Obama reveals his leadership potential
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Joe Angsten
Published: August 21, 2008
A recent Senator Obama statement tells it all regarding his lack of leadership potential.
He strongly condemned Russia’s actions Tuesday but U.S. involvement in Iraq had imperiled its ability to take a leadership role in the matter.
Because we are heavily committed to combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan does not limit realistic and forceful U.S. actions.
Is he implying that the only course of action in response to Russia’s actions was a military one? This shows Barack Obama’s lack of understanding of all the avenues of possible state-to-state actions
available to the president of the United States.
This nation has a strong influence in economic and state-to-state influence to bring to bear against the bear of Russia. A true leader does not show pessimist options.
JOE ANGSTEN
Manassas
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Posted by ( phdee ) on August 23, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Let’s all remember that Russia has: nikes, lot and lot of oil, lots and lots of money, and a very strong military. The US: broke and/or heavilymin debt, over extended militarilyly looking for WMD’s and telling lies, loss of world esteem, - going nowhere. There is no card to play against Russia. Russia is doing the same thing that the US (and other countries) have done since the beginning of time: invade other countries. This just follows a time-honored world practice.
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Posted by ( Sammy B ) on August 22, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I by no means meant to equate Georgia with Baathist Iraq. The removal of Saddam from power is one of a few good things to come from our invasion, but an intelligent president would have found a way to do so without a full invasion and voluntarily opening a second front in the war on terror. Sadly, we decided to elect the guy who would make a better drinking buddy than the more intelligent one. Our loss of moral authority comes not from opposition to Saddam but from the false pretenses for the invasion and asinine assumption by the administration that installing a democratic government would be a quick and easy chore. But you need not take either my word or Sen. Obama’s for it. For all his grand promises of support for Georgia in the past, what has Bush done for them in this crisis other than give sound bites? Oh, and Cobra, I did not think that I had to spell it out that consider diplomacy an option in such situations. Sorry for overestimating you. Thing is though, it is hard to be a good diplomat when one’s proverbial big stick is all tied up in another battle.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm
“Your use of the word leverage is a code word for military intervention. What leverage are you talking about? Economic leverage?“
Uh, yeah I was pretty much referring to economic or diplomatic leverage. I didn’t realize leverage was a synonym for “military action”. Must be something they teach in the Masters program at Strayer College.
Military intervention? With Russia? Even without our military bogged down in Iraq, I don’t see how that’s even a possibility. We’re both countries with nuclear weapons. Who wants to risk opening that can of worms?
“Must have been looking in the mirror when you called me a moron.“
I apologize for calling you a moron. You’re clearly a super intelligent guy with a knack for snappy comebacks.
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Posted by ( cobra ) on August 22, 2008 at 3:44 pm
JVA,
Your use of the word leverage is a code word for military intervention. What leverage are you talking about? Economic leverage? Quit your BS JVA. Quit talking tough when you know Libs are the paper tiger party. Answer the question JVA. What leverage are you talking about? There is no comparison of the Russian/Georgia conflict with Iraq. Must have been looking in the mirror when you called me a moron. Yeah I’m a moron with a Masters degree and you’re the enlightened one with a 3rd grade education. Makes sense to me.
You and phdeebag need to get off of moveon.stupid.
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Posted by ( gwen.and.gary ) on August 22, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I don’t consider it an accident that the reemergence of Russia as a visible military power coincides neatly with the transitioning of former Russian president Vladimir Putin to the role of Prime Minister.
I also don’t consider it odd that Mr. Putin would use the pretext of protecting ethnic Russians in these breakaway regions as an excuse to flex a little military muscle.
I have seen reports that contain quotes from representatives of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, saying that Russia is embarking on a “new version” of its own foreign policy. If the recent events in Georgia are any indication, this so-called “new version” bears watching.
Certainly, this reemerging Russian military threat should be among the concerns addressed by our new President, whoever that may be.
As far as a response, the ball seems to be in NATO’s court. Georgia, as a new member, certainly deserves the same assistance as any other NATO member. A lack of response on their part does not necessarily dictate a need to respond on ours, but there are enough Cold Warriors still alive to think that we should lead the charge.
My thought: the military encroachment of a reinvigorated Russia into a united Western Europe should be considered a possibility and an eventuality. NATO needs to shoulder its share of the load and stand with us in confronting the threat before it proceeds further.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 22, 2008 at 3:06 pm
“Georgia by the other hand is a democratic country an is not a threat for any means.“
Really? You don’t think Bush’s encouraging Georgia to join NATO and place a missile shield on the border of Russia is a threat to Russia? Intentionally or not, we practically goaded the Russians into this invasion.
“your high level of guiltiness make you weak”
Ok, I’ll buy your argument. We should be tough like the Russians and invade whatever countries we want and do what’s in our best interest. You might even be right. I just don’t see how you can argue we still have credibility to demand that Russia not act the same way. Do as I say not as I do?
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 22, 2008 at 2:57 pm
“JVA & SammyB are now advocating military action against Russia. Where is your call for a diplomatic solution JVA & SammyB?“
What are you even talking about? Who is calling for military action against Russia?
You have to be one of the biggest morons in Prince William County.
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Posted by ( Godsaveus ) on August 22, 2008 at 2:03 pm
“Because of Iraq, we look like fools and hypocrites when we complain about Russia invading Georgia. We have no moral authority“.
That is the problem that Obama and you all have, your high level of guiltiness make you weak. We invade Iraq to eliminate a Tyranny and a dictator that was a serious treat to the weak stability of the middle east, a dictator that use terror in such a way that he got no remorse to use WOMD against the Kurd population and dominate that territory, he use inhuman methods of torture along with his sons Uday and Qusay pair of butchers, Sadam and his dictatorship received numerous sanction from the UN . Georgia by the other hand is a democratic country an is not a threat for any means. There is no way to compare USA and Russia. We have moral authority to criticize Russia the Ex- KGB liders, Russia is a treat for the independent countries once before where part of the Soviet Union.
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Posted by ( cobra ) on August 22, 2008 at 10:21 am
Funny how you libs talk tough when it comes to Russia. Oh that selective moral outrage from the left is laughable. JVA & SammyB are now advocating military action against Russia. Where is your call for a diplomatic solution JVA & SammyB? BHO had no clue on that issue. And the joke candidate BHO running with a story about McCain’s houses. I would say that after being a PWO for 5 years and having endured the worst treatment one can imagine, the US Government should have purchased those 7 homes for him. It is the lead story on the Wash compost. You poor folks like JVA & SammyB are just mad at those of us who are successful.
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Posted by ( Sammy B ) on August 22, 2008 at 8:22 am
I think that Mr. Angsten does not fully grasp Sen. Obama’s comment. “Leadership role” does not imply a scope limited to military action. Invading Iraq and miring ourselves in five years and counting of sectarian warfare has robbed this country of the moral authority she once had in geopolitics.
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