Ukraine War: A Reverse Cuban Missile Crisis

[jakeXT]

Guided by an aggressive neocon “regime change” strategy, the United States has stumbled into a potential military confrontation with Russia over Ukraine, a dangerous predicament that could become a Cuban Missile Crisis in reverse, as ex-U.S. diplomat William R. Polk explains.

By William R. Polk

In a rather ghastly Nineteenth Century experiment, a biologist by the name of Heinzmann found that if he placed a frog in boiling water, the frog immediately leapt out but that if he placed the frog in tepid water and then gradually heated it, the frog stayed put until he was scalded to death.

Are we like the frog? I see disturbing elements of that process today as we watch events unfold in the Ukraine confrontation. They profoundly frighten me and I believe they should frighten everyone. But they are so gradual that we do not see a specific moment in which we must jump or perish.


...



William R. Polk is a veteran foreign policy consultant, author and professor who taught Middle Eastern studies at Harvard. President John F. Kennedy appointed Polk to the State Department’s Policy Planning Council where he served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His books include: Violent Politics: Insurgency and Terrorism; Understanding Iraq; Understanding Iran; Personal History: Living in Interesting Times; Distant Thunder: Reflections on the Dangers of Our Times; and Humpty Dumpty: The Fate of Regime Change.

https://consortiumnews.com/2015/02/24/ukraine-war-a-reverse-cuban-missile-crisis/

[AverageJoe90]

1. Yeah, I'm sorry, but.....

No, this isn't a "Reverse Cuban Crisis", folks. For one, the Cold War ended 20 years ago, and Putin's Russia has no real projection power outside it's immediate territory. The only thing it does share, is that the nation in question just happens to be neighbors with one of the rivals. But that's it.

[MattSh]

3. So they can't start a new Cold War?

Maybe you should inform the neo-cons in the State Dept. Possibly they haven't heard the news.

[AverageJoe90]

14. Yes, but here's the thing:

The Cold War had already been underway for a decade and a half, or so, when the Cuban Crisis started.

[newthinking]

5. Did you read the author's credentials?

If you think you know better than him you should be knocking on the President's door and they should offer you a job.

[AverageJoe90]

15. Yes, I did.

And frankly, I'm afraid it makes no real difference. The Cold War's been over for 20 years, and the geopolitical tensions just aren't as high, nor even really the same, as they were in 1962.

[Fred Sanders]

8. Please look at a map.

[AverageJoe90]

13. What's that supposed to mean?

For fuck's sakes Fred, everybody knows that the Ukraine is Russia's neighbor. Really, the only major difference geography wise is that Cuba just has 90 miles of water between it and Key West, that's all.

[swilton]

11. Russia is challenging the West

Just to name a few of the recent issues - Edward Snowden, the Syrian crisis and others. Any cooperation with Iran would have to include Russia. Russia also has diverse international trade agreements - a major one being BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China).
Russia (Putin) was instrumental in facilitating US basing from Uzbekistan in its operations in Afghanistan in the aftermath of 9/11 and Putin was one of the first heads of states to call in support of US and anti-terrorism.

Russia has for centuries (Peter the Great) wanted a window with the West and also has philosophically questioned whether it should turn toward the West or China. It for obvious reasons would prefer to positive relations with the West. But NATO has expanded since the unification of Germany - against Russian objections. Furthermore during the Bush Administration, US under neocons (some holdovers into Obama's administration) have implemented withdrawals from nonproliferation agreements with Russia.

I agree with the author that we (and the US figleaf NATO) needs to stop intruding into the Russia-Ukraine sphere. I totally disagree that Ukraine needs to be part of the EU...

This 'reverse Cuban Missile Crisis' is already underway and it's about US world domination. It is not about Ukraine - which is a lost cause state-wise. it is about controlling Russia and its most valuable resources. In the game, if Putin were to do nothing, he would NEVER survive domestically. If he does something, he will be demonized in the Western media and be accused of aggression. This manufactured aggression claim fosters further militarization and $$$ for the MIC...

[AverageJoe90]

16. The sad thing is.....

There was no "manufactured" aggression. It was Putin's fault from the beginning. And frankly, I have begun to wonder if perhaps Russia's initial purported "support" against Islamism may in fact, have been a cover for something else......this being Vladimir Putin we're talking about, I can't say I'd be surprised, especially given his recent actions.

[Fumesucker]

17. Snowden at least was an "own goal" for the US

He didn't have to wind up in China or Russia, that happened thanks to the way the US treats anyone who blows the whistle.

[Duckhunter935]

2. not even close

was the US planning on putting SRBM's in Ukraine? NO. Was Ukraine even going to be able to join NATO? NO

Nice try, but fail

[newthinking]

4. Quite a few foreign policy experts have come out on this

and it is interesting to see folks squirm and then try to make it sound like they know better than the experts.

LOL, anonymous posters claiming to know better about this than someone who served under President Kennedy during the Cuban Missle Crisis.

You just can't make this stuff up!




William R. Polk is a veteran foreign policy consultant, author and professor who taught Middle Eastern studies at Harvard. President John F. Kennedy appointed Polk to the State Department’s Policy Planning Council where he served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His books include: Violent Politics: Insurgency and Terrorism; Understanding Iraq; Understanding Iran; Personal History: Living in Interesting Times; Distant Thunder: Reflections on the Dangers of Our Times; and Humpty Dumpty: The Fate of Regime Change.

[polly7]

6. Kick and Recommend. nt.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Russia does not want NATO nuclear weapons on its 1000 mile border with Ukraine? How come?

[Nitram]

9. NATO never planned to site nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Let's stick to facts, if possible.

[Fred Sanders]

10. Of course not, they would never think of doing such a thing. No worries for Russia at all!

[Purveyor]

12. kick. Thanks for posting. +1 eom

[KoKo]

18. Recommend Read......