, 2014 at 2:18 am

      Under-handed and stupid provocative tactics generate their own responses, whether legal or illegal:

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-j-kucinich/ukraine-nato_b_4435637.html

      Reply
      • Don Bacon says:
        March 4, 2014 at 8:37 am

        From Kucinich highlighted link on the proposed IMF bailout:

        For instance, in the draft of the Agreement, foreign and security policy mandates:
        “The Parties shall explore the potential of military and technological cooperation. Ukraine and the European Defence Agency (EDA) will establish close contacts to discuss military capability improvement, including technological issues.”

        The US was there first, right on Russia’s doorstep. From US Embassy Kyev-Ukraine:

        Joint Contact Team Program-Ukraine (JCTP)
        The mission of the Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP) is to deploy US military teams to Ukraine to acquaint the Ukrainian military with various aspects of western militaries. The program was developed in 1992 to assist the armed forces of Ukraine, as the military of one of the emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe.

      • yousaf says:
        March 4, 2014 at 11:09 am

        Thanks — so:

        http://ukraine.usembassy.gov/odc.html

        Joint Contact Team Program-Ukraine (JCTP)
        The mission of the Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP) is to deploy US military teams to Ukraine to acquaint the Ukrainian military with various aspects of western militaries. The program was developed in 1992 to assist the armed forces of Ukraine, as the military of one of the emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe.

        International Military Education and Training (IMET)
        The IMET Program provides training in the United States to selected foreign military and related civilian personnel. The overarching security cooperation objective is to promote stability, democratization, military professionalism, and closer relationships with NATO.

        ***************************
        Foreign Military Sales/Foreign Military Financing
        The FMF program assists the Ukrainian military in conducting defense reform by providing funds for Ukraine to purchase US military equipment and services.

        ***************************

        Wonder why Putin would be concerned about Ukraine getting free money to buy arms to align Ukraine against Russia — esp. with Sevastopol fleet down the road.

  3. Don Bacon says:
    March 4, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Which is why Russia (according to Russia) is allowed 25,000 troops in Crimea, and currently (reportedly) has 18,000. That confused Kerry, he thought they just arrived, if he thought at all. Or he made it up. Whatever– the flip-flopper will change it tomorrow.

    Reply
  4. yousaf says:
    March 5, 2014 at 3:37 am

    See:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/opinion/what-putin-really-wants.html?hp&rref=opinion

    Reply

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