US Becoming Active in Response to Putin

2014 can be summed up pretty simply when it comes to foreign policy, and it can be stated like this, "Welcome to the 60's". This whole event involving Russia is an all to real reenactment of the Cold War, but with potentially higher stakes. Earlier this week US troops were finally deployed to the region, which is a step further than what had been occurring during the Cold War. These troops will be assigned to aid NATO nations along the border of both Russia and Ukraine. Oddly enough the US didn't deploy any troops to the Ukraine, which may be a concession by the US realizing that it is tactically impossible to deal with the militants in Ukraine without taking control of the country like we had with Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our government can be classified as hypersensitive to foreign affairs, which can be understood because we were the original nation of freedom fighters. We find it our business to involve ourselves with the affairs of the world and at times it has perks such as the relationships built during the World Wars. However other times can harm us much like Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq had internationally due to our willingness to involve ourselves in just about anything. This is classic America and at times it wins the love of the people, but most times it creates resentment and leads to problems within the nation.

I believe that although it is a good step in a direction the United States needs to take with Russia, it hasn't been enough. Our willingness to leave Ukraine to hangout and dry due to Russian control of the Eastern portion shows that we don't want a fight, and the we really aren't to willing to fight for them. It does show our willingness to fight if Russia doesn't stop however due to the troop deployment into other nations of NATO. Overall war seems to be looming based on trends in American efforts to control foreign policy.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/04/23/tsr-dnt-sciutto-ukraine-crisis-latest.cnn.html

NATO Becomes a Presence Once Again

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has began to revamp its presence in Europe, which was hoped would never be needed again after the collapse of the Berlin Wall. NATO was one of the many alliances the U.S. created during the Cold War to help protect the globe from the effects of Communism. Although NATO was never formally disbanded after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, their presence across Europe gradually decreased to a point where the coalition was thought to be useless as it had been replaced by the strong bond formed in the United Nations after the Soviet Unions collapse. NATO however may be needed once more as Russia continues to apply pressure in Eastern Europe causing tensions to rise to a level that rivals the Cold War, hence the return of the alliance.

So how does this apply to America? Well firstly America is responsible for the creation of NATO and is also one of the alliances strongest members. America generally heads all military pursuits and is one of the biggest influences on the decisions of the alliance. NATO's resurgence suggests that the American foreign diplomacy is moving away from the UN and back into its habits of strong arming other nations much like we had between World War II and Afghanistan. Until the crises of Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe the UN was never given a true chance to function as the police of the world, however since Obama has taken office he has attempted to put the fate of the globe in the hands of the UN and it has worked to a degree, but to many nations are hesitant to act with force allowing nations such as Russia to pummel it way through opposition. Due to the inability of the UN it seems the the United States is being pushed onto another route and attempting to reawaken the alliance that once threatened the Soviet Union and kept the communist nation at bay. However today the face a new type of enemy, a politically stable Russia with the support of its nation capable of waging war nearly anywhere across the globe, fueled by a people of pride who are willing to fight for their leader.

NATO is hopefully once again just a measure to deter Russian aggression, but only time will tell. The hopes across the globe is that the crisis in Ukraine will end with a peaceful means. However with the current progression of events it is all to possible that American bases across the globe will be on stand by for war in Europe once again.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/03/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2