Thomas Friedman, "Putin and the Laws of Gravity": Or, Russia is a Regional Power Acting Out of Weakness II

Yesterday, at a summit on nuclear security in the Hague, Obama declared, in response to a question by ABC's Jonathan Karl, that Russia is a "regional power" acting "out of weakness" (see: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/03/obama-says-russia-is-regional-power-not-americas-top-geopolitical-foe/). Asked by Karl if he has changed his mind and now agrees with Romney’s contention that Russia is America’s top geopolitical foe, Obama replied:

"Russia’s actions are a problem. They don’t pose the number one national security to the United States. I continue to be much more concerned when it comes to our security with the prospect of nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan."

Query: Just who in the world is capable of destroying Manhattan with a nuclear weapon? Somehow, Obama saw fit to ignore the recent assertion of a Russian news commentator that "Russia is the only country in the world realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash" (see: http://news.yahoo.com/state-tv-says-russia-could-turn-us-radioactive-212003397.html).

Well, if it gives Obama any comfort, Russia might soon not be the only entity capable of hitting Manhattan with a nuclear weapon. Given Obama's dependence upon Putin's wavering support of purported negotiations to dismantle Khamenei's nuclear weapons development problem, Iran could also soon possess the capability to hit Times Square with an atomic bomb delivered by a ballistic missile.

Yes, I know: Iran is also just a "regional power."

In his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Putin and the Laws of Gravity" (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/opinion/friedman-putin-and-the-laws-of-gravity.html?_r=0), Obama apologist Thomas Friedman, whose neck is succumbing to the laws of gravity, parrots the president and would also have us believe that Russia is acting out of weakness. Friedman writes:

"The morning after a big event is when fools rush in and declare that someone’s victory or defeat in a single battle has 'changed everything forever.' The morning after the morning after, the laws of gravity start to apply themselves; things often don’t look as good or as bad as you thought. And that brings me to Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea.

The morning after, he was the hero of Russia. Some moronic commentators here even expressed the wish that we had such a 'decisive' leader. Well, let’s see what Putin looks like the morning after the morning after, say, in six months. I make no predictions, but I will point out this. Putin is challenging three of the most powerful forces on the planet all at once: human nature, Mother Nature and Moore’s Law. Good luck with that."

In a nutshell, Friedman explains that "70 percent of Russia’s exports are oil and gas" and that the world's energy requirements will soon be met by solar and wind power. How reassuring . . . not. As acknowledged earlier this month by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/10/poland-germany-ukraine-idUSL6N0M71JA20140310):

"We will not be able to efficiently fend off potential aggressive steps by Russia in the future, if so many European countries are dependent on Russian gas deliveries or wade into such dependence."

Or stated otherwise, Europe will remain dependent upon Russian gas for many years to come.

And meanwhile, the first invertebrate to occupy the Oval Office must continue to contend with a rambunctious "regional power" whose state television anchors do not hesitate to threaten the United States with annihilation.

Indeed, Mitt Romney had it right during the October 2012 presidential debate.

The Aftermath of Benghazi: Hillary in 2016? Not a Chance!

A major scandal is brewing.

Yesterday, Jonathan Karl of ABC News broke the story that the Obama administration has not been telling the truth about the September 11 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. The US State Department has finally gotten around to acknowledging that there was no protest outside the consulate. Rather, as I informed readers of this blog on September 12 (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.co.il/2012/09/gail-collins-mitts-major-meltdown.html), the deadly assault was pre-planned.

This concerted effort to mislead the American public could have a grave impact on Obama's re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has gone into hiding. As reported by The Washington Post today (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/benghazi-attack-may-mar-clintons-legacy/2012/10/09/b7a8e382-1220-11e2-a16b-2c110031514a_story.html):

"Clinton will not appear at a Wednesday oversight hearing on the Libya attack, where House Republicans have said they will question the State Department’s security preparations and the administration’s account of the attack. The State Department will instead send a trusted career diplomat along with three security officials.

. . . .

Clinton has made no public mention of the attack or investigation since Oct. 3. She has no public speaking events on her schedule this week. A trusted Clinton confidant who is the chief protector of her image is reviewing all media inquiries related to the attack."

Might Hillary resurface in 2016 as the Democratic contender for the presidency? No way. The events in Benghazi have buried her career.

Thomas Friedman, "Elephants Down Under": Why Didn't Tom Talk With Olympia Snowe?

An itinerant Tom Friedman is now visiting New Zealand and Australia, from where he seeks to proffer "fresh" perspectives on US politics. In "Elephants Down Under" (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/opinion/friedman-elephants-down-under.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss#), Friedman declares that in New Zealand and Australia "there is a place in the world where moderate Republicans still exist — unfortunately, you have to take a 13-hour flight from Los Angeles to get there." Tom continues:

"Looking at America from here, makes me feel as though we have the worst of all worlds right now. The days when there were liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats, who nudged the two parties together, appear over. We don’t have compulsory voting. Special interest money is out of control, and we lack any credible Third Party that could capture enough of the center to force both Democrats and Republicans to compete for votes there. So we’ve lost our ability to do big, hard things together. Yet everything we have to do — tax reform, fiscal reform, health care reform, energy policy — is big and hard and can only be done together."

Read his op-ed again from top to bottom. Now reread it again. What is missing? Answer: There is not even a single mention of President Obama, who was expected to put an end to partisan wrangling and reunite America. Contemplate Obama's uplifting 2004 keynote speech to the Democratic National Convention:

"There's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there is the United States of America. There's not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America; there is the United States of America."

Consider also Obama's January 2009 inauguration speech, in which he stated:

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics."

Did Obama fulfill his promise to reconcile America? Sorry, it didn't happen. Now tell me which other name is conspicuously absent from Friedman's opinion piece? Answer: Olympia Snowe.

Snowe, one of the most moderate Republicans in Washington, recently announced her departure from the US Senate. Snowe explained her retirement to CNN (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/29/snowe-explains-decision-to-leave-defends-tough-criticism-of-senate/):

"People are just stunned by the debilitating partisanship, polarization and the overall dysfunction of the institution and political paralysis as we come, you know, to the point of extreme when it comes to resolving the problems facing our country."

And what does Snowe, one of three Republicans in the US Congress who voted for Obama's economic stimulus plan in 2009, have to say about the president? Snowe told Jonathan Karl that she has not had a face-to-face meeting with Obama in two years, and asked if she had to grade Obama on his willingness to work with Republicans, she replied that he would be "close to failing on that point" (see: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/frustrated-senator-olympia-snowe-gives-obama-f-101657433.html).

Sorry, Tom, but there was no need to travel to New Zealand to understand why Washington is growing increasingly dysfunctional with every passing day. Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican ignored by Obama, whose Senate offices are a short drive from your Maryland mansion, has all of the answers.