Ukraine—Another View

For John, BLUF:  Do we believe in spheres of influence for freedom for all nations?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From Nation of Change we have a different look at what is happening in Ukraine.  The author of the OpEd is Mr Michael Payne.  The headline is "Ukraine:  Putin Slams the Door in NATO’s Face".

The lede:

What’s been going on in Ukraine represents a monumental turning point in the balance of world geopolitical/military power.  Why?  Well, it’s simply this:  Ukraine will very likely go down in history as the country where America, the supposed sole superpower in the world, was checkmated and met its match at the hands of the other superpower in the world – Russia.

Mr Payne's view is that NATO should not have expanded East, perhaps not even to nations like Poland and the Baltic Nations.  Further, he sees the West arming Ukraine as encroaching on Russian interests.  And, Western European nations are backing away from confrontation.

I don't think I agree with 90% of what he says, but it is always useful to review the views of others.

One question is, should Russia be allowed to dominate its neighbors, like the Soviet Union did.♠  Contrast that with President Barack Obama's promise that "days of meddling" in Latin America are over.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  They swallowed the Baltic Nations and took land from Finland and swallowed half of Poland at the beginning of WWII.  Then there was the subjugation of Poland and East Germany and other nations after WWII.