Sanction Russia Where it Counts - the Wallet

Sanction Russia Where it Counts – the Wallet

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

July 29, 2014

We can rehash Election Day 2012 all day long, and the results, sadly, will remain the same depressing defeat of both Mitt Romney and the American way of life. Yet, Romney knew, as did many of us, then, what Barrack Obama is only first finding out now, no doubt by watching the news, that Russia and Vladimir Putin were and are a force with which to be reckoned.

Romney, in one of the 2012 presidential debates pronounced Russia as the nation about which to be most wary and concerned, even while recognizing the extreme dangers of Iran. Obama not only mocked Romney during the debate, but on a hot microphone gave assurances to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev months earlier that after his reelection he could be more “flexible” where Russia is concerned. It was Romney who declared he was not wearing rose-colored eyeglasses where Russia was concerned.

Fast forward to July 2014 and notice the flexibility of Obama regarding Russia has him looking like a pretzel with his head lodged squarely up his own tuchus.

Empirical evidence has determined Russia’s role in the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 murdering nearly 300 innocent people. The Ukraine is in an increasingly precarious situation with Russia and Putin attempting to rebuild the former Soviet Union and Obama still believes in leading from behind.

The Ukraine is begging for help from the United States – not Europe, even though France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy are calling for increased measures against Russia. But Obama, in his failure to lead, is feckless on Russia, which clearly has the upper hand in this stage of Cold War II. Obama is a joke, not just where Russia is concerned, but globally, as the enemies of the United States only understands fear, destruction, and death.

Instead of a slap on the wrist, and quite frankly, I don’t see where Russia has even received one of those, a punch in the fat mouth is required. Russia has also violated arms agreements with the United States which have gone unpunished. The Ukraine is suffering because most of Europe lives in fear of losing Russian oil, upon which they are so dependent. This should be a win-win for the United States and its still lagging economy.

Sanctions lacking impact are weak and meaningless. Russia needs to be hit, and hit hard – in its wallet. Shut them down. Cease all business operations with Russia. After all, what does Russia have that we need? More mobsters making The Godfather look like a child’s tea party? More mail order brides to con moronic men out of their money and/or lives for citizenship?

If the United States were not under the thumb of weak leader beholden to the environmental lobby, the Keystone Pipeline would be long underway. There would be drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, other off-shore locales, as well as in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge). Even the unions, strong supporters of Obama, support the creation of the Keystone Pipeline as it will create thousands of much needed jobs.

With increased drilling for oil in the United States, more jobs are created, less dependence upon foreign oil becomes reality, and more income as well as closer alliances with the countries of Europe currently beholden to Russia for its oil. Once free from the grip of the Russian bear, those countries can also offer a helping hand where the Ukraine is concerned.

Russia must learn they are on the wrong side of the crisis in the Ukraine, and that they stand alone. This can only happen if Obama learns how to lead by actually leading and doing what is best for the United States, its citizenry, and the economy.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.