Given the US media’s general fondness for the Ukrainian protesters who wound up driving President Viktor Yanukovych from office, it was inevitable that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military response in the Crimea—an autonomous region of Ukraine populated largely by ethnic Russians—would generate some intense criticism. And so it did.
But alongside the denunciations of Putin came waves of criticism for US President Barack Obama for being too weak to make Putin stop.
On NBC Nightly News (3/1/14), Meet the Press anchor David Gregory announced:
There is U.S. prestige on the line…. The president just Friday afternoon said there would be costs to this kind of intervention. So what are the costs? Why is it that Russia seems to disregard these warnings from the administration?
It was a theme that Gregory hit on his own show on Sunday (3/2/14). “Does NATO draw a line here to try to check any further aggression beyond Crimea into the eastern part of Ukraine?” Gregory wondered. He also posed this question to Secretary of State John Kerry:
On Friday, the president said, “There’ll be a cost to intervention.” What does it say to you that Vladimir Putin has ignored the United States for 10 days?
To Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Gregory posed a question from the hawkish right:
How did we get here? Do you agree with some of your colleagues who say it’s the weakness of President Obama and the United States right now that has emboldened President Putin of Russia?
Introducing the roundtable discussion, Gregory said:
This is a conversation about Obama’s leadership, pure and simple. This is a major test for whether the rest of the world, particularly bad actors, take him seriously when he says to not do something, Chuck Todd.
NBC‘s Todd concurred:
This is not the first time with Putin. Putin acts, Obama warns. Putin acts, Obama warns. This is a pattern that he can’t afford to stay in here and just continue to warn. You heard John Kerry, more warnings.
The focus on Obama’s supposed weakness in the face of Putin’s strength meant that some statements flew by without comment—like when Kerry said that “you just don’t invade another country on phony pretext in order to assert your interests.” Because really, what kind of country does that?
The tendency was evident elsewhere in the press. The Washington Post editorial page (3/1/14):
The United States now faces a naked act of armed aggression in the center of Europe by a Russian regime that is signaling its intent to steamroller this US president and his allies. Mr. Obama must demonstrate that can’t be done.
The paper’s news side (3/1/14) asserted:
Rarely has a threat from a US president been dismissed as quickly—and comprehensively—as Obama’s warning Friday night to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Cokie Roberts
And on NPR‘s Morning Edition, Cokie Roberts (3/3/14) appeared in order to repeat things that Republicans have said about Obama’s weakness:
LINDA WERTHEIMER: So, for the Obama administration, what are the politics of Russia’s move on Crimea?
COKIE ROBERTS: Well, the president is perceived by many of his opponents—and even some of his friends — as being weak. And Sen. Lindsay Graham said yesterday that he should stop going on TV and trying to “threaten thugs and dictators” — I’m quoting here. He says it’s not his strong suit. Everybody’s eyes roll when he does it. So we have a weak and indecisive president that invites aggression.
Now, that’s the kind of criticism you’re going to hear. And, of course, it harks back to his drawing blood red line in Syria and then ignoring it, and the sense that, among the president’s opponents, that foreign dictators feel like they can do anything and get away with it.
Does anyone at NPR really think it’s worth anyone’s time for Cokie Roberts to come on and repeat what she heard politicians say on Sunday talkshows?
Writing at the Guardian (3/3/14), Michael Cohen has a different take: “Shocking as it may seem, sometimes countries take actions based on how they view their interests, irrespective of who the US did or did not bomb.”
Too many pundits and journalists evidently see the world very differently.
The irony of all this idiocy is that a major reason for Russia’s actions is just the sort of imperial “assertiveness” the pundit class gets wet over.
Dear Misleader, continuing the policies of previous administrations, has sought to expand Western influence in the former Soviet Union – the effort to extend NATO’s reach ever eastward is not something Russia observes with detachment.
However you view its move into Crimea, honestly compels you to acknowledge that conveniently ignored reality.
Saw this coming from a mile away. The pundits and Republicans continually diminish this president. What do they expect the rest of the world to think? Russia and China have no love for the west. It seems clear that Putin would like to restore Russian prestige. Re others: Hopefully Cokie Roberts, Linda Werthheimer and other NPR reporters who used to be credible wake up, get, up and stand up for actual hard news that is missing on ME and ATC, instead of parroting others. . Roberts’ Monday morning NPR reports went from being called ‘analysis’ to ‘perspective’. Just call it regurgitated opinion, based on other peoples opinions. I miss the old Cokie Roberts.
Shrieks and cries as hawks observe the empire losing its omnipotence. At least we can see how secondary (at most) is their concern for the welfare of people on the periphery, in this case Ukrainians.
By the way, whereabouts on the North Atlantic (the ocean that has a Treaty Organization) is Ukraine located?
Thanks to PBS News for having Dr. Stephen Cohen report knowledgably on the Ukraine situation and how the US has involved itself in the coup that took place.
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I don’t think that many in the media understand what an invasion is. For example, I read that Kiev and Moscow have had a military agreement since the 90s, and had 16,000 troops there since that time. it was really amazing to read headlines which said” “16,000 Russian troops in the Crimea.” : yeah ahd they had been there for years too. ; 0
I am amazed at how testosterone- ready so many journalists and talking heads are. Perhaps they should all be boots on the ground and see life as it really is. That would do Lindsey Graham a world of good.
Considering that China and Russia have both reminded this nation how, hypocrtical it is, NSA et al and the CIA spying on Congress….wow, and not to forget, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Palestine……….my country tis I see, a freaking mystery! : 0
O.K. country, we don’t really care if we as a nation are losing FACE, because, so many in the nation are losing their ASSES,,,,,,,,,,so please catch on to the reality of life; we desperately need that.
Anyone who would suggest we bomb Russia is, to put it simply, out of their bleeping minds! As the same GOP cronies who cut food stamps on millions of impoverished Americans now send a billion dollars in aid to the new Ukraine regime, seems to me here is where we can find the true motive to all of this… Ukraine signs $10 billion shale gas deal with Chevron. That and NATO based missile silos in Ukraine as we deprive Russia of its only open water port and its ability to transport its own gas and oil reserves.
What about the naked aggression of the EU and NATO ever since the end of the Cold War. Why not just invite Russia to join NATO and solve everything.
“Roberts’ Monday morning NPR reports went from being called ‘analysis’ to ‘perspective’. Just call it regurgitated opinion, based on other peoples opinions. I miss the old Cokie Roberts.”
I do not miss the old or the new Cokie Roberts, she has always spouted partisan opinion, at least it is more honest of NPR to call it perspective rather than analysis. I remember at least 15 years ago hearing her say “People don’t trust the Democrats.” I think she meant she and her rich friends didn’t trust the Democrats.
Our prestige is not on the line. Unfortunately, we lost that a long time ago with our hypocritical invasions of so many countries for their natural resources and our propping up of right-wing dictators everywhere, as though they’re any better than left-wing dictators. The neo-cons are rpessuring Obama because they love never-ending war and money for the military toys and gadgets. We haven’t won any wars since WWII with all the skirmishes we’ve been involved in. why would we think we’d win something here. Obama, stand firm against right-wing pressure and look at who’s being propped up in the Ukraine–basically NAZI’s, extreme right-wing antagonists, and a few democracy-minded groups. We don’t want or need another war over gas and oil.
eh? Crimea is RUSSIAN … period. Incursion into Ukraine by AmeriKa is the usual idiocy it gets involved in. Time to simply back off, mind your own business … for once … time to do this from now on, frankly. // MAN Kerry is DUMB … just LOOK at the guy .. a retard, basically …
It’s time America stood firm! Well past time…I suggest taking Israel to task for it’s deliberate murderous, treacherous attack on the USS Liberty would be a good starting point.
Whilst the USG is girding it’s skirts for that caper, I suggest folks interested in Ukraine check out Global Research’s ‘Ukraine: Secretive Neo-Nazi Military Organization Involved in Euromaidan Snyper Shootings’: also, just in case, practice ‘Duck & Cover’; I don’t believe iodine tablets work very well against vaporisation (though I could be wrong…).
Amazing! This has nothing to do with Obama going mano y mano with Putin. It has everything to do with the right of Russia to defend its borders and its people. God help us if we were to be disarmed when the Chinese move into Mexico and threaten to take Texas ‘back’.
Believing everything you see and hear on the TV, or Twitter or Facebook turns you into idiots – Or, is it Zombis?
anyone remember how we quickly jumped to aid the Hungarians when Ike was President? we didn’t? never mind. (Bet that the citizens of Ukraine remember)
Let’s maintain our cool and wisdom and be diplomatic. In a country where food stamps are cut to children, emeployement benefits are lost, production is continually outsourced –even the processing of chicken meat to save money, there is not a decent LIVING WAGE, etc, do you really think that americans have the funds or even interest to give Billions of $$ of their time and life for a land twelve hours, or half the world away”Crimea, Ukraine and their Russian cousins can work it out. MYOB.
It’s amazing how these war hawks are so eager to restart the Cold War. It’s one thing to want a war with a country that has yet to make a nuclear weapon (Iran), and entirely another to go *back* to war with a very heavily nuclear-armed country. Stupidity at its highest. Thank GOD Obama has both the intelligence and backbone to stand up to these blood-thirsty idiots.
US readiness capability is down near 50% in 5 years.Our officer corp decimated.We are preparing to unilaterally cut our nukes by half without a similar cut from Russia or China leaving both with more than us.We are cutting our forces down to 1940 levels.Putin noticed.Bush moved to fast track the Ukraine into NATO.Obama has ignored them.Putin noticed.We should of been tapping our massive energy for just such a time when Europe is stuck needing Russian oil.But Obama blocked that,and Mr Putin noticed..Is OBama seen as weak?Ask mr Putin.