Dear Editor,

I read your article on reset buttonsand believe that although you might understand your neighbor Russia’s intentions (but only slightly and with bias) you are extremely naïve about U.S. foreign policy.

I am a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I have been researching our foreign policy for quite some time. I’ve also been to Ukraine and Russia on several occasions.

What I dislike the most is when journalists and news media convey inaccurate ‘pictures’ as the Kyiv Post has done on the Reset Button editorial. Your critique of Russia as ‘evil’ and ‘dictatorial’ is really unfair, given the fact that what you are seeing in Russia are direct reactions to U.S. foreign policy. Since Vladimir Putin became President, the U.S. doubled its military expenditures and established bases in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan with usage of facilities in Kazakhstan. It’s not Russia, it’s American foreign intervention and foreign policy.

You state: "their aim is to keep neighbors cash-strapped, unstable, dependent upon Russian energy resources, divided and conquerable with breakaway enclaves and ultimately controlled by dictators who are dependent on Kremlin favors”. You can use many of these descriptions for U.S./ NATO aims as well, especially that part about ‘divide and conquer’ (Yugoslavia). And why can’t Russia use its political influence to make others dependent upon its natural resources. It does it to give its people (and many Ukrainians working for oil/gas businesses) a better lifestyle. Maybe Ukraine should be more cooperative in this area so it too can benefit its people. DUH!

First of all, Russia is rightfully concerned that it is being surrounded by a military organization that still lives in the Cold War. And YOU should be too. The cold war is still pursued by American and Western demagogues and right wing politicians. The more the U.S. disregards Russia’s concerns, the more aggressive and resistant she will be. Is this something Ukraine wants? Has Ukraine ever thought of coexisting with its neighbors without getting into ‘entangling’ alliances? What Ukraine decides, will be her fate, not what Russia decides. If Ukraine boots Russia out of Sevastopol and allows it to be used by NATO or American warships, then Ukraine will put her future in jeopardy.

The United States has NO interest in creating democracies or supporting democratic institutions. Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric.

The United States government only supports those countries which they can be of significant benefit, either political or economic.

In other words, it’s about ‘power’ and domination and nothing else. With Russia, we play the game of ‘monopoly’ which is becoming a more dangerous game. U.S. foreign policy is actually ‘endangering’ the Ukraine and Georgia for example, much more than it is assisting it. Why? Do you really think that Georgian President Saakashvili was elected in a fair democratic manner? If you do, you have been duped big time. The U.S. put him in power. We just do it with money … as much as it takes to get ‘our man’ in power.

Likewise, if it was only focused on developing democracies, it wouldn’t be trying to overthrow the democratically and first native-born elected President of Bolivia (which behind closed doors the U.S. has declared her as an ‘adversary’) who is friendly to Chavez. It also wouldn’t have invaded without provocation (Iraq). 20 years before the invasion, the ‘same’ diplomats (although younger) were shaking hands with Saddam Hussein.It was all about oil.

How can the U.S. talk about Russia’s war with Georgia and continue provocations as it has in Afghanistan and Iraq? By the way, our war in Afghanistan is now spilling over into former Soviet Union countries and possibly into Russia. Nor would it have directly been involved in the overthrow of Iran’s only democratically elected government (because it was friendly with the Soviet Union). I can go on and on but I hope you will start to get the picture. What about Azerbaijan? We could care less who’s in charge or what style of government it has as long as we can get their gas and oil.

Don’t get me wrong, America is a great country, but what makes us great is our freedom of opportunity and our Constitution (which is being severely tested the past 20 years). This is what Ukraine has to do for its people. Unfortunately, Ukraine’s politicians looking to join NATO have their heads deep inside their rectum.

If I was the leader of Ukraine, I would do everything the Russians wanted to help the people of Ukraine. I would open up the doors to opportunity and small businesses with the aid of BOTH Russia and the E.U. Lastly, I would NOT join any political entanglements that would jeopardize the future of Ukraine as a nation.

Start cooperating and quit your bitching!

John Sladky,

USMA Class of 74

U.S. Army veteran