Obama Criticizes Russia in Brussels Speech

Today President Obama gave a
speech in Brussels addressing America’s relationship with
Europe and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Early on Obama highlighted the fact that the Enlightenment,
which began in Europe, gave rise to the ideas that inspired the
American revolution. Obama then went on to say that in many ways
the history of 20th century Europe represented the struggle between
Enlightenment ideals and “an older, more traditional view of power”
which “argues that ordinary men and women are too small-minded to
govern their own affairs, that order and progress can only come
when individuals surrender their rights to an all-powerful
sovereign.”

Obama made sure to point out that this ideological struggle
continues today and that “we are confronted with the belief among
some that bigger nations can bully smaller ones to get their
way.”

Obama also said that the U.S. and its European allies would
expand sanctions on Russia if “Russian leadership stays on its
current course.”

Interestingly, Obama pushed back against accusations of
hypocrisy relating to America’s stance on the Russian invasion of
Crimea:

Moreover, Russia has pointed to America’s decision to go into
Iraq as an example of Western hypocrisy. Now, it is true that the
Iraq war was a subject of vigorous debate, not just around the
world but in the United States, as well. I participated in that
debate, and I opposed our military intervention there.

But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the
international system. We did not claim or annex Iraq’s territory.
We did not grab its resources for our own gain. Instead, we ended
our war and left Iraq to its people in a fully sovereign Iraqi
state that can make decisions about its own future.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Obama chose not to mention that he was
opposed to the scheduled withdrawal of American troops from
Iraq in December 2011.

Obama is right that the U.S. sought to “work within the
international system” ahead of the invasion of Iraq, although it
didn’t get the level of international approval it sought. In fact,
former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan said that
the war was
illegal.

Obama also had something to say to non-interventionists:

There will always be voices who say that what happens in the
wider world is not our concern nor our responsibility. But we must
never forget that we are heirs to a struggle for freedom. Our
democracy, our individual opportunity only exist because those who
came before us had the wisdom and the courage to recognize that
ideals will only endure if we see our self-interest in the success
of other peoples and other nations.

Obama went on to say that there isn’t a military option in
Ukraine. Of course, without a military optionf the U.S. is left
with little else except sanctions (which are
unlikely to work) and tools of an overly involved foreign
policy.

What the U.S. could do, and what would improve the lives of
Ukrainians and Russians, is
open
the borders. However, Obama has demonstrated throughout his
presidency that he approves of the U.S. being involved in the
affairs of other countries and is
no fan of open borders. 

Watch Obama’s speech in full below: