LibertyMinute March 3 2014

  The purpose of diplomacy is to protect the nation's interests in a fashion that maximizes advantages while minimizing potential problems.

 American diplomacy during recent decades has followed exactly the opposite course: It has undermined our legitimate national interest while engendering animosity on the part of countries that are not necessarily our enemies

The actions of the Obama administration inUkraine followed that pattern precisely. Covert action sponsored byWashington helped precipitate the overthrow of the elected president and the installation of l a government hostile to neighboringRussia. This resulted in a de facto schism of the country between the European-friendly northern and western section, and the country's southern and eastern portion, which is sympathetic toRussia. 

Putin's government has intervened in Ukraine, citing concerns over the country's ethnic Russian population. Rather that exercising its influence to help de-escalate the situation, the Obama administration has responded by threatening Russia. And there is a 20-year-old diplomatic agreement Washington could invoke to justify intervening on behalf of its new proxy government in Ukraine.

 All of this is reminiscent of the diplomacy that led to the world-disfiguring tragedy called World War I almost exactly one century ago. 

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.