US Credibility At Stake In Ukraine: Think Tank

Tehran, March 4, IRNA – A Washington based think tank referring to Russian military intervention in Ukraine, stressed that the US and NATO credibility are at stake. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in an article by Andrew C. Kuchins analyzed the latest developments in Ukraine. Kuchins as director of the Russia Eurasia Program at CSIS, in an article titled ˈUS credibility at stake in Ukraineˈ said ˈthe European security and the credibility of the US and NATO commitment to itˈ will be in danger if they do not prevent Moscow military intervention in Crimea. The article called US President Barak Obamaˈs reaction towards Russia as inadequate. ˈTo date, the Obama administrationˈs response, including Fridayˈs vague warning about ˈcosts,ˈ has amounted to little more than a threat to boycott the G8 meeting taking place in Sochi in June. Did the presidentˈs team forget that Putin did not even show up when Obama hosted the G8 in 2012? Was that not a crystal clear message about what Putin really thinks about the G8 in general, and Obama in particular? ˈ ˈRegardless, the administration has clearly been caught flat-footed again by Putin.ˈ The article criticized Obama administrationˈs policy towards its allies as ˈleading from behindˈ. The writer added that the Ukrainian and NATO military forces need to be deployed to the Black Sea in close proximity to the Ukrainian coast. ˈIf Ukraineˈs military and/or NATO is not prepared to take such measures, then we are simply letting ourselves look foolish with empty threats.ˈ ˈEven if Ukraine is not at the center of Europe, it is still a part of it, and our failure to defend its sovereignty in this time of need could prove to be the final blow for a NATO that has in recent years struggled to find its place in the world.ˈ/end