Posted on 03/04/2014 2:07:29 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Even a week ago, the idea of a Russian military intervention in Ukraine seemed far-fetched if not totally alarmist. The risks involved were just too enormous for President Vladimir Putin and for the country he has ruled for 14 years. But the arrival of Russian troops in Crimea over the weekend has shown that he is not averse to reckless adventures, even ones that offer little gain. In the coming days and weeks, Putin will have to decide how far he is prepared to take this intervention and how much he is prepared to suffer for it. It is already clear, however, that he cannot emerge as the winner of this conflict, at least not when the damage is weighed against the gains. It will at best be a Pyrrhic victory, and at worst an utter catastrophe. Here’s why:
At home, this intervention looks to be one of the most unpopular decisions Putin has ever made. The Kremlin’s own pollster released a survey on Monday that showed 73% of Russians reject it. In phrasing its question posed in early February to 1,600 respondents across the country, the state-funded sociologists at WCIOM were clearly trying to get as much support for the intervention as possible: “Should Russia react to the overthrow of the legally elected authorities in Ukraine?” they asked. Only 15% said yes — hardly a national consensus....
(Excerpt) Read more at world.time.com ...
So Putin responds to the establishment of a hostile revolutionary government on his border, in a country that hosts much of his nation’s navy, and now he’s Hitler?
Reckon he’d be perfectly happy with the status quo ante, i.e. the reestablishment of the lawful government of Ukraine and the early elections called by Yanukovych. That wasn’t good enough for the revolutionaries, since they know they couldn’t win a legal election.
If something like this happened on our border, I’d hope that the president—although probably not this president—would crush it posthaste. That’s why the Monroe Doctrine was formulated and applied, since from the Fathers on down, we’ve recognized the danger of letting an unfriendly regime get a foothold anywhere near the US.
5.56mm
Time Magazine ... printing a lot of crap and lies, as usual.
One theory that’s been advanced is that the deposed Ukrainian government was exactly like the Russian government. They were both based on criminal activity. The show of force by Putin is really a show for the Russian people. Putin and his regime had to do something even if it flirts with severe financial impacts on the Russian economy. He knew Zero would piss his pants.
He could not allow the Ukrainian people to set an example for the Russian people. I think there’s more going on than we know. Putin is up against a people that won’t piss their pants, nor throw a temper tantrum.
“300 Soldiers of the Ukrainian 62nd Fighter Regiment were told to return to their base by Kiev after being confined to their quarters by the Russians. This morning their commander marched he’s soldiers up to the Russian line, where they have cordoned off the Control Tower and the MIG 29 fighters stationed around the airbase.
Whether brave, fool-hardy or whatever the Ukrainian soldiers marched up to their airbase carrying the Ukrainian Flag together with the Banner of the former 62nd Soviet Fighter Regiment, singing the Ukrainian national anthem
and other patriotic songs.
The Russian soldiers fired a couple of warning shots over their heads, as the Ukrainian soldiers approached. The Ukrainian officer promptly stepped forward and tried to negotiate with the Russians explaining that they need to return to their base containing all the maintenance shops, etc.
Note - The Ukrainian 62nd Fighter squadron was formally the Soviet 62nd Fighter Squadron based in Crimea before the breakup of the Soviet Union.”
http://www.expatua.com/forum/index.php?topic=13285.135
In fencing, I believe it’s called a ‘feint’.
I would just caution, that in that 19th Century mindset of Putin, the answer to his country’s malaise is war.
Maybe Putin would be concerned if women and minorities were hardest hit.
While I’m not privy to the insider stuff that’s going on in the homeland I suspect Schuster is right by this not setting right with the average Russian. Plus by doing this Putin has confirmed what many leaders from the entities liberated from Russian domination felt. Their military are working up a bunch of “what if’s” and have their defences based on an assumption of a Russian threat.
What we should be doing besides working on getting energy supplies to those nations which are dependent on Russian supplies. Is aggravating the situation in areas where they have invaded such as Absetia and other regions in Georgia. Even providing safe escort to the remnants of Ukrainan naval units loyal to the government.
This guy can be brought down.
I think his primary concern in Crimea...he could let Ukraine be independent, but not with the Crimea.
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