In Harry Potter, Book 1, Harry goes to Ollivander to get his wand. In a detail later critical to the series, the wand that chooses Harry has a twin core to the one that chose Lord Voldemort. Ollivander says 'I think we can expect great things of you, Mr. Potter. He Who Must Not Be Named did great things. Terrible, but great.' This is a good summary for the admiration in some quarters of Vladimir Putin. An item on NPR misconstrued admiration for Putin 'by some Republicans' as being admiration for his deeds, pointing out he has suppressed the media, jailed opponents, attacked Ukraine and aided the slaughter of Syrians. All that is true, but completely misses the point.
Putin has been a single-minded, tough, aggressive defender of Russia and Russian interests. He has been willing to do whatever is necessary in the interests of the Russian state, even when those acts have been aggressive, violent or subversive. It is not the acts that appeal; it is the contrast with President Obama.
Obama has traveled the world apologizing for US actions, mollifying US opponents, withdrawing defense from our allies, giving Israel the cold shoulder, drawing down the US military, and lecturing at home and abroad on morality. This does not make for an appealing president, or one whom the world fears or respects.
Oderint dum metuant means 'they will hate while they fear'. Obama has gone about like a political version of Sally Field at the 1984 Oscars, hoping to get other people and countries to say 'we like you, we really like you'. Our enemies do not like us. No amount of speechifying or apology for America will make our enemies like us. If they hate us, they may as well greatly fear us, but they do not. The paradoxical and negative effect of the 8 year Apology Tour has been enemies that do not fear or respect us, and allies that DO fear but do not respect us. We have been a mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy enemy and an unfaithful friend.
In contrast to this, Putin is a forceful, direct, goal-driven leader. His leadership appeals, even if it is in a direction of which we do not approve. His strength of position vis-a-vis Obama is crushingly captured by numerous cartoons. Putin's methods upset western leaders. He is oppressive, violent, manipulative, secretive. However, expecting all world leaders to be 'reasonable', to consider the needs of other countries or peoples, is not rational, and most certainly not an approach justified by history. It was summarized by Leo Durocher nearly 100 years ago- nice guys finish last. I'm not interested in a moral US finishing last. I'm interested in a forceful US defending itself from attack and taking care of its interests and allies. Sometimes that requires ugly methods (see WW2 and many other examples). Most good, however, comes out of struggles in the dark, not internal reflections in the light.
The US would do well to be more definitive and aggressive in defense of its allies and condemnation of and attacks on its foes. As Putin has amply demonstrated, such a posture does not require a major, carrier-supported military operation. It often does not require much overt muscle. It does require the willingness to act in our own interests, not the interests of various ethnic groups, refugees, moral values, etc. There is no 'morality' once in the bedroom, none in business. There most certainly is none in geopolitics.
Putin, for all his reprehensible record on human rights and self determination, has done very well in establishing an image of Russia, and increasing his influence over areas of interest to Russia. Please God that the US can do as well.
Ted
Putin has been a single-minded, tough, aggressive defender of Russia and Russian interests. He has been willing to do whatever is necessary in the interests of the Russian state, even when those acts have been aggressive, violent or subversive. It is not the acts that appeal; it is the contrast with President Obama.
Obama has traveled the world apologizing for US actions, mollifying US opponents, withdrawing defense from our allies, giving Israel the cold shoulder, drawing down the US military, and lecturing at home and abroad on morality. This does not make for an appealing president, or one whom the world fears or respects.
Oderint dum metuant means 'they will hate while they fear'. Obama has gone about like a political version of Sally Field at the 1984 Oscars, hoping to get other people and countries to say 'we like you, we really like you'. Our enemies do not like us. No amount of speechifying or apology for America will make our enemies like us. If they hate us, they may as well greatly fear us, but they do not. The paradoxical and negative effect of the 8 year Apology Tour has been enemies that do not fear or respect us, and allies that DO fear but do not respect us. We have been a mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy enemy and an unfaithful friend.
In contrast to this, Putin is a forceful, direct, goal-driven leader. His leadership appeals, even if it is in a direction of which we do not approve. His strength of position vis-a-vis Obama is crushingly captured by numerous cartoons. Putin's methods upset western leaders. He is oppressive, violent, manipulative, secretive. However, expecting all world leaders to be 'reasonable', to consider the needs of other countries or peoples, is not rational, and most certainly not an approach justified by history. It was summarized by Leo Durocher nearly 100 years ago- nice guys finish last. I'm not interested in a moral US finishing last. I'm interested in a forceful US defending itself from attack and taking care of its interests and allies. Sometimes that requires ugly methods (see WW2 and many other examples). Most good, however, comes out of struggles in the dark, not internal reflections in the light.
The US would do well to be more definitive and aggressive in defense of its allies and condemnation of and attacks on its foes. As Putin has amply demonstrated, such a posture does not require a major, carrier-supported military operation. It often does not require much overt muscle. It does require the willingness to act in our own interests, not the interests of various ethnic groups, refugees, moral values, etc. There is no 'morality' once in the bedroom, none in business. There most certainly is none in geopolitics.
Putin, for all his reprehensible record on human rights and self determination, has done very well in establishing an image of Russia, and increasing his influence over areas of interest to Russia. Please God that the US can do as well.
Ted
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