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Health & Fitness

Ukraine: No Further Action Required

Many politicians are calling on the United States to take action against Russia because it sent troops into the Ukraine's Crimea region.  President Obama is simultaneously requesting and cancelling meetings with the Russians.  Others, like John McCain, are calling for severe economic sanctions and even military action such as placing US missiles in the Czech Republic.

I don't see the point in any of it.  A year ago, the Ukraine was under Russia's economic thumb.  A year ago, Russia had a major military presence in the Ukraine.  Obama didn't care, McCain didn't care, I didn't care, and you didn't either.  Now, because a pro-west government has taken control of the Ukraine - at least for a few days - everyone is talking about what the US should do.

First off, any action by the US will have economic and political costs not only for Russia, but for us as well.  We've already seen markets fall.  The prospect of further developing trade with Russia once sanctions are lifted will be severely reduced.  We'll likely need to increase military preparedness once sanctions are implemented.  That all costs money either in reduced income or increased expenditures.

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Second, an economically and politically cornered Russia is truly dangerous.  It's one thing to isolate North Korea or Cuba.  They have no ability to independently fight back.  Russia does.  What prospect do sanctions have for success against a proud nation unwilling to let its status fall any further?  I expect that Putin would use the sanctions to increase his political strength and the Russian people's resentment and suspicion of the West would deepen.

All for what?  To ensure that the Ukraine will be able to trade more easily with the European Union than with Russia?  Or to appease a reactionary American public that insists on action (at least until action is taken, then it insists that we should have taken a different action).

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We need to think this through.  What is our ultimate goal in taking "action"?  What is the likelihood of any "action" on our part actually achieving that goal?  John McCain said, "We are all Ukrainians".  Yeah? Since when? Last week?  The fact is we're not Ukrainians and we have very little interest in their economic fate.  Let's not pretend that we do for a couple of weeks just to score political points at home.  Let's not end up doing something that forces us to care about the Ukraine (and probably write checks to the Ukraine) for decades to come.  Let them work it out.  Once the dust is settled, ask them if they want to buy any Jeeps or soybeans.

No further action required.

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