Obama ceded U.S. influence to the Russians

In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy used diplomacy to avert a military strike on Cuba. He made a deal with the Soviet Union that included a pledge that the U.S. government would not try to overthrow Fidel Castro.

The Soviets lost their missiles, but gained an ally whose position in power was secured by the U.S. government, a fact Castro used to support violent anti-American movements all over the region. The Soviets became a player in the Caribbean, a region of vital interest to the U.S.

In September 2013, President Barack Obama used diplomacy to avert a military strike on Syria. He made a deal with Russia (governed by a Soviet-era KGB head) that includes a pledge to work with (and thus not undermine) President Bashir al-Assad. Thus, the Russians maintain their alliance with the anti-American Assad, and gain an American pledge not to interfere.

The Russians are now the major player in the Middle East, a region of vital interest to the U.S.

And in this case, the Russians didn’t even have to give up any missiles.

ED LYNCH
HOLLINS

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