Posted on 01/01/2016 1:21:39 AM PST by elhombrelibre
It didn't take long for western media to lose focus. After Russia began its military campaign to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the world largely stopped paying attention to Ukraine. It shouldn't have.
Over the last few months, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been busy trying to deepen the quagmire he created in Eastern Europe. A United Nations' report released in November detailed the degree to which his proxy war in Ukraine has turned the country into Russia's killing field. More than 9,000 people have died since the spring of 2014 after Russia-backed rebels began fighting Kiev for independence, with some 20,000 people wounded. Between Aug. 16 and Nov. 15 alone, 47 civilians were killed and 131 were injured. At 9,000, the death toll in Ukraine is approaching the 13,000 killed during the war in Kosovo.
(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...
Which Ukrainians - the Catholics in the west, or the Eastern Orthodox in the east.
Switzerland is the only country that has made multiculturalism work over the long haul. The rest of the Frankenstates need to be split up peacefully - Ukraine, Belgium, maybe GB, Philippines. Italy probably should be split back into 3.
India is a mess, but think how bad it would be if it hadn’t split. Czechoslovakia should be a model. Yugoslavia shows what happens when a peaceful split isn’t allowed. And now, of course, the Ukraine.
I said a minor example, not a metaphor. Trust you know the difference. And thanks!
Odds is not a Russian troll. The Russians are playing, toying with the Ukraine.
Belarus and the Ukraine are different cases from Poland, Slovakia etc. - Belarus and Ukraine have never been given a chance to create their own distinct culture and have been heavily Russified
much more? Not really. About the same I’d say
“Odds is not a Russian troll. The Russians are playing, toying with the Ukraine.”
No kidding.
Happily and fortunately for some, and unfortunately maybe for others, I’ve given up on FR, after 10 years of ‘residency’.
Thank you to Jim Robinson for keeping me on FR. I’ve much appreciated his support for allowing me to leave comments and sharing knowledge, perspective and experience, as balanced & objective as I often tried to be in expressing views and attempting to ‘educate’, which often, for the latter, has been from a conflicting viewpoint (not necessarily mine).
All the best.
Considering that you refer to another FReeper as a “POS,” I don’t think your insight is all that helpful. Perhaps, you can take the time after leaving FREE REPUBLIC to read up on the value of human liberty. It’s not universal, but it’s far better than seeking an authoritarian, chauvinistic empire led by Putin.
Also, I've discussed and argued with odds over the years and she isn't pro-Putin by any means.
What she IS, is in support of what Putin is doing specifically in Syria. There is a difference as in a broken clock (like Putin) can still be right once or twice.
On Ukraine, Putin is wrong -- he is afraid of encirclement and yet what he has done is make a pro-Russian nation (Ukraine) into a fiercely anti-Russian nation and also has increased (or created) the anti-Russian tendencies in Belarus. So, two of the three East Slavic nations are against the third -- something done by Putin. In the long term this is a loss.
What Putin is doing in Syria is 1) propping up an ally, 2) thwarting US policy, 3) occasionally attacking ISIS but mostly FSA and al Qaeda (a good thing), 4) flanking the USA on the Med. Here, too, I think the policy will fail because Assad cannot get enough support from Russia to ever retake the country. Russia is not willing to send sufficient ground forces to route the enemy, and Assad's forces are too drained to make a sustainable offensive. Basically, Putin has bought himself a stalemate, and he's only cooperating in a limited sense with US forces.
For supporting Assad -- if he is able to keep the populated west of the country where most of the Christians and Shia live, that is a good thing. Let the Sunnis keep the area around the Euphrates.
” Perhaps, you can take the time after leaving FREE REPUBLIC to read up on the value of human liberty.”
Oje hombre... I did take my time... the conclusion is you are no better than ISIS, the Mullahs in Iran or Putin.
Thanks Cronos for setting things straight. Truth is a good thing.
I thought you left. You don’t know a thing about me, yet you slur me. You’re a deep thinker. Too bad you lack common decency.
You won’t see me leaving comments on FR anymore. Mostly because I’m too busy at work. Occasionally, may check-in if I got time.
“Common decency” is a 2 way street and was exercised by me in the very first post to YOU in this thread.
I can never guarantee decency in replies when ‘common decency’ is not applied by others in comments to me.
Well, if I was less than polite, I sincerely apologize.
I think Pootie’s trolls have been promoting more than just Pootie on the internet.
let’s move on, and no need for apology.
Cheap drones.
First, if you want to insult me, YOU should clearly call me "Scum Bag" (not "Sc*m B*g) - be clear in your insult, you Coward!
Second, what has the USA successfully done in getting rid of mullahs in Iran, in over 30 years?
Third, Don't EVER post to me again.
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