As the situation in the Ukraine continues to rear its ugly head, Secretary of State John Kerry had some tough words for Russia: stay out or we might do bad stuff to you.
Kerry said that he spoke Saturday with foreign ministers from the G-8 and other nations and that “every single one of them are prepared to go to the hilt in order to isolate Russia.”
“They’re prepared to put sanctions in place,” he said. “They’re prepared to isolate Russia economically. The ruble is already going down. Russia has major economic challenges. I can’t imagine that an occupation of another country is something that appeals to a people who are trying to reach out to the world, and particularly if it involves violence.”
Do as we say, not as we do.
In other words, Russia should not use its military power to intervene in escalated situations where it sees fit no matter what the case. In fact, as Kerry Tweeted today, invasion is an act of weakness:
Invasion is not the act of someone who is strong. It is the act of someone who is weak.
Interesting assessment. Just one thing: John Kerry from today, I’d like you to meet John Kerry from four days ago.
While commenting on the situation in Syria, Kerry took this position:
Kerry inveighed against what he sees as a tendency within the United States to retreat from the world.
“There’s a new isolationism…We are beginning to behave like a poor nation,” he added, saying some Americans do not perceive the connection between U.S. engagement abroad and the U.S. economy, their own jobs and wider U.S. interests.
Remember, acts of war mean jobs at home. Never forget that piece of propaganda and never think we could spend that money on any other venture to create jobs, America. Continuing:
“Look at our budget. Look at our efforts to get the president’s military force decision on Syria backed up on (Capitol Hill). Look at the House of Representatives with respect to the military and the budget,” Kerry said.
“All of those things diminish our ability to do things.”
So, if we read this correctly, here is the U.S. logic for the week on foreign policy:
Since the U.S. is a rich nation, we must use our military to intervene in international situations or we look poor and weak (forget the idea that we could help nations through means other than dropping bombs and shooting people, by the way).
Since Russia is a rich nation, they must NOT use their military to intervene in international situations or they look poor and weak.
Sound correct, Sec. Kerry?