While I agree with much of Sachs’s article there are multiple points where I do not agree with him. There is a major distinction between the disaster that was the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan. The US initially had support for action in the latter even from Iran. Subsequently both China and Russia supported US action there and now both are pursuing economic objectives in Afghanistan. I read Strobe Talbott’s take on Putin, which primarily dealt with Kosovo. I believe Talbott is correct. It is not merely that there were many killed in Kosovo, the genocide against the Kosovars was a reality. While not a black and white situation in international law, the Clinton administration was severely criticized for its inaction in the face of the killing. US and NATO action was supported by the EU. I was extremely opposed to the handling of the Libyan conflict. Russia had agreed to a no fly zone and Russia was profoundly snubbed by the foreign policy leadership of Clinton. Obama was leading from behind on that one, while Clinton led the charge. I believe there are indications that Putin has a profound personal animosity towards Clinton and would do his best to affect the US election in 2016 to prevent her being elected. I see the foreign policy successes of Kerry as part of this process. Syria appears to be a clear example of Russian meddling more than US meddling. Assad appeared willing to negotiate with the reasonable demonstrators early in the game, before the civil war. As in Kiev so in Syria provocateurs sabotaged the process. Whether they are FSB, GRU or some unknown branch of Russian intelligence does not matter. The finger prints seem discernable much as the apartment bombings in Russia that were blamed on Chechens.



I believe that Russia has been genuine in contributing to the strengthening of the international system. After all, its current wealth derives from this system. However, Iraq and Libya both showed the US acting against the interests of the international community. Perhaps the US leadership was sincere in its attempts to rid the world of despots, but particularly in the case of Libya, American action resulted in a disaster. The country with the highest literacy rate, best health care, relatively stable society was destabilized affecting the development of the entire continent. I believe one part of the calculations regarding Ukraine was that another disaster was on its way. If Russia stops with Crimea, and stops the provocation of the situation in Eastern Ukraine, there will be a chance. It is encouraging that Ivanov met with the foreign minister of Ukraine in Kiev. The US left a failed state in Afghanistan when the Soviet Union fell and American support for Afghanistan precipitously stopped. The US has now paid its dues, which I believe is acknowledged by countries in the region, and there is a chance for Afghanistan to emerge. The Chinese, Russians and Iranians will move in, but will not further destabilize the government. So the Obama policy will have contributed to a long term success.

