Civil War in Ukraine (But Please Don't Call it That!)

Townhall.com ^ | May 4, 2014 | Mike Shedlock

[Cowboy Bob]

Six months ago, everything was peaceful in Ukraine. Now we are on the verge of war. What happened?

[2harddrive]

Ultimately, we can trace it all back to Barack Al-Obama’s incompetent WEAKNESS.

[Syncro]

Six months ago, everything was peaceful in Ukraine. Now we are on the verge of war. What happened?

After surging into Georgia a while back---and keeping a part of it for the Federation of Russia---this is Putin's next step in his attempt to bring back the USSR by going to war with all the countries that escaped when Reagan had them "tear down that wall."

See This Link

[Vermont Lt]

I hate being a Putin apologist. And I am no fan of Vlad. But, the Nato countries have been pressing further and further towards the Russian borders. If someone kept moving their guns closer and closer to your border—and you hadnt been making any moves towards them—wouldnt you get a little nervous.

I do not think this is as much Soviet expansion, but a push back against Nato and Europe from encroaching onto what has been traditional Russian territory.

We stuck our nose in his business, and he is slapping it back pretty hard.

[winner3000]

What happened is Russian aggression in the face of US weakness. What also happened is the betrayal of a worthless piece of paper signed by both Russia and the US to get Ukraine to destroy its nuclear weapons.

[Timber Rattler]

Putin is not trying to bring back the USSR. He’s trying to rebuild the old Russian Empire, with himself as a new Tsar.

[dfwgator]

What also happened is the betrayal of a worthless piece of paper signed by both Russia and the US to get Ukraine to destroy its nuclear weapons.

Another "Gift" from the Clinton Administration, the same folks who broke up Yugoslavia.

[grania]

How do you betray a worthless piece of paper?

[1rudeboy]

Not trying to cause a fight, but how do you feel about these small countries watching Russia press farther and farther west?

[duckln]

Fascists supported and financed by the EU and US, threw out Ukraines' elected president, by violent force. Their goal was to join the EU and bring an armed NATO to Russia's front door.

They crossed Putin's red line.

[Cowboy Bob]

I mean before Crimea. The "occupy Maidan" movement started after the President (Yanukovich) decided to side with Russia, rather than the EU. There were peaceful demonstrations for about 3 months. Then all hell broke loose and now Ukraine is on the verge of civil war.

[ansel12]

That “someone” is freedom and us, and the West.

We don’t exist to serve mother Russia and Russian empire.

You are trying to describe a situation where Russia is forced to defend itself against Western aggression, in other words, the same old Soviet line, (and leftist line) of moral equivalency.

Keeping Russia from reassembling it’s evil empire is in ours and the world’s interest.

[duckln]

Before the Kiev coup, Russian influence was the western border of Ukraine. And was for centuries before.

Now the EU and Nato want to make it the eastern border.

Up shot, Russia is not pushing, it is trying to keep the security buffer it has.

[Syncro]

Putin is not trying to bring back the USSR.

Of course he is.

No need to discount this step in his process of bringing back the Russian Empire.

But I can reply like you did:

"He’s trying to rebuild the old Russian Empire, with himself as a new Tsar."

No he isn't, he is looking for world domination.

Looks like we are on the same page, not need for unnecessary disagreements...

[1rudeboy]

Yeah, right. All that Russian talk about the “near abroad” (their term, and they used it for years) was meaningless. /s

[dfwgator]

What’s “Manifest Destiny” in Po Russkiy?

[1rudeboy]

“T-72.”

[ansel12]

That is the same exact line that the World Socialist writes. I can't believe that I'm having to relive the early 70s all over again with the pro-Russia defenders passing out their underground newspapers.

[1rudeboy]

Isn’t it funny how the world has evolved? Before, you had to go to a college campus and have some dope-smoking maggot hand it to you. Now you can come to Free Republic for it.