Hagel Warns Russia Not to Intervene in Ukraine

New York Times ^ | 27 Feb 14 | HELENE COOPER

[SkyPilot]

BRUSSELS — Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel warned Russia on Thursday to stay out of the turmoil in Ukraine, while NATO defense ministers issued repeated statements meant to show support for the new leadership in Kiev.

“We expect other nations to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and avoid provocative action,” Mr. Hagel said after the ministers met at NATO headquarters here. “That’s why I’m closely watching Russia’s military exercises along the Ukrainian border, which they just announced yesterday.”

The Russian defense minister, Sergey K. Shoigu, was quoted by state news media saying the exercises were meant to “check combat readiness of armed forces in western and central military districts as well as several branches of the armed forces.” Though General Shoigu did not mention Ukraine, Western officials interpreted the exercises as a warning from Moscow. Continue reading the main story Related Coverage

Obama Warns Russia Not to Intervene in CrimeaFEB. 28, 2014 Ousted Ukrainian Leader, Reappearing in Russia, Says, ‘Nobody Deposed Me’FEB. 28, 2014 People carried a large Russian flag in Simferopol, the Crimean capital. The Lede: Latest Updates: Tensions in UkraineFEB. 27, 2014 Currency exchange rates are posted in Kiev as Ukraine seeks to recover from political turmoil. Policy Makers Devise Plans to Provide Money to KievFEB. 26, 2014

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the secretary general of the NATO, posted Twitter messages Thursday morning warning Russia not to intervene in Ukraine after armed men seized a government headquarters in the Crimea region of southern Ukraine and raised the Russian flag.

“I urge Russia not to take any action that can escalate tension or create misunderstanding,” Mr. Rasmussen wrote on Twitter. “I’m concerned about developments in Crimea.” In a news conference later in the day, Mr. Rasmussen called the Crimea events “dangerous and irresponsible.”

[Viennacon]

I will not fight anyone alongside the treacherous occupiers. That includes Obama, Hagel, Kerry, Schumer, Cankles. To hell with all of them!

[Jeff Head]

We did precisely this in Georgia in 2008 and it worked.

No one is advocating nuclear war...it is not mentioned so ou are pulling that out of thin air.

Russia doe not “have” the Ukraine. They have 2,000 troops in the Crimea, which is where their major n]=naval base on the Black Sa is. As I said, that’s lost and there is no sense in tryiong to get it back. Trying wuld start a war.

the other things deal with the sovereign territory of the Ukraine. Going in there with advisors, material and trainers would establish a position that would cause Putin to realize that the risk of trying to take all of the Ukraine would be to costly for him (just as it was in Georgia in 2008) and he would most probably stop with what he already has, which strategically is what he wanted to begin with.

What is is insanity is to do nothing. Shades of Chamberlain. But sadly...and probably ultimately tragically for Europe and the US, that is most likely what Obama will do. So you can feel secure (for a short while) in knowing you have Obama’s back in this. Bit rest assured, he does not have yours, or the rest of the country.

We and NATO were seriously considering having Ukraine to be a part of NATO, which would have been wise.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks...you are spot on.

We happen to have a signed security agreement with the Ukraine...Obama is showing that he has no intention of honoring our own commitments.

Putin is showing he can run rough shod over the US. That leads to very, very bad places.

The Ukrainians have already showed that they are willing to fight and die for their country and their liberty. The Constitution they adopted in 2004 (from ones earlier after the fall of the Soviets) is very similar to our own. God bless and help them.

God would that we had leaders...and a large majority of our own people who would be willing to stand for those principles.

Only the Crimea is off the table now. And I am afraid that is irretrievable. The Russians have and had no intention of giving up their base on the Black Sea. We could have seen this coming from a mile off had we had leaders (political and military) who had their eye on the ball. But this administration has subverted, emasculated, and brought down our military high command and run off or retired anyone who strongly would support such principles.

If we do not stand with our friends, then ultimately we will be forced to stand alone when there is little hope for success.

George Bush knew how to face Putin off over a high stakes poker game. And he succeeded in Georgia in stopping Putin before he took the entire country. We could do the same now...and the stakes are even higher. I pray we shall...or that someone strong in Europe (Merkel?) will.

Otherwise we are going to see Putin go after the Eastern European countries one after another. Probably the Baltics next. After that, he will create opportunities to weaken and subvert Poland, once he has them flanked on either side. And anywhere along that path a much worse, open war could develop. If we do nothing, we will look back on this day and rue the day...either us or our kids and grandkids..

George Bush confronts Putin in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics on hearing of the Russian invasion of Georgia

I had a number of issues with Bush. How he dealt with Putin after 2002 and 2003 was not one of them.

[clintonh8r]

good one!

[A Navy Vet]

Carter redux with our CiC and DoD secretary.

We were once THE most powerful nation in the world. Now we're a complacent weak military power, due to Obama and his ilk. Does anyone still believe that the Obama administration really cares about American power and it's influence in world affairs? The raised Marxist is all about world fairness, no matter how it hurts our national security and world standing.

[VerySadAmerican]

Is Hagel sober enough to make a statement?

[VerySadAmerican]

Isn’t it fascinating that not one democrat in the senate or the house has ever voted against obama with the exception of the gun grabbing attempt after Sand Hook. The republicans sometimes vote against him but only when it doesn’t count. This guy, or someone behind him, has some power.

[mdmathis6]

Too late...they’ve intervened!

[European Guest]

You said: “....Hasten the Ukraine’s entry into the EU....”

I doubt that anybody in “old” Europe wants to have the Ukraine inside the EU in the moment. This is not a decision that is made in Washington....

First of all they need elections there to find out what the majority of the people really wants.

Regards from Europe

Andreas

[Truth29]

"We were once THE most powerful nation in the world. Now we're a complacent weak military power, due to Obama and his ilk. Does anyone still believe that the Obama administration really cares about American power and it's influence in world affairs? The raised Marxist is all about world fairness, no matter how it hurts our national security and world standing."

Actually, Obama has stated he cares greatly about the US standing in the world - he wants the US to be just one more unremarkable country like many in the world. He intends for the US to be weakened and unable to act, except for aggressively pushing Islam and LGBTQ issues everywhere.

[Theodore R.]

So what is a warning from Hagel actually worth? Only Cornhuskers know for sure

[Theodore R.]

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."

The American people still think that their favorite liberal can protect them from Galatians 6:7.

[ecomcon]

Where’s that picture of Obama throwing the first pitch with his purse on his arm.

[ecomcon]

Pretty much.

[ecomcon]

In other words, things will get much worse.

[ecomcon]

Ukraine is a divided nation. They elected Yanukovych. Look at the electoral maps. It’s just not true that Ukraine desperately wants to leave Russia’s sphere of influence. Many do, many don’t.

[ecomcon]

I am the the Thread Killer. heh.

[tcrlaf]

Are we at DEFCON Sternly-Worded-Letter, yet?

[SkyPilot]

The American people still think that their favorite liberal can protect them from Galatians 6:7.

You're right, they do.

That's why they give him worship.

But they are all deceived, and under deception.

2 Thessalonians 2: 8-12

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

[ReformationFan]

Sad but true.