Crossfire: Is Obama striding or stumbling on the world stage?
(CNN) – Is Barack Obama doing enough to stop Vladimir Putin?
That’s the question CNN “Crossfire” co-hosts Van Jones, on the left, and Newt Gingrich, on the right, asked Rep. Karen Bass, D-California, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, on Thursday.
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Bass, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said "weakness would look like doing nothing."
"I think what the President has done has been strong, and I do think that he's showing the leadership and I do think the Europeans will follow," she said.
She added that tougher sanctions applied against Russia over the Ukraine crisis could have a real impact, if European leaders follow suit.
But Johnson argued sanctions aren't going to be enough to stop the Russian leader, who's continued his power stance on the border of Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea.
Republicans contend Obama's policies present weakness abroad, empowering leaders like Putin to buck the international community as violence escalates in Ukraine.
Jones said Republicans are being hypocritical.
A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed that nearly half of Americans surveyed want the United States to be less active in foreign affairs. That's compared to 19% in the survey who think the country ought to be more involved.
"Why are the Republicans out here (being demagogues) on this stuff when the Americans aren't even with you?" Jones asked.
Johnson said the United States has exhibited weakness.
Russia, Syria, Middle East: Is the U.S. losing its ability to sway allies?
"We have to show strength and resolve,” he said. “Vladimir Putin isn't going to listen to words. And the President says all kinds of good things but you have to back those with action. He will only respond to action."
Johnson, who's a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said the United States should supply defensive weapons to the Ukrainian people and open up energy markets.
He argued that U.S. punishment against Putin needs to hit him where it hurts, saying Obama needs to help Europe break its dependence on Russia’s oil and gas reserves.
Obama can't have it both ways, Gingrich added.
"The President has been trying to do both, that is he doesn't want to use military force but he draws red lines," he said. "How do you have an activist, non-activist; interventionist, non-interventionist policy?"
Related: 5 takeaways from Obama's trip to Asia
During his final stop of a week-long tour of Asia, Obama on Monday fiercely defended his foreign policy choices, arguing his decisions avoid military force.
"Why is it that everybody is so eager to use military force after we've just gone through a decade of war at enormous costs to our troops and to our budget?" he asked at one point. "And what is it exactly that these critics think would have been accomplished?"
Bass agreed, saying that "constituents in my district, the last thing they want to hear is we're getting into another conflict."
Obama begins Asia tour with reassurance to Japan
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--so do you want Obama to dictate EU to buy Oil from middle-east knowing there is rampant animosity towards Europe by ya men terrorist organizations like Al Quaeda, ISI, Laskar toeba? Nonsense. Do you know the foreign policy? You have no locus STANDI to talk of Foreign Policy. Obama is doing exactly right thing.
When some Republican or right leaning talking head says that Mr. Obama is feckless and if he were stronger, Putin would behave, I would like them to tell me WHAT WOULD THEY DO to have deterred Russia. While they`re at it, maybe they can tell me how George Bush`s BRAVADO deterred Putin from rolling on Georgia.
Look, we`re not going to war over Crimea, Georgia or any of theses other places for at least TWO reasons. 1.) The USA has no national interest in doing so, do we? 2.) Americans don`t mind a righteous fight but after the BIG LIE [Weapons of Mass Destruction] of the Iraq War [not to mention 4,000 dead soldiers and 40,000 maimed US troops] we are TIRED of the fight and our truculence needs to be restored.
You want to control Russia then threaten their pocketbook. Republicans could neuter Russia by supporting renewable energy powered synthetic/bio carrier-fuel technologies. Imagine the wars we AVOID if open areas in Ukraine had solar panels caputuring energy and converting it into liuqid storage. The answer is Ukraine would quickly join the EU and NATO. Then and only then would a US-back military shield protect Kiev.
lesson i agree that the president should have sent our military to have exercises in Ukraine when Russia went on their borders, i think he should have had the pacific or the atlantic fleet stationed in the black see. Russia would have gone koo koo to try and attack Ukraine with the world most powerful military force staring down their necks. this would have been a great deterrence. the president on the other hand decided to go with economic sanctions, i respect that because he still have the option of sending military forces to have exercises with Ukraine and surrounding countries if he wishes.
He's not striding OR stumbling. How's that? He's moving from a position of strength, whether we recognize it as such or not. When people in Russia can't use their credit cards, can't take vacations, can't support children overseas at college, etc. it will become apparent Mr. Putin is simply out smarted.
America don't need to engage in a senseless war such as the Iraq and afghan wars, what did we accomplish, more chaos
Never vote for another Republican!
Given that there are many possible ways to get it done and no clear way to read Putin, it is impossible to do better. I would like to hear an alternative that would have done better without a military intervention.
One pratfall after another...
We already know the democrat answer, opposite of the truth.
The video on " crosstalk" was exactly that. I could not get anything from it because people were talking over each other at the same time and when allowing someone to start speaking all sides were talking at each other not too each other. worse still the host of the show lapping it up as good media press UGH!!
Sending arms to Ukraine .... how pathetic can you get if the US does that tanks and a vastly superior russian army rolls into Kiev in days..... oh and meanwhile who cares what the Europe and NATO thinks about that who are much more at risk National security wise and economically than the US on this matter.
Gop'ers face facts todays world is a globally integrated community governed mainly by economic realities, and a growing fast Islamic Muslim population, culturally and religiously believing The US and western economies threaten their religion= Jihad is justified.
GOP policies or ideas simply exacerbate the Jihad cry internationally, Yemen, Africa, Nigeria ( Boko Haram) Lebanon, Egypt Muslim brotherhood Chechnya in Russia and not to forget Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ooops almost left out Syria, Iraq and Iran and the Oil rich middle east states.
Get real GOP we neither have the Money, army size or Voter will to go to military intervention beyond where we are today... keep you war mongering up and even in 2014 yo'all going to get a real awakening in the result.
Regards,
Hodgson
When you look at the overall picture, I think Obama's response to Putin is inline with who the President is. He's an honest guy who likes to give people the chance to do the right thing. I think the entire time he had hoped Putin would halt the invasion and de-escalate the situation. I guess what the GOP is criticizing is the fact, they knew Putin wasn't going to do the right thing. And I think that's what the GOP is saying is projecting weakness. That countries with a history of deception and lies keep lying and deceiving and only at the 11th hour Obama answers back. Its a tough thing. On one hand, I too believe in giving people the benefit, at the same time you can't keep being fooled without becoming a fool. Not saying the President is a fool but some there are some countries that you just can't reason with. There are some countries that do not care about anything, including their own countrymen. I won't say any names like N.Korea but when the benefit of the doubt has been abused, it should require twice as much goodwill and honesty to restore what was lost.
Really?
Van Jones asking that question is almost as funny as the NAACP saying they will return money to Sterling or anybody else.
I believe striding because we have NOT been involved or started a war on lies since January 2009.
The shrub #43 didn't stumble into Iraq he went in with eyes wide open knowing full well that there were no WMDs.
Now he's biking with some of the wounded warriors on his ranch. Disgusting slimeball.
Why is it that everybody is so eager to use military force after we've just gone through a decade of war at enormous costs to our troops and to our budget?" he asked at one point.
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I'd like to hear the Republican response to that question, and I'd like for them to answer in front of the audience of one our military bases.
John McCain – the warmonger who honorably pushed back on the woman that call the President an "Arab" in 2008 – did what most Republicans do when criticizing Mr. Obama on Ukraine – he made $h!+ up.
John said the President should have let Ukraine into the European Union. The only problem is, the POTUS doesn`t control Eu membership. McCain further said that the president should give them non-lethal aide in the form of tents, blankets, medicine, etc. to sustain Ukrainian troops – presumeable against the Russians. This would be in-effective; as would be "small arms".
Journalists need to be a bit more probing of those that offer faux solutions to the problems facing any President instead of just giving them a megaphone through which to spew their self-serving, partisan rhetoric. But most don`t do their homework to be prepared to throw the BS flag on these Republicans.
--Also, listen, RUSSIA, farmer USSR, is NOT Iraq, nor Pakistan. I think this War-Mongering needs to vanish. GOP is luring out of war for their benefit to make quick money. Pay some 3000/ month just because he is War, rest of the life, send him to VS if sick, loot the nation–I bet these veterans are the problem in USA. USA needs EDUCATION, NOT WARS, NOR FREE MONEY OFFER.
Obama is riding a tricycle on the world stage.
Obama can`t stop Putin or Assad even with military actions. Obama has sliced and diced our military and Putin knows this. The threat of force used to be a great asset for the US, we no longer have that asset. The sanctions are a joke and have done little to bring an end to the growing chaos in Ukraine.
@tom l
you feel he lied to protect us and I feel he lied to protect himself. At least we agree that he lied...at least I think we agree on that point!
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Good morning tom l, I left work early yesterday and this is my first chance to respond to your post.
The answer is no, no we do not agree that the President lied.
There was a sentence in my response to you that contained the word "IF".
As in "IF" I thought I was deceived.
I do not think I was deceived.
--Rick, do you know the world? I bet you don't.
Good Morning DMFO!
@tom l
you feel he lied to protect us and I feel he lied to protect himself. At least we agree that he lied...at least I think we agree on that point!
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Good morning tom l, I left work early yesterday and this is my first chance to respond to your post.
The answer is no, no we do not agree that the President lied.
There was a sentence in my response to you that contained the word "IF".
As in "IF" I thought I was deceived.
I do not think I was deceived.
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My bad. I didn't mean to misquote you. May I ask you what your thoughts are about how Jay Carney is saying that the email from Ben Rhodes wasn't even about Benghazi? Do you believe that?
Obama: weak at home, and around the world.
What a ridiculous article.....must be a slow news day! Let's talk more about Benghazi! lol
"Obama can't have it both ways, Gingrich added."
Newt Gingrich still trying to be relevant on the political scene? Too funny.
@J.V.Hodgson, Sir, Hats off. Thanks, God bless you. Exactly my point is opined here. Thanks. I have high regard for you, sir. I bet your acumen and intelligence, knowledge is high. Thanks, sir.