deltex1
Gold Member
Author's note: President Obama had a 90-minute phone call with President Putin Saturday after troops entered Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. No official transcript was released. Here's my take on what might have been said, and what I hope Obama told Russia's president.
Obama: We condemn with the strongest possible words your invasion of the sovereign and independent state of Ukraine. If you do not withdraw immediately, there will be consequences. Nations dont invade other nations in 21st century. The Cold War is over. You must understand your actions are not in Russias best interests.
Putin: Words are cheap, Mr. President. You and I both know you wont do a thing to stop me in Ukraine. Neither will anyone else. Ive replaced you as the dominant foreign power in the Middle East. Ive got a close and growing closer relationship with Iran, which will become the dominant local power in the Middle East. You didnt even notice it, but I left the Olympics for a day to fly back to Moscow during Olympics to sign an arms agreement with Egypts General Sisi. Im recreating Greater Russia, and reclaiming lands we lost when the Soviet Union collapsed. And, as for my place in history? Winners write history, Mr. President, not whiners.
Obama: Okay, Vladimir, youve had your chance. I realize now that not standing up to you in years past has only whetted your appetite for more aggression.
So, I am reversing course. No more reset with Russia. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Now, let me tell you what Im going to do from here on. Im going to hit you where it hurts crush your economy and make your borders vulnerable.
It wont happen right away, it will take a few years, but once the momentum starts you wont be able to stop it. And Im going to do it by taking a page from your playbook. You have rebuilt Russia by exporting your energy resources: oil for revenue, natural gas for political influence. Im going to do the same to tear you down.
First: I will reverse my decision to halt the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. America will go ahead as originally planned and build the missile shield, but an accelerated basis. That means U.S. military personal will be working alongside Polish and Czech military to construct and operate the systems. The missile shield is designed to protect Europe from Iranian missiles, but you get the point. Uniformed U.S. military will soon be stationed near the Russian border.
How Obama could stop Putin's Ukraine power grab without firing a shot | Fox News
Obama: We condemn with the strongest possible words your invasion of the sovereign and independent state of Ukraine. If you do not withdraw immediately, there will be consequences. Nations dont invade other nations in 21st century. The Cold War is over. You must understand your actions are not in Russias best interests.
Putin: Words are cheap, Mr. President. You and I both know you wont do a thing to stop me in Ukraine. Neither will anyone else. Ive replaced you as the dominant foreign power in the Middle East. Ive got a close and growing closer relationship with Iran, which will become the dominant local power in the Middle East. You didnt even notice it, but I left the Olympics for a day to fly back to Moscow during Olympics to sign an arms agreement with Egypts General Sisi. Im recreating Greater Russia, and reclaiming lands we lost when the Soviet Union collapsed. And, as for my place in history? Winners write history, Mr. President, not whiners.
Obama: Okay, Vladimir, youve had your chance. I realize now that not standing up to you in years past has only whetted your appetite for more aggression.
So, I am reversing course. No more reset with Russia. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Now, let me tell you what Im going to do from here on. Im going to hit you where it hurts crush your economy and make your borders vulnerable.
It wont happen right away, it will take a few years, but once the momentum starts you wont be able to stop it. And Im going to do it by taking a page from your playbook. You have rebuilt Russia by exporting your energy resources: oil for revenue, natural gas for political influence. Im going to do the same to tear you down.
First: I will reverse my decision to halt the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. America will go ahead as originally planned and build the missile shield, but an accelerated basis. That means U.S. military personal will be working alongside Polish and Czech military to construct and operate the systems. The missile shield is designed to protect Europe from Iranian missiles, but you get the point. Uniformed U.S. military will soon be stationed near the Russian border.
How Obama could stop Putin's Ukraine power grab without firing a shot | Fox News
