Comments 09:35 21/05/2015

US shoots itself in the foot escalating tensions with Russia, China, Iran

The Obama administration has repeatedly sent wrong signals to Russia, China and Iran, slamming the countries for non-existent expansionism and so far showing the disheartening dysfunction in America's foreign policy, former CIA Case Officer and Army Intelligence Officer Philip Giraldi underscored, according to Sputnik.

"The United States should have a mutually respectful relationship with Russia, ought to accept that China is an adversary but not necessarily an enemy unless we make it so and it should also finally realize that an agreement with Iran is within its grasp as long as Washington does not overreach," the former CIA officer stressed.

Indeed, while Kiev is urging Washington to send lethal weapons to Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine will in this case "serve as a bulwark against further Russian expansion," the United States has "no actual horse in the race," since Russia poses no imminent threat to America or to Europe, Philip Giraldi underscored.

"Fear of the expansionistic Soviet Union after 1945 was indeed the original motivation for creating NATO," the expert noted.

However, "if one is focused on US interests globally Russia has actually been a responsible player, helping in the Middle East and also against international terrorism," Philip Giraldi highlighted.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration had snubbed Moscow by boycotting the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. It would have been respectful for US President Obama or Secretary of State John Kerry to visit Russia on that important Victory Day, as it would have led to mitigation of Russo-American tensions over the Ukrainian crisis.

"But Obama chose to stay home as punishment for Putin, which I think was a bad choice," the former intelligence officer emphasized.

At the same time the Obama administration has made a number of other "bad choices" during the past several weeks, the expert stressed. For instance, the White House has been aggressively promoting the Trans-Pacific multilateral trade agreement. While the deal itself has sparked a lot of controversy among Americans, the expert stressed that his main concern is "Obama’s explanation of why the pact is important." Barack Obama elaborated that the deal is of primary importance to the US, since "if we don't write the rules, China will…" so far suggesting that Washington has the right to write the rules for Asian nations.

"Fear of the Yellow Peril might indeed be legitimate but it would be difficult to make the case that an internally troubled China is seeking to dominate the Pacific," the former CIA officer noted.

Furthermore, in an interview with an Arabic newspaper Barack Obama called Iran a terrorism supporter. It does sound strange, since President Obama has repeatedly stressed that he was "working hard" to find a peaceful way to mitigate the alleged threat posed by Tehran's nuclear program.

"I understand that the interview was designed to reassure America's friends in the Gulf that the United States shares their concerns and will continue to support them but the timing would appear to be particularly unfortunate," Philip Giraldi pointed out.

It still remains unclear why the US President is shooting himself in the foot, but he should wake up and realize what is going on "before Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush arrives on the scene to make everything worse," the former CIA officer concluded. 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:05
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan blasts Pashinyan for crackdown on critics
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-host of the Imnemnimi podcast who is currently held in pre-trial detention in the Armavir...
16:34
Iran threatens Israeli nuclear sites should its own be attacked
Iran could review its nuclear doctrine, says a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, according to state media agency Tasnim....
16:11
Mkhitaryan calls chance for Inter to clinch Serie A title 'crazy' and 'historic'
Henrikh Mkhitaryan feels that the chance for Inter Milan to clinch the Serie A title against AC Milan is “crazy” and...
15:35
Russian-Turkish monitoring center in Karabakh to close down
The joint Russian-Turkish monitoring center in Nagorno-Karabakh will cease its operations, Turkish National Defense Ministry...
15:06
Rep. Eshoo: We must not wait another century to hold Azerbaijan accountable for crimes against Armenians
The United States must not wait another century to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh...
14:31
Protest to 'stop' Pashinyan held outside Armenian government
A group of people led by activist Vahagn Chakhalyan on Thursday staged a protest outside the Armenian government building in central Yerevan,...
13:55
Artsakh's entire cultural heritage at risk of destruction, expert warns
April 18 is observed annually as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, whose establishment was approved by the 22nd UNESCO General...
13:30
GRECO calls for stronger oversight and accountability in top executive functions and police in Armenia
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), in a report published today, calls on Armenia to pursue its efforts to...
12:58
U.S. State Dept comments on withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) is yet another indication that Russia “is not a trustworthy...
12:36
Withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh not a surprise, expert says
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is no surprise, says analyst Sergei Melkonian, a research fellow at...
12:13
Protesters briefly block street in central Yerevan
A group of protesters briefly blocked Abovyan Street near the Yeritasardakan subway station in central Yerevan on Thursday morning. Police...
11:35
Conference in Antelias to address Azerbaijan's genocidal acts against Artsakh Armenians
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Cilicia Analytical Platform will host a pan-Armenian conference titled...
11:15
Activist Samvel Vardanyan released on bail, placed under house arrest
Activist Samvel Vardanyan, an Armenian government critic who was detained after confronting a pro-government MP on Monday, has been released on...
11:00
Rep. Sherman calls for expanded U.S. assistance for Artsakh Armenians
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) - who spearheaded the first U.S. aid package to Artsakh in 1998 - stressed the importance of expanding assistance to...
17:14
Pashinyan meets with Voskepar residents
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday met with residents of Voskepar, a village in Tavush Province, to assure them that the...
16:35
Official: Decision on peacekeepers’ pullout from Karabakh made by top leadership of Azerbaijan, Russia
The decision to withdraw Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh was made jointly by the top leadership of Azerbaijan and Russia, TASS...
16:14
Analyst: Armenia heading for dictatorship
Analyst Lilit Tumanyan voiced support for anti-government activist Samvel Vardanyan, who was detained after confronting MP Hakob Aslanyan of...
15:30
Georgian parliament passes controversial 'foreign agents' bill in first reading
The Georgian parliament on April 17 approved the first reading of the controversial "foreign agents" bill with 83 lawmakers supporting...
15:15
Expert slams violence against Armenian government critic
Armine Adibekyan, an expert on Azerbaijan, on Wednesday denounced the violence against anti-government activist Samvel Vardanyan, who was...
14:36
Kremlin confirms withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirms that the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) has begun....
14:05
Arrested Armenian government critic facing additional charges
Samvel Vardanyan, an Armenian government critic, is facing additional charges after confronting pro-government MP Hakob Aslanyan on a bus in...
13:45
'Israel-Azerbaijan relationship relies on unholy trinity of oil, arms & intelligence'
By Harut Sassounian www.thecaliforniacourier.com The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published on April 11 a revealing article about the...
13:30
Is Pashinyan going to attend Putin's inauguration?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The EAEU anniversary summit is scheduled to be held in Moscow on May...
12:59
Former Defense Ministry building demolished in Armenia
The former building of the Armenian Defense Ministry located in Proshyan, a village in Kotayk Province, was demolished on Wednesday. In...
12:25
Human rights activist: Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan are prisoners of conscience
The Armenian Center for Political Rights recently released a report on the persecution of opposition activists Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen...
11:32
Flag raising ceremonies held in Illinois to commemorate Armenian Genocide
For the 109th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the cities of Waukegan and North Chicago in Illinois held flag raising ceremonies in...
11:24
Arrested government critic moved to Armenian Investigative Committee
Armenian government critic Samvel Vardanyan was moved from his detention center to the Investigative Committee in Yerevan on Wednesday...
11:00
France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan
France on Tuesday said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan, accusing Baku of taking actions that have damaged...
17:14
Strong winds, thunderstorms expected in Armenia
Rainless weather is expected across Armenia on Tuesday and in the next two days. Showers and thunderstorms coupled with strong winds...
16:59
Pierre d'Argent: What Aliyev calls its 'patriotic war' resulted in ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh
International law professor Pierre d'Argent representing Armenian on Tuesday delivered remarks at public hearings in the case of Armenia v....

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}