Posted on 03/18/2014 9:58:21 AM PDT by meatloaf
"The threat to close the Bosphorus to Russia comes from a report by Hvylya, citing a Turkish diplomatic source. According to the source, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone and warned of the consequences for conflict with Ukraine. The Hvylya source was also reported on by UNIAN."
Lol! Let’s make it simple. If Turkey does this, it’ll likely start a war. Which cites are you going to let burn for the Crimea? Starting a war with a nuclear super power isn’t a great idea
Turkey seems to have a plan and the gonads to pursue it. They should be giving lessons to Hussein and J F’ing Kerry.
No one is talking about a war- yet. Why isn’t Putin afraid of a nuclear war? Anyone rational knows that barring an attempt to destroy one of the major powers they will not be used. Putin knows there are lots of people in the West who think as you do, so he feels free to do as he pleases, whereas I think we should call his bluff, for example, by declaring the independence of the Republic of Kaliningrad.
I always thought the weakness in our system was the lack of a process of a no confidence vote like Canada and the UK have.
I wish someone would give Putin the “bird”.
Putin knows that his lines of communication are close, ours are to far to do much. But the issue isn’t just Putin.
I don’t think he wants nuclear war. But quite frankly we start acting all macho next door to a superpower and it will happen. There are no good guys in this deal, none. A coup removed a legally elected government, and then a counter coup was launched in an area that didn’t really want to be part of the Ukraine anyway (and was forced to be during the Soviet era).
If Putin gets mad, all he has to do is shut down our supply lines to Afghanistan. Which by the way, runs through Russia. We made the Paks so mad they started joining in on the convoy attacks, and we cut a deal with Russia to allow supplies to our guys.
Start thinking strategy, stop thinking emotionally. Obama and Hagel lost this one, big time, but we have no abilities to project power in and around the Black Sea. It would be like Russia getting mad if we starting doing something they didn’t like in Nebraska. There isn’t any way to get there.
I was going to say the same about Erdogan.
One way to possibly deter Russian military adventures elsewhere is to place US consulates in threatened cities or even on major military bases, and have the host state declare them as sovereign American soil.
Might work; might not. Will never know until you try it. (Alamagordo, NM, 1945).
It always amazes me that so many people are willing to give up the lives of millions for a piece of land that has long been out of their grasp.
I don’t think NATO would let Turkey join so that they could get in a war with Russia - and lose their gas supply for next winter.
Turkey blocking the Bosphorus would have real lasting impact, visibility and world-wide effects - whereas most of our sanctions wouldn’t.
I for one would enjoy seeing the jihadists in Ankara get their asses kicked
“Some members of the Senate and House need quietly to approach Obozo and inform him he needs to replace John “Swimming to Cambodia” Kerry and Chucky “Never saw a defense cut I didn’t like” Hagel immediately with some competent secretaries who will run US defense and foreign policy until Bambi leaves office”
do we even have any elected officials that care more about this country than their own political careers?
“I don’t think NATO would let Turkey join so that they could get in a war with Russia - and lose their gas supply for next winter.”
Bzzzt, Turkey has been a member of NATO for more than a half-century, 18 February 1952. NATO was organized only a few years earlier on 4 April 1949. Wake up and read a little history before embarrassing yourself.
The Ukraine was associated with NATO by way of the Individual Partnership Action Plan leading to full NATO membership, but in 2010 Yanukovych canceled the plans in collaboration with his Russian secret police boss, Putin.
So would I. A Vlad Tepes level of ass kicking. Mohacs, turned inside out. I would expect a seriously ugly fight though. Turks have always been hardcore soldiers, and I think they would end up fighting for their lives.
Chickenhawks have nests which are both warm and soft.
Why is anyone of significance afraid of the Black Sea Fleet? Because of the name? Good God, barring a truly catastrophic mistake in strategy, the ITALIAN NAVY alone could defeat Putin’s Black Sea fleet, probably with “one hand tied behind their back”.
Agreed.
Russia has potential problems in many places all along their borders. 2 or 3 Afghanistan type scenarios, simultaneously, and interruption of the pipelines through Ukraine to Europe, would put them in a tremendous bind, both militarily and economically.
That said, there is a lot of exaggerated fear of Muslims here, too. Not that they are not dangerous: We sure as heck don’t want Iran with nukes, and there is always the potential for regional dustups or a 911 type event here. However, the US has been so “insulated” from truly dire threats for long enough that we don’t think very clearly. Given time, the export sales of energy, and allowance of Russia to take little bites of expansion, one at a time, Russia’s centuries-long term mindset of Empire is CLEARLY a greater strategic threat. Russia has organization, vast and varied resources, real strategic planning, technological ability, and at present, a highly competent leader. Their biggest weakness might be the rampant internal corruption. The Muslims have oil and gas, even worse corruption, in most cases, and a self-defeating death-cult mindset in which they fight each other as readily as “infidels.”
Yes, and when Hispanics are the majority in some US state, we’ll just let it join Mexico, right? Then the next, and the next...
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