Washington Stay Home And Clean up Your Mess!

The Obama administration, along with the neoconservatives, has condemned the  referendum in Crimea as “illegitimate” and is putting sanctions against Russia. However, the US government’s seemingly random policy on other referendums hints at a double standard in their governments’ rhetoric.

Crimea will voted Sunday  to join with Russia. The Obama administration through John Kerry has claimed the referendum is a farce and that Russia should remove the troops now in Crimea. Moscow, however, maintains there has been no such invasion and the referendum represents the Crimea’s right to self-determination.Self-determination is the right of all people everywhere.

In the past the US government has not batted an eye when countries sought to hold referendums and in some cases actively supported them. He is a list of some recent referendums under the Obama administration.

South Sudan
After a long and bloody conflict, South Sudan separated from the north in 2011 to become the world’s youngest nation state. Then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the move as a historic day and “a testament to the tireless efforts of the people of South Sudan in their search for peace.” Washington has since spent around $600 million in building the new nation, but has frozen payments because of an escalation of violence in the fledgling nation. (Washington is going to spend $1 billion in the Ukraine--this administration has set aside $5 billion to keep Russia out of the Ukraine.)

The Falklands
The UK government held a referendum in overseas territory the Falklands in 2013 to ascertain whether the islanders wished to remain a British colony. In spite of Argentinian protests, the Obama administration did not move to intervene and stop the vote. Argentina lays claim to the Islands, calling them the Malvinas. In the referendum an overwhelming 98.8 percent of the Falklands population voted to remain British. (Washington didn’t get involved because we are tight with the UK—sorry Argentina.)

Scotland
The Scottish government has scheduled a referendum for September 2014 to ask its population whether it wants independence from the United Kingdom. Britain has said if Scotland breaks away it will not be able to use the pound and will have to reapply for EU membership. The Scottish government, for its part, has resolved to eject all British nuclear weapons from the country should its population vote to be separate. The Obama administration has remained silent but will not doubt side with the UK. Will Washington threaten Scotland?

Catalonia
The autonomous Spanish region of Catalonia has announced it will hold a vote to decide on whether it wants independence from Spain in September. Madrid has slammed the referendum as illegal and in violation of the Spanish constitution because it questions Spanish sovereignty. Spain’s crippling financial crisis has led to a growing separatist movement in Catalonia over the last few years. The Obama administration has remained silent. Should Washington get involved in this “illegal” referendum?

So why is the Ukraine generating so much concern from the Obama administration? Have we so soon forgotten what Washington did in Egypt and how that turned out? If the four countries mentioned were of no interest to Washington maybe the Ukraine and Crimea should handle their own problems while Washington solves our problems here at home. America has paid a great price in the lives of our young men and women only to have those nations hate us for our interference. We don’t need a war with Russia. Let Europe solve their own problems and keep Americans soldiers and money at home.