Hence the rebels fighting for their freedom.
Posted on 05/20/2018 4:54:33 AM PDT by McGruff
Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Crimea, Ukraine, with mainland Russia on Tuesday. Putin did so by in a typical show of bravado by leading a column of transport vehicles across the bridge.
Ukraine should now destroy elements of the bridge.
While that course of action would be an escalation against Putin and one that would almost certainly spark Russian retaliation, this bridge is an outrageous affront to Ukraine's very credibility as a nation. Of course, from Putin's perspective that's the whole point. The bridge cost Russia's near-bankrupt government billions of dollars, but it offers Putin a formal physical and psychological appropriation of Ukrainian territory.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Maybe so, but China and Russia have been forging a very tight military alliance over the past 10-15 years, including staging annual joint war games.
Hence the rebels fighting for their freedom.
Senator Ted Cruz on Russia, 2015...
“We can redouble our efforts to develop the defensive weapons that neutralized the offensive Soviet threat — particularly missile defense, which has seen a 25% budget reduction under Obama, according to an analysis from the conservative Heritage Foundation, and has been constrained by bad arms deals like New START.
We should not only move quickly to install the canceled interceptor sites Putin opposed in Poland and the Czech Republic, but also to develop the next generation of systems that will only increase his discomfiture.
These options do not entail a ground war in Syria, yet would effectively shake us free from the failed policies that have brought us to our current impasse.
These options set us on a new path that puts Putin on notice that the United States is reclaiming our traditional role as leader of the free world.”
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/opinions/cruz-syria-putin/index.html
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Cruz:
“What we’re seeing Putin in Russia do is a direct response to the profound weakness of Obama over six and a half years.
Putin views Obama as weak, as ineffective, and frankly, as a laughingstock. And, as a result, he is moving in, he is invading his neighbors, like Ukraine, he’s kidnapping Estonians, and he’s moving into Syria to gain a stronger foothold in the Middle East.”
https://www.tedcruz.org/news/icymi-cruz-we-have-no-business-getting-in-the-middle-of-the-syrian-civil-war-goal-should-be-to-defeat-isis/
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Cruz:
“We need a coherent plan to address both the specific crisis in Syria and the challenge posed more broadly by Putin’s resurgent Russia.
The good news is that America still has options, if our leaders can summon the will to exercise them.
For starters, in Syria we can’t double down on the failed strategies that have given Putin his opportunity to intervene.
We are now two years out from President Obama’s proposed intervention after al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. ...”
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/opinions/cruz-syria-putin/index.html
How Russia arms America’s southern neighbors
Ioan Grillo
May 9, 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Russia’s push into Ukraine has put many on edge. But less known is that Russia is also strengthening its military links south of the Rio Grande and re-establishing itself as a power in the region.
Vladimir Putin has been strengthening military links here, and Russia is now the largest arms dealer to governments in Latin America, surpassing the United States.
Russia has even floated the possibility of building new military bases in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and putting its warships permanently in the Caribbean.
In the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov recently visited Cuba, Peru, Chile, and Nicaragua, where he announced that Russia would also pour money into the new Central American canal project. ...”
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140508/russian-arms-military-trade-latin-america
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Russia Boosts Arms, Training for Leftist Latin Militaries
Moscow defense minister inks deals with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua for joint exercises
BY: Bill Gertz
February 20, 2015
Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said.
Shoygu met with defense and military leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and signed several agreements on warship visits and military training during the visit, which ran from Feb. 11 to 14. It is not clear whether any new arms deals were completed during the visit.
Defense officials said the Russian leader is seeking bases in the region for strategic bomber flights that Shoygu recently promised would include flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-boosts-arms-training-for-leftist-latin-militaries/
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KGB/FSB Putin very much wants a ‘unified Korea’...under communist NK rule
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Russia and North Korea declare 2015 a ‘year of friendship’
“The biggest cause for concern is the growing military alliance between Russia and North Korea, with the two regimes recently announcing plans to conduct a series of joint army, navy and air force exercises this year.”
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Russia steps up North Korea support to constrain US
May 17, 2017
“Despite efforts by the United Nations to impose isolating sanctions on North Korea in response to the country’s continued development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, trade between Russia and North Korea soared more than 85 percent in the first four months of the year.”
http://www.dw.com/en/russia-steps-up-north-korea-support-to-constrain-us/a-38867861
It’s not so much what you have to say, but how you say it.
![](http://i59.tinypic.com/34rw0v7.jpg"")
I understand that Crimea has historically been a part of Russia. It was assigned to Ukraine around 1954, but previously was Russian. Putin seems to be a nationalist looking out for Russia’s interests. I don’t think it is in America’s best interests to get sucked into a war with Russia, nor should we have ever let Ukraine into NATO.
We are too overextended militarily. The last thing we need is a war with Russia to further weaken the West in the face of a moslem invasion of Europe.
I should be more polite to these propagandists for Putin posing as patriots?
“We do not chose to do anything about Crimea”
Incorrect.
The EU and US placed economic sanctions and travel restrictions on the oligarchs most closely tied to Putin and Crimea. This was noted as a first round that would escalate if to broader sanctions.
Many Russians sent to Ukraine due to the willingness of Ukrainians to fight against USSR in WWII.
The Wagner Russian mercenaries with Spetznatz background were fairly ineffective in Ukraine, as Ukraine government still exists.
Part of the payback was the ill advised Wagner Russian attack against US special ops in Syria which resulted in over 200 Russians being killed.
Ukraine doesn’t even have a Navy.
Russia took over Ukraine’s share of the Black Sea Fleet in 2014.
And Putin has made sure the Russian Navy will protect that expensive bridge.
Which will make it easier for Crimea to transport stuff less expensively to Russia and raise living standards in Crimea to levels on mainland Russia.
For him its a win-win and he could hardly care less what Ukraine and the West think.
How many Ukrainians fought and died to keep the Russians out of Crimea?
> But Tom Rogan is calling for launching World War III so that Ukraine could have back territory which historically had NEVER been Ukraine <
Very true. Before folks like Rogan get all worked up, they should read a little bit about the history of the Crimea.
Putin needs to be stared down when it’s appropriate. But this Crimea business is not one of those times.
Ukraine has suffered enough. Everyone in The Donbas have suffered enough. We need to cool things off, not turn them red-hot!
I’ve read it a ton of times, there is nothing wrong with what these people said.
They’ve opened up for debate. Show us what you got, convince us.
Calling names and poking people is no way to win an argument.
They should blow the bridge.
And the putin shills should blow...
...
.......
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everyone else.
Re: Yeah, what’s Putin going to do about it anyways.
>>It can get cold in the winter in the
>>Ukraine without Russian natural gas.
Ukraine Famine
The Ukrainian Famine was dreadful famine premeditated by the Soviet Union, headed by Joseph Stalin during 1932-1933, as a means to undermine the nationalistic pride of the Ukrainian people.
It served to control and further oppress the Ukrainian people by denying them the basic vital essentials they needed to survive. The Ukrainian Famine is also known as Holodomor, meaning “death by hunger.”
The Communist Regime sought to eliminate any threat from Ukrainian nationalists, whom they feared had the potential to form a rebellion and to seek independence from the Soviet Union. More than 5,000 Ukrainian intellectuals were arrested and later were either murdered or deported to prison camps in Siberia. These individuals were falsely accused of plotting an armed rebellion; however it was very clear that Stalin’s intentions were to eliminate the leaders of Ukrainian society, to leave the masses without any guidance or direction.
Stalin regarded the self-sufficient farms of the Ukraine peasants, as a threat to his ideals. He did not want the Ukrainian peasants to prosper freely from the wealth accumulated from independent farm holdings. The wealthier farmers were termed as “kulaks”, and became the primary target of “dekulukization,” an effort to eliminate independent farm-holdings, and create collective farm units. The Communists attempted to gain the support of the poorer class of peasants, by turning them against the kulak class of farmers. A false image of the Kulak class portrayed them as a danger to society. Contrary to the expected outcome of the Communists’ plan, the poor farmers sided with the kulaks, instead of siding with the Soviet authorities. As a result many of them became new targets of dekulakization. Many other poor farmers unwillingly joined collective farms. Those who attempted to aid a “kulak” were punished under the law.
The Soviet police confiscated the Ukrainian farmers of their homes, livestock, wheat crops, and valuable possessions. They imposed heavy grain taxes, deliberately leaving families to starve. Those who resisted giving up their homes and crops, were violently shot to death or deported to regions in Siberia. Some families and individuals chose to burn their homes to the ground and kill their livestock, instead of handing it over to Soviet authorities. Families, who tried to hide grain resources, in order to sustain a source of food, were killed. This campaign of terror was organized to instill fear within the people, and force them to relinquish all that they had. The ultimate goal was to have these people embrace Soviet-ism and abandon all nationalistic pride.
A system of internal passports prevented Ukrainians from leaving their towns and villages. Thus villagers were not able to cross the border and escape the torment by fleeing to other countries. When news of the Famine reached the Ukrainian Diaspora in the United States and Europe, food supplies were sent to Ukraine to assist the starving people. However all food shipments were denied at the border by Soviet authorities. Following the Soviet Union’s policy of denying any allegations having to do with the Famine, all outside assistance was refused. Even journalists were not allowed in Ukraine, because the Soviet government feared that the media would reveal the perpetrated crimes against the Ukrainian people. When an individual claimed that there was a famine in Ukraine they were considered to be spreading anti-Soviet propaganda. Even stating the words “famine” or “hunger” could cause someone to end up in jail.
All the grain taken from Ukrainian farmers were exported to European countries, and the money generated from these sales, were used to fuel Stalin’s Five Year Plan for the transformation of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union purchased many products and weapons from Western countries. Those western countries in return remained silent in regards to the starving Ukrainians. Grain that was not yet shipped out was reserved in granaries. While the animals that were needed for work on the farms were fed, the people were left to starve. The granaries were guarded to ensure no one would steal grain supplies. Anyone who attempted to do so was shot and killed.
It was estimated that about 25,000 Ukrainians were dying every day during the Famine. Desperation and extreme hunger even lead to cases of cannibalism and consequentially thousands were arrested for this act.
Despite many Ukrainian Communist leaders’ objections to Stalin and his decrees, Stalin continued to raise grain quotas, which led to worsening of the famine. Many Communists blame the orchestrated famine on an unsuccessful harvest and crop yield, failing to acknowledge the crimes perpetrated by the Soviet government and authorities. It is estimated that more than 10 million people died as a result of violent executions, deportation, and starvation.
Currently Russia does not recognize the Ukrainian Famine or Holodomor, as genocide. The Russian State Duma stated that there was starvation in many parts of the Soviet Union, and it is insulting and incorrect for the Ukrainians to claim that they were directly targeted. Despite Russia’s persistent denial of the Ukrainian Famine, many countries around the world have recognized the atrocious crimes committed against the Ukrainian people as genocide. Australia, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Estonia, Ecuador, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, and the United States of America regard the Ukrainian Famine from 1932-1933 as genocide. Argentina, Czech Republic, Chile, Slovakia, Spain, Balearic Islands, Spain, and Vatican consider Holodomor as a deliberate act of famine.
On November 28, 2006 the Parliament of Ukraine adopted a law that recognized the artificial famine in Ukraine as genocide committed against the Ukrainian people. The law also made public denial of the Ukrainian Genocide illegal. Ukrainian Genocide commemoration day is on November 26.
http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/ukraine_famine.htm
I’m sure the globalists would love Ukraine to attack Russia.
Lots of white Christians dying and another US war for them to make money on.
What’s to lose except some deplorable boys?
Ukraine was another one of McCain’s wars.
John McCain tells Ukraine protesters: ‘We are here to support your just cause’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/15/john-mccain-ukraine-protests-support-just-cause
Putin just took advantage of the situation to get Crimea back.
“In 1920 Ukraine was overrun by Soviet Russia and relations between the two states transitioned from international to internal ones within the Soviet Union.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Ukraine_relations#Soviet_Union
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“In 1932-1933 Ukraine experienced the Holodomor “Extermination by hunger” or “Killing by Starvation”) which was a man-made famine in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic that killed up to 7.5 million Ukrainians.
During the famine, which is also known as the “Terror-Famine in Ukraine” and “Famine-Genocide in Ukraine”, millions of citizens of Ukrainian SSR, the majority of whom were Ukrainians, died of starvation in a peacetime catastrophe unprecedented in the history of Ukraine.
Since 2006, the Holodomor has been recognized by the independent Ukraine and several other countries as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Ukraine_relations#Independent_Ukraine
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