John Kerry In Ukraine - Old Thinking Has Renewed The Cold War

John Kerry is now in Kiev getting the U.S. more deeply involved in a Cold War conflict.... pledging Billions of dollars and making more promises of help. It is U.S. meddling since Clinton that led to this confrontation in the first place (pushing NATO eastward when it was not necessary... creating more U.S. defense obligations in the process... while antagonizing the hell out of the Russians; U.S./EU trying to control former Soviet Republics, etc). The U.S. has an interest in maintaining the Cold War so that the massive defense industry will continue to have customers (The U.S. government & other Nation States). Now there is a new line across Europe. Most Americans don't have a clue about the history of Ukranian-Russian relations.

I would rather see Obama & co take that money and invest it in much needed projects here at home. Where are the billions of dollars for Americans who desperately need it? It's ironic that while offering aid overseas... money for food stamps for Americans was slashed in the recent Farm bill. We need money to build community centers, job training centers, increase the number of job opportunities and to rebuild urban cores like Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, Camden....cities all across the Country. We need money to improve education, put more officers on the street (& give them better training), & weed/seed blighted areas. We need money to build/re-build infrastructure, and put together a comprehensive & strategic energy policy (like Germany has done). Money is also needed to fix the debt (a looming crisis). But when it comes to taking care of the homefront... these jackasses can't seem to find the money. But the 'meddling in conflicts & adventures overseas budget' always seems to be limitless. Americans have spent at least a trillion dollars (a trillion....just think about that for a moment) on Iraq & Afghanistan alone (and still counting). And a trillion is a lowball estimate.

American priorities are out of order.

Sadly... Americans (who don't know any better) believe that Hillary Clinton would be a great candidate for President. But we can't afford another Clinton. (She's a warhawk like her husband... but even more inclined to go to war). Biden is a joke.... and is too old. There seems to be no good viable candidates.

Hopefully another progressive will emerge (one with a fresh vision for the Country). Nation is screwed otherwise.

Huge Mess In Ukraine

The situation in Ukraine has exploded into a huge crisis. I have written here many times on the subject.... and have pointed out that Ukraine was one of the most dangerous flashpoints on earth. Now everyone is seeing why.

The U.S. & Europe are largely to blame. Meddling and engaging in a Cold War tug of war with Russia (something not in our interests) has basically created this situation. Years of bad foreign policy from the Clinton administration, through the Bush era, and now with Obama, has now led to this. Most Americans, including diplomats & Obama advisers, don't understand Ukraine... so bad policy on Russia and Ukraine was the natural result. This has the potential of being another Berlin or Cuba. Hopefully that can be avoided with diplomatic efforts.

Wider U.S. policy on Russia over the past 20+ years, particularly under Clinton, created the conditions in Russia that allowed a cowboy like Putin to come to power. The people of Russia once supported the U.S., especially in the 1980's... to around 1991. But years of antagonizing Russia, ignoring Russia...and pushing Russian interests aside...basically disrespecting Russia... the U.S. turned into an enemy once again. The U.S. missed an opportunity in the 1990's to bring Russia into the Western sphere (if you can call it that)...and into the normal community of nations... aligned more closely with traditional Europe. Clinton is largely to blame. I will never understand why Americans want to see another Clinton. The USA can't afford another Clinton. We are indeed still paying the price for Bill Clinton's policies.

Follow the Ukraine situation on Twitter. Welcome to follow my twitter page.

E-mail/call your member of Congress and let them know that you want the U.S. & Europe to keep out of Ukraine...with the exception of negotiation/mediation.