Posted on 03/04/2014 5:49:40 AM PST by No One Special
Over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Kiev, Ukraine in hopes of averting war between that nation and Russia. Ukraine was mobilizing its army after Russia illegally seized numerous strategic sites on the Crimean peninsula following the ouster of Ukraine’s mind-bogglingly corrupt and brutal pro-Russia “president,” Victor Yanukovich.
The straw that broke the camel’s back for the people of Ukraine was when Yanukovich made a corrupt deal with the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to block Ukraine’s ascension to the European Union -- something the people of Ukraine desperately want in order to block Russian efforts to reassert imperial control over it.
The world’s shock and outrage at Russian aggression was well-reflected when it was mentioned in the first acceptance speech at the Oscars on Sunday by the winner of the Academy Award for best supporting actor. Putin’s actions exposed him before the world at last for what he is: a reincarnation of Stalin, an old-school European megalomaniac bent on nothing save domination and oppression.
Since then, Putin’s propaganda machine has been working overtime. Some truly ludicrous, neo-Soviet lies have been told with a straight face by the most loathsome of his minions, such as that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians had fled into Russia as refugees in terror of the new revolutionary government and that the United States was responsible for the revolution itself. Most of these lies have been immediately exposed and ridiculed, but some unfortunate mythology has still grown up around the unsettling recent events in Ukraine, and it’s important to dispel it.
There are four main myths, generated by Russian propaganda, that are being determinedly repeated pursuant to the “Big Lie” theory.
Myth #1: Russia is just moving to defend its legitimate interests in its naval...
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
The US will never launch or support any type of military action against Russia... never going to happen... wouldn’t happen with Regan, Bush I or II. It’s not in the cards, or the stomach.
If sounds like it will send Europe into war. Turkey scrambled jets when Russkies got to close yesterday
Buy popcorn.
War is coming, but it will be Europe with Islam after Europe goes broke.
Ukraine is merely a sideshow.
What is going to happen is the Crimean Peninsula will split from the rest of Ukraine.
No.
Putin himself knows shedding fraternal blood would make him a monster. He has seen what happened to Yanukovych.
What happened in Crimea resulted in no loss of life. Nothing is irretrievable. And broadening the conflict does not serve Russian interests.
Like the old adage has it, when a war starts, no one knows the outcome. Russia simply cannot just send in the tanks. What Soviet Union did in East Germany, Hungary and Czechoslovakia - those days are gone forever. Of course, a state has the duty to protect human life.
But no one misuses it as a pretext to take over an entire country. And Putin knows that would be unwinnable. Moscow does not recognize the Kiev regime as legitimate but also knows its options to deal with it are limited at best.
Which is why war is not in the cards in Europe in the foreseeable future.
No.
Yesterday, Kerry didn't answer a question about was the overthrow of the government legal. Kerry actually said it's a "done deal" instead of yes or no. (sure does sound like the answer to give if he thinks it's an illegal coup)
Anyway, then I got to thinking. If the ouster is a "done deal" then the Russian takeover of Crimea is a "done deal".
Exactly. If demonstrators in Kiev could void an agreement endorsed by no less an international political personality than the EU itself - why couldn’t the demonstrators in Simferopol do exactly the same thing? I agree under normal circumstances, legality should be strictly observed. Once it breaks down, its hard to know where it will stop.
Russia stopped what could have been an ethnic bloodbath in Crimea. Not exactly the international crime of the century. I have yet to meet any one in the West who thinks stabilizing a flash point is something that merits overheated outrage. And there’s as been a lot of it in the past week. Its time to step back and take a more objective view of reality.
Putin runs the risk of reuniting the age old alliance of the Cossacks and the Tatars. The Tatars which make up a significant minority in the Crimea will not accept the Russians. Nor will many of the Ukrainians.
The assassination of an arch-duke was enough to light the powder keg. This contretemps is at least as inflammatory as that one. When the spark hits what matters most is how much combustible material is nearby and what means, if any, there are to put it out once it starts.
Said another way - it could happen.
In order to have a war, you need a second party who is willing to stand up to aggression.
Clearly not the case here.
A broke Ukraine is not exactly prime war booty.
Russia would have to rebuild it from scratch. Some people like Russia wants to take on that burden.
They’re insane. Generally, if a country is worth looting, a war happens. But Ukraine is a toxic mess on the verge of collapse.
It can only damage itself far more than Russia ever could.
Which will likely be the same answer he given when China makes their move.
Which is why outright annexation isn’t necessarily Moscow’s preferred course.
A semi-sovereign Crimea under Russian protection seems the most likely outcome.
Are you aware that under Ukraine the Crimea was already semi-autonomous?
Except for the “under new management” sign, Crimeans won’t notice a real difference in who collects the rent.
“No.
Putin himself knows shedding fraternal blood would make him a monster. He has seen what happened to Yanukovych.
What happened in Crimea resulted in no loss of life. Nothing is irretrievable. And broadening the conflict does not serve Russian interests.
Like the old adage has it, when a war starts, no one knows the outcome. Russia simply cannot just send in the tanks. What Soviet Union did in East Germany, Hungary and Czechoslovakia - those days are gone forever. Of course, a state has the duty to protect human life.
But no one misuses it as a pretext to take over an entire country. And Putin knows that would be unwinnable. Moscow does not recognize the Kiev regime as legitimate but also knows its options to deal with it are limited at best.
Which is why war is not in the cards in Europe in the foreseeable future.”
If you’re going to plagiarize from 1939, at least credit the original authors.
This was the equivalent of Hitler marching into the Rhineland.
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