James Baker: Ukraine Crisis is New Cold War

James Baker: Ukraine Crisis is New Cold War

Sunday, 09 Mar 2014 04:03 PM

By Greg Richter

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/james-baker-cold-war-problems-europe/2014/03/09/id/556916

The crisis in Ukraine has the potential for spiraling out of control and could lead to "serious problems in the heart of Europe," says former Secretary of State James Baker.

"It is clearly the most serious East-West confrontation since the end of the Cold War," Baker said Sunday on "Meet the Press."

"For someone who was the last U.S. secretary of state during the Cold War, it's very disappointing to me to see that we're moving now from cooperation with Russia to confrontation again."

Baker was secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1992.

Baker said he has no substantial disagreement with the way the Obama administration has handled Russia's invasion of Ukraine so far, but added, "I'm not sure that all of this would have happened had we stuck with our red lines."

Many Republicans have blamed President Barack Obama's waffling over a "red line" he set with Syria over use of chemical weapons. When it was revealed last year the Bashar Assad regime had used the weapons on Syrian civilians, Obama first promised action, then went to Congress and allies.

Both Congress and the United Kingdom balked at backing an attack, and the situation was resolved only after Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to monitor Syria's elimination of its chemical weapons stockpile.

Baker said he doesn't agree with those who think Putin sees Obama as weak after that confrontation. But he does think Putin sees Obama as inconsistent.

Baker said he hopes a diplomatic solution can be reached because he thinks there's no good endgame for the Russian Federation.

The risks are "very substantial," Baker said, of the situation turning into more than a "small new Cold War, which I think we are pretty much in right now. I look at this as a Cold War lite."

James Baker

James A. Baker III was the secretary for the U.S. Department of State, a co-chair for the Iraq Study Group, his aide was James W. Cicconi, and is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Note: Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was a member of the Iraq Study Group, is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

James W. Cicconi was a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carlos Pascual was a VP for the Brookings Institution (think tank), a U.S. ambassador for the Ukraine, and is a special envoy, international energy affairs, assistant secretary nominee for the U.S. Department of State.

Steven Pifer was a U.S. ambassador for the Ukraine, and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Thomas R. Pickering is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and was a U.S. ambassador for Russia.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and the Committee for Economic Development.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

James F. Collins is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), was a senior advisor for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, and a U.S. ambassador for Russia.

Russia & the Ukraine were a part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) republic.

Robert S. Strauss was a U.S. ambassador for Russia, and is a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Viktor F. Yanukovich was the president of the Ukraine, and a Davis Manafort client.

Richard H. Davis is a managing director at Davis Manafort, and a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development.