Posted on 03/02/2014 3:10:12 PM PST by annalex
The chorus of international voices urging caution in Ukraine, and above all urging Russia to refrain from military action, have been reinforced by NATO’s secretary general.
“Russia must stop its military activities and its threats. We support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. We support the rights of the people of Ukraine to determine their own future without outside interference and we emphasise the need for Ukraine to continue to uphold the democratic rights of all people and ensure that minority rights are protected,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
An overnight phone call between Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin has reportedly only served to underline fundamental differences of position.
This was reflected as well in an emergency session of the UN Security Council, where Russia maintained it was acting to protect its citizens despite the lack of evidence of any tangible threat. And remember, Russia may be talking to its international partners, but refuses direct talks with Kyiv.
breaking?
Or?
Who’s in charge here?
ooooooooooo scawy
Well, the West has a range of options short of direct military hostilities. It can arm Ukraine, offer logistical and intelligence support (that toppled the putschists in the Kremilin in 1991), certainly block assets of the putinista in international banks and deny them visas.
The latter, by the way, will hurt them like bitch. Their entire existence is predicated on villas in the mediteranean, American college for the kids, and generally acceptance into the Western polite society. Magnitsky law hurt them in the right spot; it should be expanded.
The only thing girly-man Baraq accomplished was to assure Vlad that he could do as he pleases.
“...the West has a range of options...”
-
Including staying the hell out of it.
Yeah.
Somehow I think this formula: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtH7iv4ip1U - is not going to apply this time.
Lol.
“Sthop ith righth now! Or we’ll sthend you obama goatse picth!”
Further, NATO must step up its rhetoric for another reason. Ukraine is out of NATO, — lucky for the Alliance, — but Latvie, Estonia and Lithuania are. All three have a sizable Russian minorities that claimed discrimination in the past. All three therefore can offer Putin the same scenario he is playing currently with respect to Ukraine. It would be wise for NATO to pre-empt any fomenting by the Kremlin of ethnic unrest on NATO territory.
Eeeep!
If you want to be on this right wing, monarchy, paleolibertarianism and nationalism ping list, but are not, please let me know. If you are on it and want to be off, also let me know. This ping list is not used for Catholic-Protestant debates.
Yeah.
That was roughly the most credible threat I could imagine them making.
Next up, Chris Crocker crying his mascara off and lisping “leave Ukraine alone right now.”
We had a discussion about the causes of World War One recently here at FR. Please remember that historically the way that kingdoms, nations, Empires etc. all looked to a war with their neighbors as a way of getting out of economic problems at home. Or to use a war to distract the masses at home away from their perceived problems through national patriotism. Also it was a great way of getting rid of dissidents too.
Yes. I know. If we had a real president in charge here, none of this would be happening in the first place. But remember, this is naturally more of a European crisis than it is a US crisis, and there may be some men left on the Old World. I mean, men and Merkel, God bless her.
We could do it...but we have an administration who will not do it, who does not want to do it, and who are happy to see us ineffectual on the world stage.
Part of that fundamental change. Part of being "more flexible," don't you know?
Oh, yeah. That’ll stop them. Just wait until J F’n Kerry throws down his purse and stomps his foot.
This is pretty much a done deal unless the newly installed Ukrainian community organizer really wants to pick a fight.
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