Guest op-ed: Billy Simons - "Romney is Right on Russia"
Today's guest editorial was written by Billy Simons, a Blogland reader who lives in Summerville with his wife Ana. You can email him at maito:billysimonsrealestate@gmail.com.
I would first like to congratulate the left wing media for making me do something I never thought I would, defend Mitt Romney. I am sure by this point we have all seen the video of Barack Obama whispering to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to "give him some space on missile defense, after the election i will have more flexibility."
Afterward, Mitt Romney rightly condemned this statement and labeled Russia a chief geopolitical ally. I could probably write an entire book on why this was correct; however, I will just give a few highlights of the lovable teddy bears that are Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev and the regime that they have overseen for more than a decade.
1) Russian oil billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky is currently serving his second prison sentence in Russian prison on trumped up charges of tax evasion after he had signaled a possible challenge to Putin's political career
2) Whistle blower Sergei Magnitsky died in prison due to the fact that he was not allowed medical treatment. Magnitsky's crime was exposing corruption within Putin's Interior.
3) Russia continues to provide arms to Syrian dictator Assad as he slaughters his own citizens.
4) Russia considers any enlargement of NATO a threat, and considers countries that support the enlargement a threat as well.
5) Year after year Russia is labeled as one of the world's most dangerous nations for journalists.
6) Russia continues to maintain troops on sovereign territory of the Republic of Moldova in a breakaway republic known as Transnistria. Russia recently appointed an envoy to the region that has bragged about his participation in the conflict against Moldovan forces.
7) Russia continues to stifle dissent by limiting protests, jailing protestors, and rigging elections like the most recent that returned Vladimir Putin to the presidency.
8) Russia continues to block a permanent solution to the Transnistrian conflict, and continues to support the Stalinist regime that is in place. Transnistria is a major hub for both arms and human trafficking, supplying small arms to groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and Islamist Chechen rebels.
Russia not only considers the United States their chief geopolitical rival, but actively supports regimes that are hostile to the United States. President Obama is currently urging for the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment as it applies to Russia by claiming that it is necessary for US businesses to compete. President Obama fails to mention that the amendment can be waived each year; therefore there would be no trade disruption. Members of Congress have agreed to repeal the amendment IF sanctions are placed on known human rights violators in Russia.
I would also hope that the President would consider repealing Jackson-Vanik for Moldova. Moldova has made tremendous strides in the last 3 years as they attempt to recover from 8 years of Communist rule. Repealing this amendment would be a symbol to countries throughout the world that those that seek to develop truly democratic civil societies that respect the rights of all of their citizens, will find that they have a true friend in the United States. Bestowing the same on Russia would send the message to despots and dictators throughout the world that respect for human rights is of no importance to the United States.
Afterward, Mitt Romney rightly condemned this statement and labeled Russia a chief geopolitical ally. I could probably write an entire book on why this was correct; however, I will just give a few highlights of the lovable teddy bears that are Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev and the regime that they have overseen for more than a decade.
1) Russian oil billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky is currently serving his second prison sentence in Russian prison on trumped up charges of tax evasion after he had signaled a possible challenge to Putin's political career
2) Whistle blower Sergei Magnitsky died in prison due to the fact that he was not allowed medical treatment. Magnitsky's crime was exposing corruption within Putin's Interior.
3) Russia continues to provide arms to Syrian dictator Assad as he slaughters his own citizens.
4) Russia considers any enlargement of NATO a threat, and considers countries that support the enlargement a threat as well.
5) Year after year Russia is labeled as one of the world's most dangerous nations for journalists.
6) Russia continues to maintain troops on sovereign territory of the Republic of Moldova in a breakaway republic known as Transnistria. Russia recently appointed an envoy to the region that has bragged about his participation in the conflict against Moldovan forces.
7) Russia continues to stifle dissent by limiting protests, jailing protestors, and rigging elections like the most recent that returned Vladimir Putin to the presidency.
8) Russia continues to block a permanent solution to the Transnistrian conflict, and continues to support the Stalinist regime that is in place. Transnistria is a major hub for both arms and human trafficking, supplying small arms to groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and Islamist Chechen rebels.
Russia not only considers the United States their chief geopolitical rival, but actively supports regimes that are hostile to the United States. President Obama is currently urging for the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment as it applies to Russia by claiming that it is necessary for US businesses to compete. President Obama fails to mention that the amendment can be waived each year; therefore there would be no trade disruption. Members of Congress have agreed to repeal the amendment IF sanctions are placed on known human rights violators in Russia.
I would also hope that the President would consider repealing Jackson-Vanik for Moldova. Moldova has made tremendous strides in the last 3 years as they attempt to recover from 8 years of Communist rule. Repealing this amendment would be a symbol to countries throughout the world that those that seek to develop truly democratic civil societies that respect the rights of all of their citizens, will find that they have a true friend in the United States. Bestowing the same on Russia would send the message to despots and dictators throughout the world that respect for human rights is of no importance to the United States.
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