TOW #23

Aaron Pieroni

TOW #23

3/23/14

            During the rioting and political conflict in Ukraine a, mainly Russian speaking, territory of Ukraine has broken its bonds with its country and has voted to become its own completely independent autonomous republic.  Crimea is a small peninsula bordering Ukraine, Russia and the Black Sea.  Throughout its history Crimea has been fought over between many ethnic and political groups.  Be it the Crimean Tatars, the Ukrainians, the Russian government or the Soviet Union, Crimea, and its neighbor Sevastopol, have been fought over for its strategic location in the black sea.  This location is vital for commerce to both countries and has been disputed in the past. 

            It is no secret to anyone that Russia’s sole intention in getting involved in the Ukrainian conflict is to annex the region of Crimea and Sevastopol.  It is because of this that President Barack Obama uses authoritative and strong diction to make it know that the United States of America pledges full-fledged loyalty to the Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries.   Through out his speech Obama states that “As I told President Putin yesterday, the referendum in Crimea was a clear violation of Ukrainian constitutions and international law, and it will not be recognized by the international community.”  Obama speaks strongly by asserting that it is the international community that will not stand for Russia’s actions.  To further the strength of his statements Obama states, “That further provocations will achieve nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world.”  By using strong words like “isolate” Obama threatens Russia financially by cutting the country off from the world.  Obama also uses strong diction (“But throughout this process, we’re going to stand firm in our unwavering support for Ukraine,”) to reassure the Ukrainian people that the United States will stand “firm” in their “unwavering support for Ukraine”.

            Barrack Obama is the 44^th president of the United States and formerly a member of the Illonis Senate.