Posted on 03/10/2014 4:25:10 AM PDT by elhombrelibre
“Meet Viktor Yanukovych, who is running for the presidency of Ukraine.” Vladimir Putin and I were standing in his office at the presidential dacha in late 2004 when Yanukovych suddenly appeared from a back room. Putin wanted me to get the point. He’s my man, Ukraine is ours — and don’t forget it.
The “Ukrainian problem” has been brewing for some time between the West and Russia. Since Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, the United States and Europe have tried to convince Russia that the vast territory should not be a pawn in a great-power conflict but rather an independent nation that could chart its own course. Putin has never seen it that way. For him, Kiev’s movement toward the West is an affront to Russia in a zero-sum game for the loyalty of former territories of the empire. The invasion and possible annexation of Crimea on trumped-up concerns for its Russian-speaking population is his answer to us.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Will America heed the wake-up call of Ukraine?”
What, that having a vindictive Marxist as president isn’t actually that great?
Yes, that’s probably the biggest part of the problem.
Not until the Russians are marching on the Champs Elysees.
The Internet and ease of global communication have/will accelerate what may have taken decades longer to accomplish.
I am glad I will be dead before it goes that far!
I continue re reading my ‘Revolt of the Masses’ with genuine foreboding.
Franco-Prussian war? I guess you could argue that Alsace-Lorraine led directly to WWI.
America hasn’t even awoken enough to hit its own snooze .... you expect awareness of another country ?
Right, but I meant also, all the revolutions that took place to overthrow establishment governments.
Ukraine is a possible preview of what could very well happen in the USA down the road.
Not until the Russians are marching in downtown Anchorage.
After all, it was a stupid deal that the Tsar made with Seward. They want their land back!
Keep a close eye on May 16, 2014, “Operation American Spring” rally is coming to D.C.
As it is and was, Ukraine is a buffer, a time zone for invaders to cross before reaching the border of the mother land.
Under NATO hegemony with forces in Ukraine, the buffer is gone. the threat is at the border. That is an unacceptable condition for Russian defense.
Therefore, Ukraine if not within Russian borders, must at least be under Russian hegemony.
While there are other benefits to being very close to Ukraine economically and politically, the primary over riding reason is to have a geographical buffer against invasion.
I really don’t know what you mean by your post.
The immediate concern must be to show Russia that further moves will not be tolerated and that Ukraine’s territorial integrity is sacrosanct.
Her entire premise about the interests of the United States is based on this flawed statement about the "territorial integrity" of a jurisdiction that didn't even exist as an independent entity until 1991. If you go back over the history of Ukraine you'll find that at various times the territory we call "Ukraine" was part of Poland, Austria, Lithuania and the Soviet Union. And even under the control of the Soviet Union, the area known as Crimea wasn't even part of the Ukrainian SSR until 1954.
I find it odd that someone like Condoleeza Rice would sit there and pontificate about the sanctity of democratic elections, but only under her own terms where the elections are held in a region under her definition of "territorial integrity." How about the sanctity of the democratic process in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Ms. Rice, where all indications are that those people want no part of Ukraine?
Doubt the Russians will even bother to march to downtown Anchorage. Russia is in BIGTIME financial trouble.
Agree!
I was looking at some of the photos of the thousands upon thousands
of (protesters) in the square at Kiev, standing toe to toe with armed, helmeted, shield holding police/military, and asked myself:
“could we, would we do the same here?” sadly my honest answer was:
“No, I doubt it!”
I, and I hope many here, would be there, but am afraid our numbers would be too small.
What I mean to say is that the Ukraine could, and the word here is could be a possible preview to what could very well happen in the USA down the road.
You ignore the obvious point that the only threat to Putin is his own people. That’s why he could not tolerate Ukraine breaking free, not a threat from NATO, with it’s 1% investments in defense.
I do not agree though. “ When PUSH comes to SHOVE” anything can happen, mark my words.
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