While we're playing putt-putt in
Ukraine, the Saudis have taken over the lead activist role in theMiddle East. They, with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt
withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar, because of Qatar's support and
protection of those Muslim Brotherhood wanted in Egypt.
We opposed this, but support the overthrow in Ukraine because the overthrown faction were made up of bad characters? Amusing that the Russians withdrew their offer of $15-billion in financing and we are making it up with $1-billion.
The Saudis are also opposing the Brotherhood factions in Turkey and other countries, as well as the Syrian and Iranian pushes in the Middle East. The Brotherhood faction in Turkey is now trying to do away with Twitter and Facebook in Turkey, probably because of their impact in Syria.
Syria removed all journalists from a town near the border of Jordan, then rampaged through the populous deposing any and all thought to be enemies of the regime. With cell phones, video of the atrocities was immediately posted to Twitter, Facebook, and youTube, and the Syrian civil war was on.
Russia and Iran backed Assad; the Saudis backed the opposition; and the US chose to sit it out—at least until someone (just who is still in question) used poison gas. The the US was wringing its hands about how to strike Assad without tipping the balance to the opposition, when Russia proposed a solution that took the US off the hook. Assad agreed to dismantle the manufacturing and surrender the poison gas to the US for disposal. It was about 5% complete when it stalled, and now Russia pressuring Assad to complete the deal is in doubt.
In the disagreement in Ukraine some US diplomat made the statement that Ukraine would have to choose between Europe and Russia. Why couldn't it be a cooperative effort between Europe and Russia? But, no, the US had to get its two-cents in instead of working an agreement not unlike that engineered by Putin in Syria. Game on.
Putin was the head of the KGB, perhaps the most Darwinian organization in the world, if not history. US diplomacy seems to be the Amateur Hour with outbreaks of the Gong Show.
Hillary's “Reset” button to the Russian Ambassador, for example, instead of translating “Reset” into Russian, said “Overcharge.” The Russian Ambassador speaks impeccable English; the State Department seems to get their translators from South Africa.
The “Reset” let the Russians off the hook for their invasion of Georgia without any requirement for action on their part—thus the Russians are still in Georgia. Georgia will not be considered favorably for admission to the EU, much less NATO, because of the disputed territory. It would appear we have an instant replay in Crimea and the Ukraine.
Amateur Hour going on the Gong Show. We have a better idea of Putin's master strategy than we have of Obama's.
