Posted on 03/02/2014 3:10:12 PM PST by annalex
The chorus of international voices urging caution in Ukraine, and above all urging Russia to refrain from military action, have been reinforced by NATO’s secretary general.
“Russia must stop its military activities and its threats. We support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. We support the rights of the people of Ukraine to determine their own future without outside interference and we emphasise the need for Ukraine to continue to uphold the democratic rights of all people and ensure that minority rights are protected,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
An overnight phone call between Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin has reportedly only served to underline fundamental differences of position.
This was reflected as well in an emergency session of the UN Security Council, where Russia maintained it was acting to protect its citizens despite the lack of evidence of any tangible threat. And remember, Russia may be talking to its international partners, but refuses direct talks with Kyiv.
You may be right; if Putin manages not to irritate them further, guarantees the stability and borders of the Balt states, and makes a bilateral deal with Ukraine over Crimea, NATO will go and eat more cheese with Riesling and everyone will come out ahead. Ukraine has no reason to want Crimea anyway, it is not their organic part.
Possibly, that is Putin's game too.
However, as the Maidan showed, things often do not go like planned. Imagine some Russians in Estonia start taking over regional government offices etc. Now Estonia is a NATO member. What then?
see post 35
Sitzkrieg.
FRiend, That isn't a bander fascist driving the tank. Or under it. That's your freedom fighters in Vilnius 23 years ago. Running over girls with tanks. You and Putin keep good company. I hope you are proud. Same exact unit from Pskov that just invaded Ukraine, btw. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Own it all, FRiend.
obama will have Kerry shake his finger at them!
To a Sov, everyone else is a Nazi, especially if they get to ride in a tank. This mentality, by the way, is why there is nothing as much in the national interest of Russia as a good military defeat. We can dream...
I grew up in the Pittsburgh, PA area in the 1970s and 80s. Needless to say, I was a Steeler fan and it was a good time to be a Steelers fan. I look at Putin in much the same way I viewed Tom Landry and Roger Staubach. They were, "the enemy," but I had the utmost respect for them, because they always acquitted themselves well, and their competence was always on display.
I don't think losing to the Japs in 1905 turned out well for them in the long-run.
I mean the Sovietland now mistakenly called “Russia”. These people derive their national identity from their tanks.
Vlad Putin is no different than the rest...*except* that today most of Europe keenly depends on Russia's hydrocarbon exports.
The only thing girly-man Baraq accomplished was to assure Vlad that he could do as he pleases.
***
Probably wanted to remind Vlad of his promise of flexibility....
That’s an interesting photo. I have never seen a picture of Putin looking amused.
Yipes!
I have read this weekend that American Tanks have returned to Germany.
That is not true entirely. There were two periods when it was true: when Russia was occupied by the Golden Orde (13-15 centuries) and by the Soviet Power in various stages of mimicry (1917-now). But it is not true of Imperial Russia which had local government since ~1860, rapidly growing capitalist economy (since about the same time if not earlier), well developed legal system with property rights and trial by jury, rapidly growing levels of education, and full integration into the European culture. The Soviet period is, of course horrible and it had a horrible effect on the Russian national psyche. It cannot be said to be the same people as prior to 1917.
But, anyway, what is your point? That we should ignore them, shoot them off, or what?
I was going to post that but ya beat me to it.
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