[Mariner]

On Christmas Eve, 1979 I was standing watch in what could be argued was the most sensitive communications facility in the world.

Somehow, someway the Soviets were able to load up enough aircraft to fly 40,000 troops into Afghanistan and completely take over. For Awhile.

We didn't know ANYTHING until the planes started landing in Kabul.

There had been NO prior warning and intel had been totally blind to it. This during the height of the Cold War when all the extra scrutiny and suspicion was at play.

The Russians are pretty damn good at that sneak attack thing.

[Mariner]

This smells of a far bigger land grab than anyone in the West was smart enough to grasp.

Russia is likely to drive SW frem the Ukrainian border along the entire Black Sea Coast, through Odessa and into Transwhatever adjacent to Moldova.

Putin's call to Obama today was most likely his opportunity to further humiliate/taunt Obama and the nation, and to notify him Russia will stop there.

[Ancesthntr]

The Russians are pretty damn good at that sneak attack thing.

Yeah, they were rather badly victimized by it in 1941, to the tune of about 26 million people. Having thought it over, they decided that it was far better to give than to receive...and, yes, they're very good at it (promising to shoot any leakers in the back of the head tends to keep things quiet).

[Paul R.]

Now, there, I agree with you.

Moles needed. Wish the ones from my yard would work...