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From the article:
Why the United States needs to think twice before calling Ukraine an ally.
and
As Americans contemplate the
situation in Ukraine (and a few other places), it's worth keeping several
things in mind. First, the United States is extraordinarily secure, and most of
what happens in most parts of the world won't have much impact on U.S. security
or prosperity. That's not an argument for isolationism; it's merely a reminder
that others need the United States a lot more than it needs them. It's easy to understand why
Ukraine wants to jump in bed with the European Union and NATO; what is not so obvious is
why sharing the covers and pillows with Ukraine is something we should want to do.
A country with a bankrupt economy, modest natural resources, sharp ethnic
divisions, and a notoriously corrupt political system is normally not seen as a
major strategic asset.
Furthermore, the fact that U.S. courtship of Ukraine happens to make
Russian President Vladimir Putin angry is not a good argument
for embracing Kiev either -- simply put, Russia is the more important
country. And a
long-term squabble isn't in Washington's or Moscow's long-term interest.
Source: Stephen Walt, "Would You Die For That Country?" Foreign Policy, March 24, 2014
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