What can the U.S. and the President do, if anything, about the situation in the Ukraine? I view this situation through the lens of two things Thomas Sowell has said, 1) “Results observed at a given point in time may be a part of a process that stretches far back in time.”, and 2) “You can only choose from alternatives actually available.”
DECISIONS PRODUCE EXPANDING OR DIMINISHING ALTERNATIVES
Where the Ukrainian situation sits today is the result of decisions, by millions of people, that stretch far back in time. The President inherited the situation that existed the day of his inauguration, but he is responsible for the decisions he has made since then. His decisions were made from alternatives that were actually available at the particular time of each decision. Every decision that is made today influences future decisions in many ways. A decision made today can expand or diminish future decisions that are available. If you choose to travel from L.A. to N.Y. by car you have many options along the way that a person who decided to take a plane doesn’t. One preson is limited to what he can choose to do while on the plane like read, sleep, etc, while the person who drove can choose when to stop, what and where to eat, and even to change his mind and go somewhere else instead of N.Y.
Decisions aren’t made in a vacuum, or as I like to say, other people get to vote on how they will react to your decision. You don’t get to determine what other people decide to do after you make a decision, unless you use force to restrain their response.
INTERVENTIONIST OR NON INTERVENTIONIST UTOPIAS
Whether you are on the interventionist or non interventionist end of the spectrum, before you make up your mind about the Ukrainian situation, read these articles because the situation is more complex, from many angles, than it might seem. One thing is for sure, the U.S. can’t reset the clock and start over. The U.S. has to make a decision based on the reality that exists today, it can’t make a decision based on a utopian reality which exists on each end of the interventionist and non interventionist world views.
The truth is, the U.S., is stuck with bad or worse choices that politicians and bureaucrats from both ends of the spectrum have led us to.
ARTICLES
A 35-Step Guide To Understanding Why Russia Decided To Follow The Olympics With A War, by Miriam Berger and Julia Pugachevsky, at buzzfeed.com. This is an article that takes you through the time line of this conflict.
The Stepping Stone To The Ukraine Situation, by Victor Davis Hanson, at victorhanson.com. This article talks about how the Presidents actions since he was inaugurated have been seen as weakness by Leaders like Putin. Didn’t President Kennedy say, “We dare not tempt them with weakness”.
The Back Story To The Russia – Ukraine Confrontation, by George Washington, at economicpolicyjournal.com. There is a lot of information and opinion to digest in this article. Did the U.S. push Russia
Lugar and Obama Urge Destruction Of Conventional Weapon Stockpiles, at fas.org. In 2005 President Obama and Senator Lugar visited the Ukraine to push for the destruction of stockpiles of military supplies. Here is a quote from Obama, “Vast stocks of conventional munitions and military supplies have accumulated in Ukraine…….” Obama said. “We need to eliminate these stockpiles for the safety of the Ukrainian people and people around world, by keeping them out of conflicts around the world.” Is he saying in order to keep Ukraine out of conflicts they need to destroy their weapons? This sounds like the gun control debate, disarm yourself so you don’t provoke the bad guys.
Russia’s 25,000-Troop Allowance and Other Facts You May Not Know About Crimea, at rt.com. Russia Today talks about the Partition Treaty signed by Russia and Ukraine in 1999 to determine military bases and the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea. Read about Black Sea Fleet here, at fas.org.
An American Special Ops Veteran On The Ground In Ukraine Speaks Out, at sofrep.com. Great background of life in the Ukraine from the perspective of a Spec Ops guy on the ground.
AUSTRIAN ECONOMICS ADDICT 