Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the crisis in Ukraine, Putin's rising aggression and intransigence in the face of increased international opprobrium, and the failure of American leadership that has allowed these recent events to transpire. This is yet another example of Vladimir Putin looking at President Obama's foreign policy and making the calculation that he can do whatever he wants without fear that the White House will react with anything other than empty threats. We have seen this time and time again, so much so that the President's lead from behind policy has not only eroded our influence and credibility around the world, it has hurt our relations with other countries, and it has shown tyrants like Putin, Assad, Maduro, Kim Jung Un, Khamenei, and the Castros that the U.S. lacks the courage of its convictions. Putin has annexed Crimea, and we would be foolish to think that he will stop there as he seeks to reestablish Russia as more than just a regional power, and the Obama administration has misguidedly dismissed Putin and his provocations as those of a weakened Russia acting out. This is an astonishing view to take and one that could seriously harm our U.S. national security interests if we continue to downplay these threats. In 1994, the United States, along with Ukraine and Russia, signed the Budapest memorandum.…”