Ukraine Crisis: 'If I Want, I Will Take Kiev in Two Weeks', Putin Warns EU's Barroso

International Business Times ^ | 9/1/14 | Jack Moore

[duckln]

What did the cold war accomplish. Absolutely nothing.

Russia had bread lines for every thing, it was on a trajectory to collapse, and collapse it did. It just couldn't compete with capitalism, at which the EU and Reagan were good at.

It would have failed Reagan or no Reagan.

But Reagan and Carter with his Olympics boycott took the wrong side in supporting headchoppers that the world have now have to deal with.

[BobL]

“Read posts 121 and 141.”

Read Agenda 21.

[1rudeboy]

Good grief. I remember long-haired, dope-smoking maggots making the same argument to me in Ann Arbor during the 1980’s.

[ansel12]

What did the Cold War “accomplish”?

You guys are insane, we were fighting for our lives and the very survival of Western Civilization, Russia imposed war on the world, we were victims of them, we didn’t have a choice, or take action to engage in the “Cold War”, the free world was under attack.

[SgtHooper]

What defeated to Soviet Union was the sheer economic might (military spending) of the US. The USSR could not match the spending. Then enter US Star Wars program (SDI—strategic Defense Initiative), and that cratered the Soviets.

[duckln]

Russia I would guess, sadly with Carter/Reagan interference suffered as much , if not more.

[caww]

..."So the Russians are invading Ukraine over oil?"

Why would you care who is after Ukraine's resources....they've been up for grabs to the highest bidder for eons..... With the Senate passing the energy "pact" for all their energy infrastructure...it's a closed deal pretty much...So instead of solving Ukraine's corruption, its spreading here...just taking a piece of another pie....The U.S. taxpayers paid for Biden to visit Ukraine to get his son a job..and that was in May...wait to you see the rest ready to dive in and get their share......Opportunistic greed. Period.

We got it Pops!.....

[1rudeboy]

Here’s the thing: there are few locations in the world that don’t have some sort of energy or some sort of a pipeline to deliver it. So, I will grant you that wars are fought over energy . . . but not all wars.

[ansel12]

Russia I would guess, sadly with Carter/Reagan interference suffered as much , if not more.

You aren't playing with a full deck, there is clearly something wrong with you.

Russia was conquering various nations during Carter's term, they weren't suffering, they were increasing their empire as they made war against the world, do you get it, and actual military empire, that had enslaved hundreds of millions.

The "Cold War" was Russia's attack on humanity, country after country fell, and tens of millions died, it wasn't some mutual agreement, or treaty or whatever bizarre thing as you think.

[tcrlaf]

“Even with a President that has “no clue”, we are still a terrifying force. Air superiority, drones, precision guided missiles. Top logistics, electronic data control, etc. The Russians can take out a passenger jet, but their SAMs would have a tough time against our couter-measures. After his supply lines are taken out, it would be very difficult to resupply his forces...”

This isn’t Iraq. It a wide, vast country with weaponry literally lying around everywhere.

And “technological superiority” requires a vast amount of logistics support. How long did we have to wait after 9/11 to attack Iraq, because Clinton had depleted the supply of cruise missiles?

When you kibbutz, you have to remember that this is Today’s Russia, and not yesterday’s USSR.

You also have to consider this is no longer Reagan’s America, but Obama’s Socilaist/Gay Amerika now. If NATO’s Euro countries had to field a force TODAY, on 24 hours notice, they’d be lucky to put a heavy brigade out between all of them but Turkey, in total, let alone support it for more than a few days.

Remember how the Italian Air Force ran out of modern bombs and serviceable aircraft, after just 30-some sorties over Libya?

[ansel12]

Read posts 121 and 141, Russia is no match for the United States military and NATO.

I can’t believe that you guys think that we have ceased to be the world’s most powerful military.

[SgtHooper]

As a general notion, you may be correct. However, it took a gambler with a huge betting line to bring down the Soviets. The benefits, huge sums of money were devoted in the US to laboratories/universities, etc., in advancing technology to meet this adversary. It was not a total loss by any means.

[Natufian]

24 hours notice? Is that all the time they’ve got?

[caww]

This is NOT about Russia or its agression as it's being projected as, (though the old school cold war warriors are eating this up)..... It has everything to do with Ukraine's resources and its position between Europe/Nato/EU and Russia.

Putin can keep the border areas in conflict as long as he wants.....which prevents much of what East Ukraine might otherwise offer the EU and the varied Oligarchs also fighting there for their share.

The EU is trying hard to avoid keeping Ukraine in indefinite conflict for their hands are tied for that...The Soviet Union (cold war) has collapsed, and U.S. influence in Europe has declined. So whatever will come next will not be the Cold War. IMO...and others as well. Ukraine provides two things: ....'strategic position' and 'agricultural and mineral products'....who gets control of these is what is at stake...

[Tailgunner Joe]

No, Bill Clinton blundered when he ignored the Taliban’s rise to power in the 90’s with Pakistan’s help.

Reagan was right and he brought down America’s true enemy, the EVIL EMPIRE.

[caww]

Pipelines “hard wire” nations as nothing else can....but it's not just oil and gas....it's all resources which countries are now bargaining and fighting for.

Egypt will erupt once again if Ethiopia continue with the plans to circumvent the Nile River..... construction of any projects on the river could diminish its water supply. And the list goes on and on...

Geo-graphics and resources should all be noted immediately in any conflict....also borderlands. This is the stuff wars and conflicts are about now.....rarely is it about freedom or the people, rather they're used as the means to catapult and support the political agenda waiting for the opportunity to cease on any of the population rising up...and or creating it. As we speak there are teams in Russia attempting to garner the population to rise against Putin...spearheaded by the former Oligarchs he outed. There are billions and billions at play and these boys play to the death.

Ukraine is in part their baby as well to take Putin out of play worldwide.....and eventually sit their base on Putin's doorstep...which they have claimed they will do and get great joy for.

I don't know why you haven't taken these into account, especially when we have them operating right here in the US.....and working with our politicians.

[SgtHooper]

Actually, I think it’s a little of both. Putin is old-school KGB, and may miss the good-ole days. Also, I’m not sure the people have really adjusted to the “freedoms” offered up after the collapse. Many longed for the structure, such as it was, under communism. There was at least some level of stability in knowing that you would need to starve this week because bread was non-existent. The country has not completed the transition. (Just as a side note, the Soviet population was in total shock to learn the Stalin was not a hero, but a mass murderer. And this was back in the 80’s.)

When you have a Russian economy that is tenuous and the people are just as uncertain, you need resources (and perhaps a skirmish) to bring everyone onboard. So yes it has to do with ports, resources, etc., and the Ukraine has been a dynamo in resources for decades.

[caww]

Wish we had Reagan here today......oh do I wish that!

[ansel12]

Nonsense, Putin better get some results soon and get out from under this tightening noose, or he is in deep trouble domestically.

The west is waking up and unifying.

[SgtHooper]

We do. We just need to elect Cruz or West. Anything less is a loss.