Conservative pundits would have you believe world-renowned bully Vladimir Putin’s blatant attacks on Ukranian sovereignty are akin to his stealing President Obama’s lunch money and giving him a noogie.
It might not make headlines anymore, but the conflict between Russia and Ukraine rages both in Eastern Europe and the studios of cable news programs. It would seem that it’s somehow our president’s fault for not “standing up” to Putin.
Many critiques of Obama’s admittedly weaker international affairs persona is couched in a sort of underhanded admiration of Putin’s dictatorial behavior.
Sure, Putin comes off as stronger than Obama. He rides horses shirtless. He annexes neighboring countries. He has his political opponents murdered.
But the cartoonishly villainous things he does, while forceful, mean that his strength is not backed up by any legitimacy.
While the U.S.’s own legitimacy may have taken hits since 9/11, especially in regard to our actions in the Middle East, our international reputation is stellar compared to Russia’s.
It is blatantly obvious that Russian forces are undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty under the guise of “separatist” conflict, and that nefarious reputation colors the world’s interpretation of everything Russia does.
So why should Obama “man up” and play the game on Putin’s terms?
A full assault on Russian forces or some other show of brute strength might bring a quick end to the conflict in Ukraine. But what would the cost be to Obama’s image in the international community?
By relying on diplomacy, Obama is acting like an adult, a professional and a modern statesman. These are not words that accurately describe Putin, who might be more apt to answer to an equestrian, assassin or schoolyard menace.
That said, there are measures Obama could take to improve his image without compromising his integrity.
One would be to harness his unprecedented use of the Internet and social media for more than BuzzFeed publicity stunts and comedy skits. This is not to knock the president’s recent forays onto the web — which have been pretty entertaining — but to suggest that he could harness the power of the Internet in more important ways.
He could use his ability to create viral videos to explain international affairs to a young, but increasingly influential, audience and make U.S. intentions clear to a worldwide audience.
Making sure the U.S. message reaches Russian citizens is especially important. The Russian government uses propaganda to ensure strong public support for Putin as well as obfuscation of what is really happening in Ukraine. Anything the U.S. can do to undermine that control would be a boon to resistance against Russian policy.
Furthermore, some argue that it is time for the U.S. to move beyond economic sanctions to arming Ukrainian forces. But in reinforcing Ukraine, Obama could stand to demand more from the international community, especially the European Union. The Ukraine is, after all, in the EU’s backyard.
The U.S. is half a world away, with questionable interests in maintaining Ukrainian sovereignty. European resistance would be much easier to justify.
International conflict is only intensifying, reaching fever pitch with Iran pushing hard for a nuclear program against a backdrop of heavy Israeli resistance. Just yesterday, President Obama rebuffed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who gave an impassioned speech decrying Iran’s nuclear program before Congress.
In light of the seriousness of recent international developments, Obama needs all the clout he can muster if he hopes to maintain a semblance of American control over global affairs.
If the U.S. can take the lead in accomplishing at least a semi-diplomatic ending to the Ukrainian conflict, it could prove a much-needed boost to our word standing. But not if a resolution occurs on Putin’s terms.
It couldn’t hurt to do more to bolster Obama’s reputation worldwide. But only if he does it in a mature, responsible and diplomatic fashion. Shirtless horseback riding is none of those things, but it does make for a great photo op.
Alex Mendoza is a 22-year-old political science and international studies senior from Baton Rouge. You can reach him on Twitter @alexmendoza_TDR.