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Showing Original Post only (View all)Agree/disagree:Obama reminds us he has no policy toward Ukraine or Russia other than to blame Putin. [View all]
From Democracy Now!JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, thats one of the reasons thatwell, what I wanted to ask you is, because of whats been going on in Syria, in Iraq, and now with the Israeli attacks on Gaza, its almost as if whats going on in Ukraine has receded in the consciousness of the media here in this country, even though its conceivably much more dangerous and has more long-term impact on the United States.
STEPHEN COHEN: I dont want to prioritize deathI mean, whose death is worse or not so worse. But the reality is, if youre going to ask an historian, that the conflict in the Middle East, including Iraq, is going to affect regional politics, but the conflict in Ukraine is going to affect global politics, because we are now in a new Cold War with Russia. We have been for several months. One aspect of cold war is civilian deaths. Weve had these shootdowns. We had them in the old Cold War. This is going to get worse. It also brings us closer to war between Russia and the West, NATO and the United States. So, if youre going to ask which is more importantRussians have a saying that, which is worse? And the answer is, both are worse. Theyre all worse. But if youre going to ask which is going to have impact for our grandchildren, its whats going on in Ukraine now.
AMY GOODMAN: We only have 30 seconds, but Obama announcing stricter sanctions against Russia, how significant is this? It was a day before the downing of the plane.
STEPHEN COHEN: Ill repeat what I said before: By resorting to sanctions, Obama reminds us he has no policy toward Ukraine or Russia other than to blame Putin. Thats not a policy; thats an attitude.
STEPHEN COHEN: I dont want to prioritize deathI mean, whose death is worse or not so worse. But the reality is, if youre going to ask an historian, that the conflict in the Middle East, including Iraq, is going to affect regional politics, but the conflict in Ukraine is going to affect global politics, because we are now in a new Cold War with Russia. We have been for several months. One aspect of cold war is civilian deaths. Weve had these shootdowns. We had them in the old Cold War. This is going to get worse. It also brings us closer to war between Russia and the West, NATO and the United States. So, if youre going to ask which is more importantRussians have a saying that, which is worse? And the answer is, both are worse. Theyre all worse. But if youre going to ask which is going to have impact for our grandchildren, its whats going on in Ukraine now.
AMY GOODMAN: We only have 30 seconds, but Obama announcing stricter sanctions against Russia, how significant is this? It was a day before the downing of the plane.
STEPHEN COHEN: Ill repeat what I said before: By resorting to sanctions, Obama reminds us he has no policy toward Ukraine or Russia other than to blame Putin. Thats not a policy; thats an attitude.
Stephen Cohen is professor emeritus of Russian studies and politics, New York University and Princeton University.
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Agree/disagree:Obama reminds us he has no policy toward Ukraine or Russia other than to blame Putin. [View all]
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
OP
Cohen said it twice in the interview, but wasn't quick with alternatives
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#2
The trouble is that any approach that only looks at Russia will not work because
machiavelliisalive
Jul 2014
#76
Three months on the board...seems more like an old-timer, so familiar
alcibiades_mystery
Jul 2014
#28
It was maddening. Everything he said sounded logical, but no reasonable conclusions were reached
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#12
The problem I see is that every policymaker over -- say 55 -- wants to couch this in cold war terms.
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#59
To twist Lincoln's words - you can't please all the people all the time
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#16
DI, understand, please, first that I posted this as a discussion point
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#49
Other than to materially support Britain and the USSR, FDR did little in Europe prior to 42
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#87
As I said elsewhere - I'd just like to know what he would have Obama do.
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#89
Is there some reason why you don't like the 'left'? We are used to it of course, but I'm always
sabrina 1
Jul 2014
#61
I asked you before, do I know you? You sound very familiar, but that could be because you are
sabrina 1
Jul 2014
#74
Obama has ran the least interventionist foreign policy, beyond maybe Carter, since before FDR.
Drunken Irishman
Jul 2014
#35
I work under the assumption that any apologist for Putin is an imbecile. nt
conservaphobe
Jul 2014
#38
I don't think there is any basis for saying he is an apologist for Putin
betterdemsonly
Jul 2014
#42
Anyone who doesn't hold Putin and the separatists solely responsible for MH17...
conservaphobe
Jul 2014
#45
OK. You agree with Cohen. Finish his argument. What should US policy be?
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#56
One doesn't have to state their own policy to observe that someone else has none.
BKH70041
Jul 2014
#58
No - One does have to state their own policy to observe that someone else has none.
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#64
Complaining about a problem without suggesting solutions is called "whining".
phleshdef
Jul 2014
#70
No, it is called recognizing a problem. I say the answer not just usually but almost always is
TheKentuckian
Jul 2014
#93
You Seem To Imagine, Sir, Free Speech Exists Only If No One Disagrees With What Someone Says
The Magistrate
Jul 2014
#79
Stephen Cohen is a bigoted, hateful writer. I no longer read The Nation because of shit he
Bluenorthwest
Jul 2014
#86
What is the correct policy? Is this a EU matter? A NATO matter? A UN matter?
McCamy Taylor
Jul 2014
#97
Peace talks would be ideal. From a US standpoint, "Stay Out of it" might be the best option. (nm)
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#99
I disagree. Obama is waiting for the right moment, for the moment when things are almost
JDPriestly
Jul 2014
#101
Any evaluation of the current administration policy has to start with remembering W.Bush
Algernon Moncrieff
Jul 2014
#107