Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his visit to the Crimean port of Sevastopol on May 9, 2014. Putin's visit to Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in March, is a "flagrant violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty, authorities in Kiev said today.AFP PHOTO/ YURI KADOBNOVYURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images

Putin vs Obama Part III: Why Russia will win

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger wrote: “For the West, the demonization of Vladimir Putin is not a policy; it is an alibi for the absence of one.”  Kissinger, like him or not, is spot on in his succinct assessment of Obama’s policy for Russia.  As the West descends into another reckless and disastrous […]

Russia Laughs at Obama’s Red Line in Crimea: What’s Next for Relations?

President Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry have to be the laughing stock of the foreign policy world.  In less than a year they have managed to draw two “Red Lines” only to have them almost immediately ignored, crossed, and forgotten.  With this track record the word impotent comes to mind in reference […]

Protestors in Kiev Fire on Police

An Open Letter to the People of Ukraine

I generally have focused my writings on events in the Middle East, but would like to take a few minutes to visit the violence currently erupting in Kiev, Ukraine.  As you are aware, I am speaking as a westerner and cannot fully grasp the situation as a native Ukrainian.  However, I will speak to you […]