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Europe
Obama Could Pull Russia Trip Amid Ukraine Tumult
2014-03-01
WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials said Friday that President Barack Obama may scrap plans to attend an international summit in Russia this summer and could also halt discussions on deepening trade ties with Moscow, raising specific possible consequences if Russia should intervene in Ukraine.
Yes, it would be a tad awkward for Champ to bow to Putin right about now...
Obama himself bluntly warned of unspecified "costs" for Russia.

"Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing," Obama declared. Such action by Russia would represent a "profound interference" in matters that must be decided by the Ukrainian people, he said.

While the president spoke only of "reports" of military movements inside Ukraine, the officials said the U.S does believe that Russia is intervening.
But if we acknowledge it openly we have to do something about it, and Champ is all about doing nothing, be it Ukraine, Benghazi or anything else...
Separately, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he would not address specific U.S. options, "but this could be a very dangerous situation if this continues in a provocative way." Asked about options in a CBS News interview, he said that "we're trying to deal with a diplomatic focus, that's the appropriate, responsible approach."
Since we don't have any other viable approach...
As Obama prepared to speak late Friday, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border service said eight Russian transport planes had landed with unknown cargo in Crimea. Serhiy Astakhov told The Associated Press that the Il-76 planes arrived unexpectedly and were given permission to land, one after the other, at Gvardeiskoye air base. The State Department urged U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel plans in the country because of "the potential for instability."

In Washington, it was unclear whether the administration's threats to pull trade talks or cancel presidential travel might have any impact on Russia's calculations. Obama canceled a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin last year after Russia granted asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, though Obama still attended a separate international meeting in Russia.

Putin is scheduled to host the Group of Eight economic summit in June in Sochi, the site of the recently completed Winter Olympics. The U.S. is in discussions about the summit with European partners and it is difficult to see how some of those leaders would attend the summit if Russia has forces in Crimea, according to the administration officials.
They'll change their minds if Vlad turns off the natural gas...
The administration's warning that trade talks could be halted came as Russian officials were in Washington for economic discussions with Obama advisers.

For the U.S., levying punishments on Russia is complicated by the myriad of issues on which the White House needs Moscow's help. Among them: ending the bloodshed in Syria, negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran, and transporting U.S. military troops and equipment out of Afghanistan through Russian supply routes.
Nice box you built for us, Champ. Thanks...
At the White House, a somber Obama decried the situation in Ukraine and warned about deeper outside intervention.

"Just days after the world came to Russia for the Olympic Games, that would invite the condemnation of nations around the world," he said. "The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine."
Posted by:Steve White

#15  It'll be a sacrifice for our intrepid President, but I'm sure he'll work around it.
Posted by: Pappy   2014-03-01 22:43  

#14  The NFL also said they would not hold the 2020 Super Bowl in Moscow if Russia invaded the Ukraine.
Posted by: Airandee   2014-03-01 19:22  

#13  I imagine the narcissist in chief believes that denying them his presence is a punishment, after all, his press fawns over him.
Posted by: OldSpook   2014-03-01 17:27  

#12  Well poo. That leaves somber Obama more time to fill brackets which we'll have to hear about until the greens defrost.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2014-03-01 11:35  

#11  Wait ... wait ... wait ... you mean all it takes to keep Obama away is a little invasion? Havana is nice this time of year, no?
Posted by: Beldar Thusoling8149   2014-03-01 09:51  

#10  Rest assured, he's utterly fearsome on the world stage, our Champ.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-03-01 07:24  

#9  Hungary, 1956 - No one does anything.
Czech, 1968 - No one does anything.
Poland, 1980 - No one does anything.
Georgia, 2008 - No one does anything.
Ukrain, 2014 -
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-03-01 07:15  

#8  Well, too late to boycott the Olympics or dim the National Christmas Tree, but this sounds almost as lame.
Posted by: tu3031   2014-03-01 03:17  

#7  It ain't 1998!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2014-03-01 02:13  

#6  It's movie night. No interruptions, no exceptions.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-03-01 01:51  

#5  Putin holds all the cards and the US and Euroland will do nothing.

All that remains to be settled is where the line on the map is drawn.

Another consequence of the Afghanistan nation building debacle.
Posted by: phil_b   2014-03-01 01:27  

#4  Oh no!
Posted by: gorb   2014-03-01 00:56  

#3  He's more comfortable shooting hoops. Board games and strategic, long-range thinking.... not so much.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-03-01 00:47  

#2   the myriad of issues on which the White House needs Moscow's help.

The Russians have earned their reputation as chess players. Our guys have trouble playing in a sand box.
Posted by: SteveS   2014-03-01 00:39  

#1  OTOH FREEREPUBLIC > KRAUTHAMMER'S TAKE: OBAMA TELLS THE WORLD WE [USA] AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE INVASION [Russia's] OF UKRAINE.

Not good news again for Japan + PHIL + ... + espec for me Guam-WESTPAC.

Lest we fergit, 1960's-70's GUAM TAOTAMONAS > UNILATERAL US STRATEGIC PULLOUT/ROLLBACK BACK TO EASTPAC + CONUS = US SINKS GUAM + KEY PACIFIC ISLES [ala Earthquake/Tectonic Bombs] TO DENY TO ENEMIES I.E. CHINA + PLA.

As part of MilPol = Geopol so-called "A2/Area-Denial".

D *** NG IT, ITS ONLY BEEN 40-PLUS YEARS - WHATS THE HOLD-UP!?

The good news for OWG Amerika is that HAWAII may naturally sink on its own - no EMP Bombs need apply.

* FYI TOPIX > THE US MUST NOT WEAKEN ITS [National, Global] MILITARY STRATEGY.

* REUTERS > JOHN KERRY: US "BEGINNING TO BEHAVE LIKE [weak?] POOR NATION", as due to newfound "New Isolationism".

"New"??? See the above - clearly Jaawhn hasn't talked to God, Madonna andor my Ancestors.

versus

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > [Maritime Executive] THE FUTURE OF CHINESE EXPEDITIONARY OPERATIONS.

Artic must mean besides Rising China desiring control of Guam-Westpac + Hawaii, espec iff the US' Cold War, post-Cold War, + post-9-11 "2/2-1/2 Ocean War-Navy" strategem has now devol to "2/2-1/2 Brush Wars" [UN = Limited Police Actions/MOOTW] strategy.

* REUTERS > RUSSIA PLANS TO ADD MILITARY BASES IN NICARAGUA, VENEZUELA, OTHER COUNTRIES.

Mama Russia gets revenge agz Reagan-Bush 41, Iran-Contra, Bruce Springstein + that Guy from Guam.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-03-01 00:38  

00:01