President Obama stepped up sanctions against Russia over its “illegal” annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine, to include a key bank, Rossiya, which will be “frozen out of the dollar,” and more members of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Here’s the list from the Treasury Department of the Russians banned in latest round of US sanctions.
The Russians also released a list of sanctions against US lawmakers including House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority leader, Sen. Harry Reid, Sens. John McCain and Robert Menendez. Um, I am sure they care….
ZekeJMiller reports: Spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio: ‘The Speaker is proud to be included on a list of those willing to stand against Putin’s aggression.’
Vladimir Putin is flexing his muscles (in his mind) and acting as though he can’t be stopped. Well, there’s a way to get to Vladimir Putin, assuming he sends troops deeper into Ukraine:
The penalties should include—right now—stepping up military deployments to the NATO allies, especially to Poland and the Baltic nations, which were once tied to the Soviet Union. Another: Draw up plans for containing and countering Russian troops in the event of an incursion into Ukraine—not sending U.S. or NATO troops, but shipping arms, maybe some advisers and black-bag Delta forces—and talk about these plans with the allies, and Ukrainian officials, on open phone lines. Putin surely knows the limits of his army. The ground forces in that sector of Russia could invade Ukraine, but they lack the resources and logistical lines to sustain an occupation for very long, especially in the event of even slight resistance. We have to make him realize we know these limitations, too.
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Slate
This was cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.