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The war hawks are out in full force. On CNN, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called President Obama weak and indecisive for not already having done something about Russia invading Ukraine.

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On CNN’s State of the Union, Sen. Graham said, “Well, number one, stop going on television and trying to threaten thugs and dictators. It is not your strong suit. Every time the president goes on national television and threatens Putin or anyone like Putin, everybody’s eyes roll, including mine. We have a weak and indecisive president that invites aggression. President Obama needs to do something.”

Lindsey Graham wants Obama to be a decider like George W. Bush, and just go to war already. President Obama is not going to do that. In fact, he is pursuing a strategy that the war crazed right abhors. In each of his statements, the president has made it clear that if action is taken it will be with the international community.

There will be no “go it alone” strategy under the leadership of Barack Obama. The president isn’t going to declare Russia to be part of an axis of evil, or tell the world that they are either with us or against us.

What Sen. Graham doesn’t understand is that real presidential strength and leadership comes from the ability to build support and coalitions that will accomplish the objective. George W. Bush might have been decisive, but he was a weak leader who could never get the world behind his invasion of Iraq.

The United States should lead the world, not go it alone.

Republicans like Sen. Graham can almost taste the blood that a new military conflict would spill. They are aroused by the idea that their Cold War fantasies of war with Russia could finally be realized.

President Obama is reacting to this crisis in the way that a strong leader of the global community is supposed to. The days of cowboying it up, and sending our young men and women to die in wars of choice are over.

What Lindsey Graham is criticizing as weakness is exactly what makes Obama a strong president and his comments are proof that Republicans have learned nothing from their many failures during the presidency of George W. Bush.

Graham’s comments illustrate why Republicans still can’t be trusted, or put in charge of our troops and foreign policy.

President Obama’s good judgment is the backstop that is preventing the country from being dragged into another unnecessary war.

If you don’t believe that, just listen to the comments of Lindsey Graham.