Posted on 03/01/2014 1:01:41 PM PST by Jim Robinson
When Moscow tells us that their massive military maneuvers in Western Russia have nothing to do with what’s happening in Kiev it’s like the old Marx Brothers’ routine: Who are you going to believe, me (Moscow) or your own eyes?
Puh-leez.
In fact, while not a major military incursion by Moscow, the ongoing power plays in Crimea manifested in the presence of yet-unidentified, armed Russia-loyalists at two airports could be an ominous harbinger of things to come.
First, Moscow is signaling strength to Kiev, reminding their western neighbor that Mother Russia is a force to be reckoned with. You Ukrainians may be able to change your government—against Russian wishes—but you can’t change your geography.
“Location, location, location” doesn’t just apply to real estate, it matters in geopolitics, too.
Russia is also flexing its muscles at the Europeans and the United States. Moscow is cautioning the “West” that the “East” won’t brook any foolish attempts to bring Ukraine into a European or American sphere of influence.
Remember that the ongoing crisis was precipitated last November when Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich scuttled a trade pact with the European Union in exchange for a competing economic package from Russia, leading to months of street protests.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also wants to make it crystal clear that Russia considers any thought of trying to bring Ukraine into NATO a complete non-starter. Indeed, it’s a move Moscow might even go to war over.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It’s all about the Crimean Peninsula, home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
And from there, to the Mediterranean and then the Atlantic.
If they lost Sevastopol, they lose a lot. The Russian Navy’s access to the Med, the Middle East and beyond into the Atlantic is crippled.
The Russians are working on a new base in Russia proper, but it’s not ready to go yet; it’s probably another couple of years or so.
Britain and France did nothing when the aggressor of the 30’s annexed Austria as they were German speaking people anyway.
Hitler re-entered the Rhineland. ironically, after hosting the Winter Olympic Games.
Then Czechoslovakia. The weak-kneed western world did very little, but they did draw a RED LINE at Poland.
Then the Nazi’s rolled over Poland.
The rest is history. The little military genius and community organizer lost, of course, but it was bloody hell.
I was born in ‘49...weakest prez in my lifetime...BINGO!
And the fact is, this should have been nipped in the bud back around 92-93.
Yes I know they signed an agreement, but anyone with half a brain would know Russia would never give up on trying to get back The Crimea. Yeltsin was just too drunk to care.
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Exactly; it should have been dealt with twenty years ago. Yeltsin.....probably thinking “Where is vodka?” while signing the damned thing.
And the RATS will support him in that.
There is nothing we can do. Obama is in the Whitey Hut. Liberals and left wing anti military nuts control the government. Lets just hope that China doesn’t get involved. Taiwan would be the first to go then Japan while we stand by worrying about income inequality.
I just think the whole mess is a handy distraction from our own problems. If we want to worry about Russia we should worry a lot more about moves they’re making in central and south America.
What I don’t get is the story that Russia wants Crimea for Black Sea ports. Doesn’t Russia have other ports on the Black Sea?
Oh, yeah. And then Stalin made a pact with Hitler to divvy up Poland should war begin. But of course, the big talking fascist community organizer of the day already had plans to stab Stalin in the back.
I think a boatload of gas pipelines traverse Ukraine on the way to Europe.
All very true, and now we’re seeing how Putin operates.
He stirs up trouble in a nation or an area he covets, claims “Oh, ethnic Russians are practically being lynched in the streets! We must do something!” and them - BOOM - in roll the tanks.
I’ve seen this movie before. That the Western world seems so oblivious to it is frightening.
Not so much in my little part of the world, fortunately; the Czechs are all too familiar with this ruthless game Putin is playing because they’ve been the victim of it themselves. Even young Czechs, whom I teach - 18 to 20 year olds - know enough of history to say “Putin is playing right out of Hitler’s playbook” so at least there’s some people still left that understand the possible ramifications.
Of course, these same students will point out that Hitler didn’t have a nuclear arsenal to back him up, so it kind of changes things. But at least they recognize what they’re seeing.
The Russians are currently building a new one, but it’s not ready.
Had this crisis happened, let’s say, 10 years in the future, in 2024, it might not have been such a huge issue.
Why would Putin ever agree to that? The deal offers him nothing, as he already has the Crimea. And I don't think Putin will ever allow what's left of the Ukraine to join NATO. No more than we would have allowed Mexico to join the Warsaw Pact.
But he probably would have economic sanctions placed on Russia as a result, a negotiated solution would remove those sanctions.
“If they lost Sevastopol, they lose a lot. The Russian Navy’s access to the Med, the Middle East and beyond into the Atlantic is crippled.”
The Russians are not going to lose Sevastopol any more than we are going give up Gitmo. Sevastopol is more important to the Russians than Gitmo is too us.
So the Sevastopol area will go to Russia.
Putin will probably alow the Ukraine to be swalled up in the EU. $oreA$$ and his fellow looters and rapists of countries will financially ruin the Ukraine like the current poor countries of the EU in about 5 years.
Then the survivors in the Ukraine will beg Russia to take over.
Wouldn’t it be more advantageous, cheaper and politically, to just speed up the new Black Sea port?
Intimidation to others?
I still think Russia has designs on a base in Cyprus.
Heh. Ukraine under IMF policies and whatnot becomes Greece II.
They’re already pretty much bust as it is.
I think Crimea will go to the Russians; it’s pretty much a fait accompli as this point now. The Ukrainians will be cheesed, to be sure, but that’s about it.
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