During the 2008 campaign after Russian invasion of Georgia Sarah Palin said that should Obama be elected then Russia will invade Ukraine next. All sorts of pundits called her statement stupid.
There is a dangerous brinksmanship being carried out here. It appeared that in the next election a leader not favorable to Putin would be elected. But this action gave a leader more favorable to Putin absolute power. I suspect the “crisis” will last past the next election and then be resolved. The “correct” politician will get credit. Relations will be restored...or, something like them will appear to be restored. (Or, that was probably the plan...)
However, as in any battle plan, it will not survive first contact. Already, reactions are occurring worldwide that do not appear to have been factored in.
On the table, sending Nato ships to the area.
Also, just developing, do not allow Russian navy ships through the Bosphorus Strait (that’s where Turkey is). Unfortunately, I don’t know if Turkey can be trusted or would do this. They could be another deal maker though.
This is a tremendous piece. But I must say: that last statement is far too ambitious. Why? Because it involves the conundrum of prevention. Prevention, after all, is the second-most thankless job in the universe (for the very fact that the thing that was "prevented" cannot be proven to have been intended in the first place; indeed, the "preventer" is the one blamed with being a provocateur).
Who cares. All Russia anyway.
Yeah we should posture, but ultimately stay the hell out of it.
Get out of Afghanistan too. Commie Obammie did what Bush didn’t …too busy fighting daddy’s battles.
Meanwhile, while all this has been going on, the press prattled on promoting bullschnitt like faggotry in the military and the importance of skin color.
Surprised to not see many more severe attacks on soft targets inside russia.
From former Soviet countries russia stole from bullied and murdered.
Eastern europeans, muslim countries they’bullied. Etc.
Russians are responsible for lots of killings.
Just surprised so few retributions?
Yes, there is specific evidence of Russian stupidity over the years, including arming the idiots who shot down the plane, attacking the Ukranian power grid (ineffectively), etc. On their part the Ukranians probably violated international rules by threatening the Russian bridge with armed vessels and they are forever stuck in the past whining about an "illegal" bridge and Holodomor (sp?).
I take the side of sanctions on Russia, but proportional to the interests at stake which are narrow, namely keeping Russia from further advancing into neighbors.
Part of the Ukraine has been put under martial law. This is because over the last two years Russia has been building arms along the border. It appears a major conflict is coming. Not much mention in the US press, they are worthless as usual.
Concerning Crimea it still would be part of Ukraine if they didn't pull off that Euromaidan Coup. And 95% of Crimeans approved on the Russian takeover.
The author clearing has a anti-Russian agenda.
Putin’s popularity is in the toilet, the country is going to be Islamic in the near future. It’s pretty clear why they did this.
First of all, it is dishonest to call the Russian action “unprovoked”. It most certainly was provoked, and most likely intentionally on the part of the Ukrainians, who specifically violated a treaty by belligerently sailing warships into Russian territorial waters without following protocol.
Second, the Georgian war, as far as Russia is concerned (South Ossetia was rebelling first) was also “begun” by Georgia, in that Georgia commenced hostilities by shelling a Russian peacekeeper position in South Ossetia.
Third, South Ossetia and Abkhazia were never “annexed” by Russia. They remain (mostly unrecognized) independent nations with their own government and administration.
Fourth, Crimea joined Russia by exercising its own right of self determination. Other then a handful of Tatar who are politically involved with Ukraine, you won’t be able to find anyone in Crimea complaining about this so called “annexation”.
Russia’s annexation of Eastern Ukraine and its crucial naval ports was in response to the instigations of NATO wanting the Ukraine to join that Western defense pact and wanting Ukraine to house ABM missiles, all of which were extreme provocations. The loudest anti-Russian Ukrainian elements were heavily populated with out and out latter day Nazi collaborationists. I’m with Russia on this one.
Ukraine should have kept the nukes on their soil at the breakup.
Just sayin
5.56mm
And now, Putin is moving on the Baltic states.
Reminds me of the old comedy song about all Hitler wanting was a little piece. “A little piece of Poland, a little piece of...”