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Docile Washington stands aside as Russia sets up puppet state in Ukraine
National Post ^ | Feb. 19, 2015 | Washington Post, Special to National Post

Posted on 02/19/2015 8:25:16 PM PST by rickmichaels

Vladimir Putin’s latest victory in Ukraine is turning into a rout. Having already induced Western leaders to endorse a peace plan that virtually guarantees continued Russian control over parts of two provinces, the Russian ruler ordered a large Ukrainian force holding Debaltseve, a key crossroads in the region, to surrender. His forces, including regular Russian army troops, then assaulted the city in brazen violation of a cease-fire. On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Debaltseve under fire, suffering a devastating defeat that will further destabilize the shaky Kiev government of Petro Poroshenko.

Mr. Putin was so pleased that he indulged in some taunting of the Ukrainians. “Of course, it’s always bad to lose,” he said at a news conference Tuesday. “It’s always a hardship when you lose to yesterday’s miners or yesterday’s tractor drivers.” That was another lie, of course — the forces who seized Debaltseve were not former Ukrainian workers but Russian regulars; one Western reporter encountered soldiers who had been dispatched from Siberia.

What about Western leaders, who just last week solemnly declared they would hold Russia accountable if the new deal were violated? All agreed there had been, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman put it, “a massive violation” of the cease-fire agreement. But there was little visible movement toward imposing meaningful consequences. Instead, officials in Brussels echoed a White House statement that said “the costs to Russia will rise” if it “continues to violate” the agreement. That suggested only that additional aggression by Mr. Putin would get a response, maybe.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: obama; putin; russia; sovietunion; ukraine
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1 posted on 02/19/2015 8:25:16 PM PST by rickmichaels
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To: rickmichaels

Let them. It’s not worth WWIII. Let Germany handle it.


2 posted on 02/19/2015 8:28:33 PM PST by Usagi_yo
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To: rickmichaels

If Germany, France, Poland, etc, will do nothing, tell me why we should.


3 posted on 02/19/2015 8:30:35 PM PST by old curmudgeon
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To: rickmichaels

Ukraine has had a Russian puppet regime for a decade until last year. Once Ukraine finally threw off that yoke, the Russians invaded.


4 posted on 02/19/2015 8:32:16 PM PST by GeronL
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To: Usagi_yo

The White House is docile about everything except:
legalizing illegals,
Obamacare ripoffs,
Protecting Muslim terrorists,
Protecting thugs who get killed/injured while trying to attack police,
Using a phone and a pen,
Disarming gun owners.

And, other oppressive activities.


5 posted on 02/19/2015 8:35:41 PM PST by Sasparilla (If you want peace, prepare for war.)
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To: rickmichaels

As much as I’d like to see Ukraine integrated with the West, it is asking a lot with Russia being right there and Crimea being the staging ground for the navy.

Russia would be a lot weaker without the Black Sea fleet.


6 posted on 02/19/2015 8:37:22 PM PST by Shadow44
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To: Usagi_yo

Ukraine was always a Russian satellite. Seems someone in the west tried to pull it away, and Putin reacted. Is it a problem? Yes, but the USA faces many problems, especially in the Muslim world

Let the eu deal with this. They need to be shocked out of their leftist slumber


7 posted on 02/19/2015 8:54:35 PM PST by PGR88
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To: old curmudgeon

Because freedom is worth defending from an aggressor.

We have done it for years.


8 posted on 02/19/2015 9:21:15 PM PST by KOZ.
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To: rickmichaels
"Docile Washington stands aside..."

...docile? The Obama administration is far less than docile; the administration is gravitating towards complete mediocrity....but managing to make apologys for various Islamic events of be-headings, rapes, throwing acid in women's faces....Obama's earliest memories are of the 'beautiful' Islamic call to prayer.....were this a white president or under English law, he would......but I repeat myself. Indeed, we are a nation of cowards.

9 posted on 02/19/2015 9:26:07 PM PST by yoe
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To: rickmichaels

I think we all want to help Ukraine, but I think, for the US to enter the fight militarily it would be disastrous.

For starters, how could our Navy enter the Black Sea to come to their aid? The Russians own the Black Sea, for heaven’s sake, its a Russian lake crawling with Russian Navy vessels. The entrance into the Black Sea from the Med is a very narrow slot, easy to close.

And that’s just the Naval side of this. The land mass of Asia on on the side of the Russians, the Ukraine is their back yard.


10 posted on 02/19/2015 10:50:48 PM PST by sasportas
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To: rickmichaels
It is so typical that journalism and insight comes from the Canadian press; as the US Press is part of the Democratic Party propaganda machine.
11 posted on 02/19/2015 11:10:49 PM PST by Robert357 (D.Rather "Hoist with his own petard!" www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1223916/posts)
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To: PGR88

“Let the eu deal with this. They need to be shocked out of their leftist slumber”

And this time when western Europe is on the verge of falling
to communism or fascism let it happen. They deserve it.
Islam too.


12 posted on 02/19/2015 11:56:35 PM PST by Slambat
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To: rickmichaels

Something I haven’t seen mention of,
When Russian supported troops come in to an area are they being welcomed or are the locals mucking up the works to make it difficult?


13 posted on 02/20/2015 1:59:22 AM PST by Joe Boucher
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To: PGR88
So the EU (remember they are NATO) should deal with it - essentially that is what you said. Therefore, we as in the US will be a part.

Yes, Germany should deal with it and drag us kicking and screaming into the mess. It would be sweet to see the AWACS at GK go into fighter escort role because they are ordered to, and let the fireworks begin. NATO includes the US and thus inseparable.

Poland was WARSAW Pact, as was the entire band of nations on Germany's and the EUs borders.

14 posted on 02/20/2015 3:26:25 AM PST by Jumper
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To: Sasparilla
What I don't get is why any poor country would want to join NATO or the EU. They inherit all those problems plus irreversible and unpayable debt.

Ukraine actually had a chance to set up a strong independent country people would want to be in. Instead the coup government in Kiev practically forced defeat upon themselves. That rout never could've happened if the people didn't support anti-Kiev forces.

I'm curious. What happened to all the money that the EU, US, and Canada gave to Kiev to prop up that government they cortrived for? Where is the Ukranian gold? I'm wondering if the new kleptocrats who took over in Kiev are going to leave the mess they created wealthy beyond imagination.

15 posted on 02/20/2015 3:36:06 AM PST by grania
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To: KOZ.

My question is still not answered.

If the Germans do not value their freedom and all of Europe feels the same way, why should we start a nuke war to “save” them?

If Europe is intent on making the same mistake they made in the 1930’s, let them.


16 posted on 02/20/2015 5:11:13 AM PST by old curmudgeon
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To: old curmudgeon

After they do Europe, they will expand to North America and you will loose your freedom. You either stand together now as a whole or you are screwed.


17 posted on 02/20/2015 5:16:08 AM PST by hawkaw
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To: hawkaw
I do not agree.

What we should be doing is the exact opposite of what we are doing and have done.

We should close our borders to all except those who can be proved to be of benefit to us.

We should be building nukes, rebuilding our military, arming them with the latest and the best and daring anyone to try us.

As it is, we are going to bleed this country to death, financially and militarily, and be already half dead when attacked.

The idea that our resources have no limit is going to be our ruin.

18 posted on 02/20/2015 7:22:01 AM PST by old curmudgeon
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To: Joe Boucher
Kiev has big problem with mobilization campaign. Ukrainians evade it, 1+ million men of conscript age fled to Russia, Putin advised to migration service of Russia to prolong 90 days limit for Ukrainians.
19 posted on 02/20/2015 7:56:46 AM PST by Cossak
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To: PGR88

Why do you write as if Ukrainian people don’t have a will of their own and it must be someone in the west pulling them away. Why is it so impossible to see that Ukrainians don’t want to be another periphery of a Mafia state Russia and that wish is absolutely rational? Especially when they can see how well things are going in their neighbor Poland.


20 posted on 02/20/2015 7:58:52 AM PST by Krosan
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