The Problem With Putin

 

Russia's ruble's plummeting because of cheaper oil.

Tensions there are simmering and could come to a boil

As we tighten sanctions further, turning up the heat,

Hoping Russia changes course; that they'll admit defeat.

Problem, as I see it, is that Putin's still in charge

And his cult of personality's grown rather large.

Thanks to Russian media, which Putin now controls,

Most of Russia stands by him, according to the polls.

NATO says that Putin's getting bolder by the day;

Economic sanctions don't appear to hold much sway.

Those may work on other countries and their leaders, but

I've begun to worry Putin really is a nut.

Dear E.U. - When Is Enough Enough?

Tell me that Putin isn't up to something...  Look at that smirk as he shakes hands with Ukraine's President. (Photo/ibtimes.co.uk)

Russia's new "incursion" into Southeastern Ukraine

(Something they're denying but reconnaissance makes plain)

May just be the straw to break the German camel's back;

Merkel called on Putin to demand he not attack.

Europe's been reluctant to impose a tough regime

Of the sanctions that might put a stop to Putin's scheme.

He supplies their energy and winter's coming soon...

And he has a reputation as a thuggish goon.

Ukraine's not a NATO member - thus, it's not our fight.

Troops won't be deployed to make sure Putin does what's right.

Sanctions seem to be the only weapons we can use.

His uncurbed aggression means the E.U. has to choose.

Will they simply sit and watch while Putin has his way;

Flouting diplomatic rules while sizing up new prey?

Do they take a stand against the Russians' latest move;

Or, by doing little, do they tacitly approve?

Food Fight!

 

Russian troops are massing on the border of Ukraine.

Putin says they won't invade; they're only there to train.

Recent incidents are making Putin hard to trust.

NATO fears his plans are more like; Sloviansk or bust.

Now we're in a food fight with him; Western imports banned.

Russians, used to fresh produce, will soon be eating canned.

Russia's also threatening its air space could be closed.

It's retaliation for the sanctions we imposed.

Some have called this Cold War II but, if you ask Ukraine

Or the people killed aboard a passenger airplane,

There is nothing cold about it... Stakes could not be higher

For the people standing in the line of Putin's fire.

Russians Go Home

Thousands of Russian troops are returning to their bases.  (Photo/Courtesy of defensenews.com)

Russian troops, withdrawing from the borders of Ukraine,

Realized what anyone with even half a brain

Figured out a week ago; they do not need to fight.

Might as well go home before more sanctions start to bite.

Kiev won't try that again...  Their newest oligarch,

Petro Poroshenko, knows he's swimming with a shark.

Clearer than a nose upon a face, they've made their point.

Russians don't want our proboscis further out of joint.

We don't have to like it but the facts of life are these;

If your army's big enough you may do as you please.

Threaten an invasion and your neighbors will be daunted...

Just ask Mr. Putin, who got everything he wanted.

The Putin Doctrine

(Photo/Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)

Putin is preparing to invade Eastern Ukraine;

Calculating sanctions will be worth the land he'll gain.

Europe doesn't want the Russians cutting off their gas,

Making more effective sanctions difficult to pass.

John McCain believes Obama should send lethal aid;

Which, I fear, could be the worst mistake we've ever made.

That would only give Kiev false hope we'd joined their fight

And they could depend upon our military's might.

That's not gonna happen... Plus, our sending weapons there,

Still won't change the outcome.  It's a fight that's hardly fair.

Most of Russia sides with Putin...  Russia's pretty big;

Meaning Putin wields a club while Kiev waves a twig.

Short of using NATO forces, Putin's gonna win.

NATO doesn't want a war and won't send forces in.

Any lethal aid we sent could only make things worse;

Putin's actions aren't the kind our weapons would reverse.

The Russian Example - Watch Your Step Canada

Ukraine.  (Courtesy of/www.vox.com)

Ukraine is preparing for the Russians to invade,

Just like in Crimea - where they "intervened," then stayed.

Ethnic Russian speakers have invited Putin in

Which would start a war that the Ukrainians can't win.

Putin may decide it's worth the cost and go ahead.

There's already fighting in the streets, with people dead.

This provides the pretext that the Russians may yet use,

Having calculated that they don't have much to lose.

Well aware the West won't go to war to save Ukraine,

They're prepared to suffer future, economic pain.

I don't think they realize how bad that pain could get

But I know that sanctions haven't stopped the Russians yet.

Right now it's not money that they're thinking of - it's pride.

Tried to see the situation from the other side;

But, it's like we'd seized Toronto, threatened Montreal,

And planned to take Southern Canada before the Fall.

Crimea River

Map courtesy of Wikipedia

Russian troops are in Crimea; they'll be staying there.

We're imposing sanctions on them.  Putin doesn't care.

He will sign their annexation later on today.

Ukraine's lost Crimea now, no matter what we say.

Native Russian speakers voted overwhelmingly,

In a referendum that was neither fair nor free,

They'd prefer to join with Russia - splitting from Ukraine.

Putin said that's fine with him; their loss is Russia's gain.

I don't think that's true; the sanctions haven't bitten yet,

Plus Crimea's very poor and is in massive debt.

Putin may feel cocky now but might, yet, be surprised;

This move could prove costlier than he has realized. 

Iran - Give Peace A Chance

(Photo/www.nydailynews.com)

Secretary Kerry's back in meetings with Iran

And he's making progress as they hammer out a plan.

We'll start easing sanctions if Iranians agree

They'll shut down their centrifuges...  Then, we'll have to see.

Israel is furious; they say we shouldn't trust

Anything Rouhani says, but I believe we must.

There's no peace for Syria - a civil war that's spread;

Daily bombings add names to the growing list of dead -

Iran might be crucial in negotiating peace.

They could offer al-Assad a cushy, long-term lease.

When we isolate Iran we're cutting off our nose

Just to spite our faces; stepping on the Persians' toes.

Iran - Non. No. Nah. Nyet.

Stalled talks between the G5+1 and Iran are set to resume on 20 November. (Photo/Farsnews.com)

Iran has been isolated over 30 years.

They've become the boogeyman that everybody fears.

We're afraid that they'll enrich uranium until

They can build some weapons, 'though they've said they never will.

President Rouhani says Iran would like a deal

But we're not so sure that's how the ayatollahs feel.

Hopes for major breakthroughs stalled at meetings they've just had.

Israel has made no secret that fact makes them glad.

Secretary Kerry says enrichment must be ceased.

Some in Congress want to see the sanctions get increased;

Worried that Rouhani plans to use these talks to stall.

I'm afraid we'll try to force his hand and blow it all.

We've allowed their clerics to make demons of the West.

Some are true believers, sure...  But what about the rest?

Persia is an ancient culture; try to see their side.

If we turn the screws we'll lose, 'cause people have their pride.

Middle East Update - Making Friends Wherever We Go.

Iraq isn't better with us gone; in fact, it's worse.

Sunnis and the Shia are both fighting to reverse

Any signs of progress that their country may have made.

Now, it seems, they're wishing that our weapons systems stayed.

Sharing common borders with the Syrians, Iraq

Is a frequent target of a suicide attack.

Someone blows themselves - and others - into bloody bits;

Almost every single day some random violence hits.

Saudis are unhappy we've not played a larger role;

Don't believe it's possible that we'll achieve our goal

Of a peaceful Middle East until Assad is stopped.

Israel's not thrilled Iran might get its sanctions dropped.

Egypt's mad at funding cuts (because they had a coup.)

Pakistan and Libya are angry with us, too.

Nation building's not our strength so, once a war gets won,

We should not just walk away from countries...  We should run.

Across the Pond - Aung San Suu Kyi Wins.

Photo Credit:  http://www.daylife.com

I've been feeling heartened by the news from Myanmar.

'though it isn't perfect yet, the Generals - so far -

Seem to want to find a way to get the sanctions lifted.

Thus, they held elections and, at last, the tide has shifted.

Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat; this Nobel Laureate

Is about as saintly as most politicians get.

After years of house arrest she has agreed to work

With the guys who held her (I would not, but I'm a jerk.)

Burma's Gandhi - Mandela...  That's what I've heard her called.

Currently the world is watching her and they're enthralled.

After the elections that were held the other day

There's good reason to suspect that change is here to stay.

Myanmar (or Burma) is a nation that should thrive.

Once it did but now its people struggle to survive.

Maybe now their military leaders understand

There might be a better way to peace throughout the land.

Sanctions finally seemed to work somewhere and that is great

(If you've got some 50 years to force a changing State).

Keep your fingers crossed for those who live in Myanmar

And keep your eye on Aung San Suu Kyi - She's a rising star.