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

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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.”

[Mariner]

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

No, we didn't and it didn't.

The US flew in humanitarian supplies only, not a "security force, advisers and trainers".

We did not bring Georgia into NATO which would force a US Military response to the Russian incursion.

And, Russia is still in Ossetia.

Despite the bluster, we did nothing real to resist the Russians. And the reason cited by GW Bush was to avoid war with the Russians.

[savedbygrace]

The Strongly Worded Letter is being edited even as we speak.

The one thing we can always count on in every crisis is that the Obama administration will PLAN AHEA.

[Tzimisce]

Hagel?

The same guy who recommended cutting the US military?

Wow.

[Revolting cat!]

It’s just not true that Ukraine desperately wants to leave Russia’s sphere of influence. Many do, many don’t.

Many love Obama, many don't. Many drink Coca Cola, many don't.

[dfwgator]

Why is it our business what goes on in that neck of the woods?

Wake me up when Russia threatens Poland or the Baltics..I really don’t care what they do in former Soviet Republics....Giving the Crimea to Ukraine was a mistake of epic proportions, and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hopefully the Ukrainians and Russians can come to terms.

This is not the hill for us to die on.

[QT3.14]

Obama to Putin: This is your final warning!

We have stockpiled mountains of harsh words.

Our forces of mild rebuke are at a hair trigger status.

John Kerry is poised to invade the chambers of the UN at a moment’s notice and beg for a weak sanction.

I could have a whole flotilla of ships steaming at full throttle to Black Sea ports to deliver rewards for bad behavior.

Obama brandishing a pen... “Don’t make me use this !!!”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Hey Obama. Send the Hells Angels or something. They’d do more good than you could.

[Morpheus2009]

All I have to say to Chuck Hagel is this? What would the U.S. do if the Mexican and/or Canadian Governments had gone into nearly total chaos? We would likely be doing the exact same thing for our own convenience. I can’t call Putin an all-around great guy, but I can’t say Hagel isn’t making a real a$% out of himself by calling Russia bad for doing just about the same thing that America would do in a comparable situation.

[Morpheus2009]

It’s completely hollow to threaten the Russians. End of story. Then if we wanted to somehow invade without getting nuked, well, let’s just say that given how we handled plenty of nations that are weaker and less advanced than Russia is, that doesn’t make us look all that good.

[Morpheus2009]

IIRC, the Russians overreacted to a civil defense drill known as Operation Able Archer.

So yes, Reagan did not intentionally push for nuclear war, although we did come close when the Kremlin misread what we were doing as an act of aggression as opposed to a civil defense excercise in trying to ensure that at least some people would survive to restart society in a post-nuclear world, as opposed to living like Mad Max in The Road Warrior.

[Morpheus2009]

It kind of was a sad inevitability with the way the National Debt is going, as well as domestic spending.

[Jeff Head]

Sorry, Mariner, I know people who flew in there and were deployed there at the time and we most certainly did exactly what I said.

We had military advisors already on the ground there. We also immediately expedited the return of 2,000 members of Georgia's 31st Light Infantry Battalion who had been fighting beside US Marines in Afghanistan.

When those US C-17s and C-130s went in, they had a lot of US personnel on them in addition to the supplies and material...and that was in addition to the military personnel we already had there.

Bush did not pull those out...he added more to it and made it clear to Putin that a push into and through Tiblisi was going to put the US Military in the line of fire and that Putin DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

In addition, in short order, three US warships and three NATO warships entered the Black Sea. Some brought supplies, others stood by and defended them. The three NATO warships and one of the US warships were top of the line surface combatants with two AEGIS vessels and two other guided-missile vessels.

Putin knew that Bush meant what he said. He had seen it already time and again over the seven years prior. He consiodered the cost of rolling over those US personnel and what the consequences would be, and he knew there would be very severe consequences with a heavy interest payment.

The following are all pictures from the events of the day, during the Georgian crisis, of us material, more advisors, equipment flowing in. Of US advisors already on the ground and training Georgian forces immediately prior to and during the crisis, and US and NATO warships all sent into the Black Sea during the crisis.

US C-130 Aircraft being off loaded at Tiblisi


US C-17 Aircraft being off loaded at Tiblisi


US C-17 Aircraft departing Ramstein for Tiblisi


US Advisor congratualting Georgian soldiers


US Advisors training Georgian soldiers


US Advisors training Georgian soldiers


US General congratualting Georgian soldiers


Georgian soldiers returning from Afghanistan


Georgian soldiers being blessed by Orthodox Georgian Priest on returning from Afghanistan


US Naval personnel offloading material


US Coast Guard Cutter arrives and cosk at Georgian Port


US Coast Guard Cutter entering the Black Sea


US Navy Command Ship enters the Black Sea


US Navy AEGIS Destroyer enters the Black Sea


Spanish AEGIS Destroyer enters the Black Sea


German Guided-missile Destroyer enters the Black Sea


Polish Guided-missile Frigate enters the Black Sea

Bush drew a stark line in the sand...and he did it with the US military even as the Russian forces were nearing the capitol...and Putin paused, and then stopped, and negotiated.

[USAF80]

I don’t think we have enough assets this time around.

[Jeff Head]

We do. We just have to be willing to use them.

Obama is not. HE wants the USA to be weak and down trodden among nations. He feels we are owed it and that is part of his fundamental change.

But there are tens of millions yet in this nation with the blood and heart of patriots and Obama will not always be where he is. We shall have it back for the good of our children and grand-children, and truthfully, for the good of mankind.

God’s speed.

America at the Crossroads of History
http://www.jeffhead.com/crossroads.htm

[Grampa Dave]

Putie had better watch out.

Hagle might send in a company of screaming lesbians, purse swinging gays and a group of transgenders looking for transgender rest rooms.

The Holder and a group of IRS agents will fly into the Ukraine after borrowing Air Force 1.

[Grampa Dave]

"Russia crossed the red line before Obama could draw one. Not to worry. Obama has declared “Happy Hour.” Thanks to Daniel Greenfield for the remarks below to explain where we are with Obozo as POTUS.

The Post-American order stands for nothing except its own dismantling. That is why Obama sets red lines that he won’t enforce and issues threats that he doesn’t mean.

The only thing less appealing than selfishness is the complete absence of self. The only thing less appealing than empire is an anti-imperialism that so thoroughly negates its own power that it has no influence and no reason to exist.

Post-American America exists to destroy itself. Until that changes, it has nothing to offer the world except membership in a suicide pact.

[Grampa Dave]

Jeff, thanks for reminding us what happened re the Georgia incident in 2008.

At that time two things were different:

1. Our military after Iraq II and Afghanistan was the most powerful, dedicated and deadly military force in the history of our world.

2. GW was president instead of Obozo.

Since then Obozo and his military princes and queens have seriously weaken our military. Everyone knows that.

Obozo has declared war on Americans like us, and unlike GW as Potus, Obozo is worthless.

[USAF80]

IDK Jeff. If the Spratlys go hot or Lil Kim come off his meds and try something we may be in three long range engagements. DOD too busy with their diversity trainings.

[Vermont Lt]

Keep in mind that the number does not include contracted support staff that is expanded based on the mission. Also, the technology gains have made the Army more efficient, thus requiring fewer ground forces.

The comparisons to pre WWII numbers is not valid either. The 1940 number for the Army included the entire USAAF at the time.

I don’t see us getting into set piece tank battles outside of Kiev anytime in the next six months or so.

[USAF80]

The proposed numbers would be fine for a Grenada or Panama situation. Another Iraq,nah. We stripped bases for Gulf War 1.