Posted on 08/13/2008 8:29:59 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Ukraine threatened to blockade the Russian Black Sea Fleet yesterday in an act of solidarity with Georgia that risked escalating the conflict.
After flying to Tbilisi to assure Georgians of his countrys support, President Yushchenko signed an order imposing tough restrictions on the Russian fleet, which is based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. Mr Yushchenkos decree instructs Russia to give 72 hours notice of any movement of ships, aircraft or personnel in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities were given the power to alter those plans.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had already warned Russia that it will bar ships from returning to Sevastopol if they take part in military action against Georgia. Moscow responded furiously, accusing Ukraine of a serious new antiRussian step.
Like Georgia, Ukraines pro-Western leadership is seeking membership of Nato in December. The democratic Orange Revolution that swept Mr Yushchenko and Yuliya Tymoshenko, the Prime Minister, to power in 2004 has long been loathed by Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister.
The Ukrainian Security Council issued a statement yesterday declaring that the presence of foreign warships in its waters poses a potential threat to Ukraines national security, particularly if parts of Russias Black Sea Fleet are used against third countries.
Russia and Ukraine are already at loggerheads over the future of the Crimean base, which Russia must vacate in 2017 under a 20-year lease agreement signed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Most of Crimeas population consider themselves to be Russians and are strongly pro-Moscow. Tensions have mounted over calls by politicians in Moscow not to surrender control of the territory, regardless of Ukraines wishes. Mr Yushchenko insists that the Black Sea Fleet must leave on time and that there is no prospect of extending the lease.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
sounds like Yushchenko plans to go down swinging...can’t blame him after they poisoned him during the election a while back
...never hurts to be prepared...it’s why I carry a firearm
I think it has to do with freedom. These people and those in Iraq have now tasted freedom and a bit of the good life. WHen you take it away from them, they will fight to the death to maintain it.
I think if the peoople of Iran once again regain this, the same will happen there too. People will rise up against the Mullahs.
This really came as something good in a way. Russia was threatening to put strategic bombers in Cuba. NO FRIGGIN WAY NOW. Not one American, except Obama, will allow that to happen and in fact would probably be all for us taking control of that country.
This whole thing is over Georgian oil. Pure and simple...
I’m wondering if Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are the goal, then they have the land bridge to connect with Iran (their politicl ally for the last decade) and control of huge oil and natural gas reserves/pipelines etc all the way into the middle east to the Strait of Hormuz...pretty easy to have the world by the balls if you control that much of the worlds energy sources.
As for the before mentioned nuclear capacity...I suspect they would have their minions in Iran deliver the nukes so as not to leave that footprint for repercussions (along the lines of mutually assured destruction)...just a thought
My God, I hope that is true.....but it sounds (and looks) like they are hiding ugly facts and they are in shock.
Amid promise of peace, Georgians live in terror (Russian Militia Accused of Rape and Looting)
Intersting Article(can’t trust soviets though):
Ukraine began military training against Russia in the Crimea
I thought the same thing.
The Ministry of Propaganda and Truth seems to be in full swing over in Moscow..
yitbos
I translated it with google from Russian. I haven’t seen any articles about Ukraine preparing for war with Russia. It could be that the soviets are preparing the ground work to claim that Ukraine started a conflict in Crimea. Hopefully not though.
There is a recurring problem with alliances though. The junior partner tends to be more reckless and tends to pull the big players into conflict with each other. Serbia is the reason Russia got into WWI and subsequently descended into a 70-year communist nightmare.
Putin's Kremlin is a direct threat to global freedom & economic stability.
Thanks for the great map.
Nope. cover organizaion of code Pink. Cindy sheehan is running on their ticket.
How very interesting. I had not noticed the NATO Black Sea exercises just so recently. hmmmm.
Great quote from Theodore Roosevelt. Thanks. I will share it with my peace-loving friends.
WOW, what a great speech by Churchill. We just got the 4-part DVD series on him. It is so inspiring. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.