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Guest Post: Putin's Kampf

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Authored by Charles Tannock, originally posted at Project Syndicate,

Russia’s seizure of Crimea is the most naked example of peacetime aggression that Europe has witnessed since Nazi Germany invaded the Sudetenland in 1938. It may be fashionable to belittle the “lessons of Munich,” when Neville Chamberlain and Édouard Daladier appeased Hitler, deferring to his claims on Czechoslovakia. But if the West acquiesces to Crimea’s annexation – the second time Russian President Vladimir Putin has stolen territory from a sovereign state, following Russia’s seizure of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions in 2008 – today’s democratic leaders will surely regret their inaction.

In Western capitals, the response so far has been mixed. The punishments being considered – expulsion from the G-8, for example – would be laughable were the threat to Europe’s peace not so grave. Putin regards the breakup of the Soviet Union as the greatest catastrophe of modern times, and he has sought relentlessly to refashion Russia’s lost empire. If the West intends to be taken seriously, it needs to act as decisively as Putin has.

Putin’s many successes in his imperial project have come virtually without cost. His Eurasian Economic Community has corralled energy-rich states like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan into Russia’s camp. Georgia was dismembered in 2008. Armenia’s government was bullied into spurning the European Union’s offer of an Association Agreement.

Now the greatest geostrategic prize of all – Ukraine – may fall into Putin’s hands. Russia without Ukraine, former US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski wrote, “ceases to be an empire, but Russia with Ukraine suborned and then subordinated, Russia automatically becomes an empire.” And, because the vast majority of Ukrainians have no desire to join Putin’s empire, we can be certain that the state Putin will lead from this point on will be a highly militarized one, rather like the Soviet Union but without the ruling Communist Party.

Given the scale of Putin’s adventurism, the world’s response must be commensurate. Canceled summits, trade deals, or membership in diplomatic talking shops like the G-8 are not enough. Only actions that impose tangible economic sanctions that affect Russian citizens – who, after all, have voted Putin into power time and again – offer any hope of steering the Kremlin away from its expansionist course.

Which sanctions might work?

First, Turkey should close the Dardanelles to Russian shipping, as it did after the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Back then, Turkey closed access to the Black Sea to prevent the US from intervening, though the US, it is now clear, had no intention of doing so. Today, it should close the Turkish straits not only to Russian warships, but to all commercial vessels bound for Russia’s Black Sea ports. The impact on Russia’s economy – and on Putin’s military pretensions – would be considerable.

 

Turkey is permitted to close the Dardanelles under a 1982 amendment to the 1936 Montreux Convention. Indeed, Turkey could turn Putin’s justification for seizing Crimea – that he is protecting ethnic Russians there – against him, by arguing that it is protecting its Turkic Tatar kin, who, given Russia’s ill treatment of them in the past, are anxious to remain under Ukrainian rule.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu turned his plane around in mid-air this week to fly to Kyiv to offer support to the new interim government. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, no pushover himself, as Putin well knows, should follow up on that gesture of support by immediately closing the straits to Russian shipping – until Putin recalls all troops in Crimea to their Sevastopol bases or to Russia proper. And Turkey should be offered an Article 5 guarantee from NATO should Russia seek to intimidate it.

 

Second, US President Barack Obama should impose the type of financial sanctions on Russia that he has imposed on Iran for its nuclear program. Those sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy. Similarly, denying any bank that does business with a Russian bank or company access to the US financial system would create the kind of economic chaos last seen in Russia immediately after the fall of Communism. Ordinary Russians should be made to understand that permitting Putin – whose primary claim to leadership is that he ended the penury of the first post-Soviet years – to continue with his imperialist aggression will cost them dearly.

 

Third, Obama should emphasize to the Chinese their stake in Eurasian stability. Putin may regard the Soviet Union’s disintegration as a tragedy, but for China it was the greatest geostrategic gift imaginable. At a stroke, the empire that stole millions of hectares of Chinese territory over the centuries, and that threatened the People’s Republic with nuclear annihilation, simply vanished.

 

Since then, Central Asia’s independent states, and even Ukraine, have become important trading partners for China. Russia’s conquests in Georgia greatly displeased China, as was seen at the post-war summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (a regional grouping that includes ex-Soviet countries that share borders with China and Russia). Russia pushed the SCO to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But the SCO balked. The group’s Central Asian members – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – would not have stood up to the Kremlin without China’s support.

 

Today, however, Chinese President Xi Jinping may need to be less cryptic in his response to Putin’s adventurism. Indeed, the real test of China’s claim that it is a responsible stakeholder in the world community will come soon at the United Nations. Will it back Putin’s clear flouting of international law, or will it back Ukraine’s territorial integrity?

 

There are other possible punitive measures. Visas can be denied and canceled for all Russian officials. Assets can be frozen, particularly those laundered by oligarchs close to Putin. Only when the pain becomes intolerable, particularly for the elite, will Putin’s kampf be defeated.

The cost of inaction is high. Countless countries, from Japan to Israel, rely on America’s commitment to act robustly against grave breaches of the peace. Moreover, when Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in 1994, it did so with the express understanding that the US (and the United Kingdom, France, and Russia) would guarantee its territorial integrity. Should Crimea be annexed, no one should gainsay Ukraine if it rapidly re-nuclearized its defense (which it retains the technological capacity to do).

When Chamberlain returned from Munich, Winston Churchill said, “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war.” Obama and other Western leaders face a similar choice. And if they choose dishonor, one can be certain that an undeterred Putin will eventually give them more war.

 

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:31 | 4504820 bkrolik
bkrolik's picture

Exactly, Parteigenosse!

Apparently, Reich had all the rigths to Sudetenland and was just trying to protect the ethnic Germans there. All those Polands and Czechs were failed states. It were plutocrats and banksters who broght the great state to ruin. And now they again trying to prevent another great state to protect its interests and support its ethnic population. Shame! But hopefully nobody listens to that Munich drum this time indeed.... At least, based on the responses on this board.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:50 | 4504621 Boomberg
Boomberg's picture

If the Soviet Union had not collapsed there would have been no Iraq invasion costing upwards of a trillion dollars and thousands upon thousands of Iraqi and American lives for bullshit lies. The US military would not be depleted and worn out. Any Afghan intrusion would have been brief and not ended up being the longest war in US history. Numerous other incursions, overthrows, and bullying by the US would not have occurred. Who knows, Colin Powell might still have a career. The world needs a power to keep the US in check and save American lives and treasure. 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:51 | 4504627 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

I'll bet Putin can see Alaska from his front porch!

For that matter there's a Russian community in Hollywood that is crying out for protection.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:04 | 4504679 ThisIsBob
ThisIsBob's picture

I also see that Mexico is contemplting invading East LA over the LAPD's mistreatment of ethnic latinos.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:52 | 4504628 agent default
agent default's picture

WTF has happened to ZH??? Taken over by the NSA.?  I stopped reading this drivel after the first paragraph.  According to dickhead author of this piece of crap, Hitler's wars of expansion are comparable to Russia defending their region of immediate interests from a coup organized by the US and the EU.  And some Tyler thought this was worthy of publication here???

How about trying to keep track of the massive short positions building up in the COMEX idiot?

All indicators point to a clockwork timed smash again.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:41 | 4504874 2whitedogs
2whitedogs's picture

Thank you. You saved my wriring this

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:58 | 4504951 Hapa
Hapa's picture

It's Tyler's contrarian nature - must poke with pointed stick and see what emerges.  Probably raising it up the flagpole so we could have fun shooting it down. Humor him.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:51 | 4504925 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

And some Tyler thought this was worthy of publication here???

It fits perfectly if some Tyler is trying to scuttle ZH intentionally.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:31 | 4505049 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

AD

I'm "up arrowing" you.  But on this one. Trust me.

He's just having some fun at the absolute and complete absurdity and lunacy of everything we are witnessing with this very serious crisis.  If he were serious you wouldn't have 98% of the other articles on here that take the legitimate position and arguments of the Russian government we know has been wrongfully vilified and accused.

Tyler is asking the same pertinent question(s) that everyone else is -How the fuck did we let it get to this?(.) And that includes the "piece of shit" that actually wrote what you are reading on this thread.

Sometimes by dissecting it and marveling how absurd the absurd can get, you find direction and the "sounding board" is the narratives in criticisms right here that follow.

 

 

 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:52 | 4504630 satoshi123
satoshi123's picture

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/george-soros-calls-on-the-eu...

Soros is also to be found .. google click fodder

Blogger fodder, ....

 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:53 | 4504638 eddiebe
eddiebe's picture

It boils down to this: People will do what is in their best interest if they can or even if they think they can do so. That goes for the US as well as Russia. I would say that the US or the people waving the stars and stripes have  been doing a lot of annexing themselves. Territory and resources alike ( and what about the little tricky dick move to close the gold window in total disregard of bretton woods). By hook and by crook alike. Sure there will be war, it doesnt make a person a genius to make a statement like that at all, nor does it have anything to do with honor or dishonor, but mostly with stupidity and greed..

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:54 | 4504643 OwnSilverPlayMusic
OwnSilverPlayMusic's picture

Make sure you rate this article accordingly.  There's a 5 dot system at the bottom of the text, looks like only 11 have so far.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:55 | 4504644 legal eagle
legal eagle's picture

Stupid. Why do people skip history class? Every time The USSA gets involved to "help" people suffer more. Our foreign policies are welfare state policies on steroid. Our presidents are war criminals.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:56 | 4504648 Singelguy
Singelguy's picture

The people of the USA and the EU have little appetite for more war. However the MIC would love nothing more. I doubt that any of the EU leaders would beat the drums of war given that the EU parliament elections are coming up in May.
More importantly, the EU is highly dependent on Russian oil and gas. Any serious sanctions against Russia would have negative blow back on the EU in the form of energy shortages resulting in higher oil and gas prices that could push a fragile global economy back into recession or worse. Russia is in a far better position financially with a debt to GDP ratio of only 10%, while the USA and most of the EU member countries are close to or above 100%.
Turkey has its own internal problems so it is highly unlikely that Erdogan will insert Turkey into the fray.
Just as the rest of the world can do little to stop American aggression in the world, there are no realistic options to stop Russia either.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:58 | 4504660 Reaper
Reaper's picture

Was the $5 billion spent by Nuland part of Obama's "Kampf Gegen Putin"?

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:00 | 4504664 TheObsoleteMan
TheObsoleteMan's picture

"most naked example of agression since 1938".....For a minute there, I thought they were talking about the US invasion of Iraq!

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:40 | 4504865 benb
benb's picture

…and Serbia, Bosnia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Pakistan, and so on… the criminals wrap a flag around it or use their proxies to vilify opposition to chop shop nations, promote their tyranny and the sheep cheer… less and less though. The game is getting old.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:12 | 4504669 benb
benb's picture

More B.S. history. The City of London and Wall Street financed Hitler. Rockefeller sent his top eugenicists to set up the NAZI racial hygiene program. The public isn't as dumb as the old days... but almost. You would have to be an idiot to believe any government explanation at this point.

“The CIA owns everyone of any significance in the major media.”
– William Colby, former CIA director

“We’ll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false.”

– William Casey, CIA Director (from first staff meeting, 1981)


 

 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:02 | 4504670 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

worst hyperbole evah

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:04 | 4504674 aleph0
aleph0's picture

 

 

I was wondering who wrote this shite.

 

... a member of the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament. 

 

Oh ! ... now was a surprise now wasn't it .


 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:16 | 4504675 Dewey Cheatum Howe
Dewey Cheatum Howe's picture

Most people miss the point Crimea was and still is an autonomous Republic that exists within the Ukraine sort of like Puerto Rico in the US. No goverment changes have occurred since the Russians moved in again. If the Mexicans landed forces in Puerto Rico and they decided they no longer wanted to be associated with the US without the Puerto Rican government being removed would it be considered and invasion of the USA? No it wouldn't if the regional government sanctioned it. Same is true here in Crimea since it was always an autonomous Republic kinda like Puerto Rico not an actual state like Texas for example. Both have the right to vote to leave and Crimea has yet to do that. Landing the troops is one thing but the existing government leadership in Crimea hasn't been overthrown unlike the rest of the Ukraine...

Besides there is a sizable amount Muslim Tatars in the Crimea. I am sure Allah Barry and the 3 State Department Stooges are trying to entice them to act up and cause problems in the Crimea next. Crimea has the highest proportion of Muslims to non-Muslims in all the regions that make up the Ukraine.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:04 | 4504680 known unknown
known unknown's picture

What a one sided load of crap. The world is a cesspool. The US is droning civilians. After the USSR collapsed the US went on a rampage of wars bombing European countries, Arab countries and threatening to bomb just about everyone that does not listen or agree with them. Without country or countries to stand up to them who really knows how far these bastards would go. I support Russia and feel safer with a counter balance of power in the world. The US, Europe and their lackeys like Canada can not be trusted to fix this crumbling planet which is flowing like a glacier into the ocean.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:04 | 4504682 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Chuck chill out and be patient until you get a chance to vote for your democratic leaders either Bush or Clinton.in 2016.

Go write for CNN ya schmuck.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:07 | 4504695 Azwethinkweiz
Azwethinkweiz's picture

What stooge in the US Adminstration of BS had this article writen up and submitted? China is on board with Russia, who knows where Pakistan's allegience lies...Turkey should stay out of this mess just like the US and NATO should. If Turkey jumps on Russia, it really will be WWIII. If the writer is going to claim that Putin wants the Soviet Unioin back in tact, keep in mind Turkey too wants their Ottoman empire. What a load of crap this article is.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:07 | 4504700 overexposed
overexposed's picture

Holy cow, someone needs a history lesson on the Crimean Peninsula, stat.  That place is more Russian than Moscow.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:09 | 4504707 jez
jez's picture

"The cost of inaction is high. Countless countries, from Japan to Israel, rely on America’s commitment to act robustly against grave breaches of the peace. Moreover, when Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in 1994, it did so with the express understanding that the US (and the United Kingdom, France, and Russia) would guarantee its territorial integrity."

 

====================================

 

For Christ's sake, Tyler . . . are you feeding us this dope's horseshit as a joke?

 

And Mr Tannock, old chap: if you're that concerned about Britain's guarantee of "territorial integrity" to the Ukraine, then instead of flapping your fat gob about it, why don't you join the army and try to make yourself useful?

 

Fucking politicians.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:12 | 4504720 AmericasCicero
AmericasCicero's picture

For those complaining about how ZH shouldnt publish this sh*t, I disagree, mostly because I love reading your responses. 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:29 | 4504745 Azwethinkweiz
Azwethinkweiz's picture

Has nobody posted this yet? UKRAINE IS GAME TO YOU??????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLtF_PxbYw

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:20 | 4504758 Boomberg
Boomberg's picture

I've seen no indication that just because an article gets published that the Tylers always agree with it. It's information, fodder for discussion, and allows for expression of differing points of view. Or maybe, they do agree with everything posted. I don't know. I'm drunk. 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:26 | 4504733 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

All well and good to call this article out as crap.

It is posted here because it is about the best anyone can come up with for a reason for the US to go ahead and be confrontational.

It is posted here as balance.

The truth is the situation is FUBAR. There is no way out with integrity because none of the players have integrity.

That is the real problem thinking through this stuff. US is wrong, EU is wrong, Putin's wrong, China is wrong.

All of it is run on financial dishonesty and the abuse of power. There is no rule of law, bitchez. NONE. You keep acting as if there is. Taking a side in this shit show is like taking a side with dems and repubs. It is all shit, shit, shit.

The least of our troubles is this article. It is a point of view.

 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:18 | 4504747 Mine Is Bigger
Mine Is Bigger's picture

I understand the urge to present different perspectives.  But please, do it with class.  I have been a reader of Tyler's posts since before the ZeroHedge website came into being.  I have been feeling really disappointed by the quality of some of the posts this site has been putting up lately.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:50 | 4504920 Omegaman2211
Omegaman2211's picture

It really is becoming a trend...

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:09 | 4504999 ArrestBobRubin
ArrestBobRubin's picture

I smell a rat faced who.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:18 | 4504748 BigSpruce
BigSpruce's picture

After reading this pompous screed I would swear that it was ghost written by Krauthammer

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:20 | 4504757 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Well, kudos to ZH for publishing the other side of the debate but this guy comparing Putin to Hitler is intellectually empty, besides stupid.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 00:04 | 4505197 benb
benb's picture

But let us not forget. Putin got his start working under Warcus Wolf, head of the East German Stasi. He may be a lessor evil in this scenario but he is no angel.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:21 | 4504760 BigSpruce
BigSpruce's picture

The US lost its moral high ground long ago. At this point its analogous to  one thief telling the other thief  that he's well .. a thief.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:21 | 4504763 buckwheat5000
buckwheat5000's picture

what a load of BS thank god for Putin standing against the zionists, he is the only one (besides the chinese and iran)

interesting that all of the people in the US gov who orchastrated this mess are duel citizens of another country besides the US, can you guess what the other one is? 

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 03:03 | 4505601 zionhead101
zionhead101's picture

Cass Sunstein a DUAL ISRAEL Citizen? Impossible?

What about SHREM & KARPELES?

Every BITCOIN fraud on the planet is also a DUAL CITIZEN

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:22 | 4504766 buckwheat5000
buckwheat5000's picture

putin should pay the neo nazi thugs to change the gov again

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:23 | 4504770 stonecoldbrokei...
stonecoldbrokeinthemiddleofthewinter's picture

Putin: I can see Brussels from my house!

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:31 | 4504819 MarsInScorpio
MarsInScorpio's picture

For all the airheads who don't get it, Tyler is letting those who ranted that he failed to publish the EU/FED/CIA viewpoint now have their perspective published.

 

Is there any rational person who this lunacy is saying the western perspective thus published is sane?

 

That's the trouble with ZH; when read it and truth opens your mind to the world's reality,  you can't tolerate the western elites' lies any longer.

 

Publishing this article really brings home the complete bankruptcy of TPTB. I'm not going to die so some .001% can make another billion.

 

Burn in Hell Barack, Hillary, Horseface, and the rest of you whores to the .001%

-30-

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:32 | 4504826 Baldrick
Baldrick's picture

charlie consider this. what if the big western players wanted a war but there was no longer enough global spare capacity in the oil complex?

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:49 | 4504914 Omegaman2211
Omegaman2211's picture

Probably the biggest pile of crap I've ever read here. For shame ZH.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:53 | 4504933 balz
balz's picture

Is this the worst post shared by ZH?

 

Barely a year passed since 1945 without the US taking control of a country on this planet. And now that Russia does it twice in 5 years, it's a big deal?

 

Sorry, but I have only one thing to say : GO RUSSIA !

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:00 | 4504957 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

If any of you had any doubts whatsoever  that Tyler was doing this for any other reason than to see the comment(s) that would follow...  Now you know his loyalty and that it couldn't possibly be anything other than to belittle the dick-for-breath that actually wrote it, much less than the comments coming from the mouths of our chosen ones in D.C. trying there hardest to start a world war!

Laugh!

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:15 | 4504967 Aquarius
Aquarius's picture

Appreciate your posting this article by Mr. Tannock.

If you are at war, it is far better that you not only know yourself, but know your enemy; and well. Mr. Tannock exposes the enemy.

The enemy is desperate, as can be measured from the incredible lengths that Tannock spins lies and deceipt. He knows that his lies will capture some naive folks but he also knows that most will reject his offering for what it is; pure unadulterated crap.

Warmongering; looking for support or maybe, membership; warm embrace, and some donations Mr Tannock? This may have worked before the '90's Mr. Tannock but these days, you will not even receive a "like" from our Youth.

But then it appears that Washington DC is a closed pit of incestuous vipers where all the feed-back is of their own making and continually recycled; go to war Mr Obama, and your days are numbered; perhaps on the cell that will become your future home, if you are fortunate enough to keep your head. To the Victor belongs the spoils and the USA will not win this round; certainly not with the likes of Mr Tannock standing in your advisory corner.

Look, and you see the USA just playing at an unimportant game for its own interests but on behalf of other another Party, Israel, which lives for the blood sacrifice of others. Now cast your mind on Russia; they know the enemy of today as the identical enemy of 1917, known as the Bolsheviks. ~>50 millions Russians slaughtered at their hand; as an historical nationalist, do you think that Putin is not aware of most intricate details and schemings of the real enemy, Mr. Tannock??

And the Crimea is the heart of Russia; does anyone believe that the Crimea is not of an, a priori, vital and critical component to the future of Russia; of Russia itself; to its very essence of its core and its very Being. This battle, if engaged by the USA, will be reminiscent of the last stand of the Sparta. If anyone seriously wants to heed Mr Tannocks promotions, consider that any war on this field with Russia, will be fought to the end; I repeat, to the end; unlike Libya; unlike Syria; unlike Afghanistan; unlike Iraq; unlike Vietnam; to the end; last man standing; Russia cannot afford to lose this battle: Russia and the Russian peoples depend ultimately on winning. Does the USA have the stomach for a final confrontation that will only leave one winner? Of course, Israel has the eagerness as they always fight by proxy, allowing others to die on their behalf. The USA will not be allowed to lose this war and still win; The Russian peoples will pursue the USA to the grave.

No, Mr Tannock, but it is good to see who and what you are and that which you represent. Thank you. I am sure that Mr. Putin has taken note.

Warning: Don't play the fool with Russia over the Crimea.

Ho hum

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:03 | 4504975 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

This thing has to have been written by Zbigniew Brzezinski?

And trust me even he's laughing!

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 00:17 | 4505222 Youri Carma
Youri Carma's picture

Just to keep an eye on uncle Zbigy ;) https://twitter.com/zbig

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:05 | 4504984 ArrestBobRubin
ArrestBobRubin's picture

Invasion of the Tyler Snatchers, or is today April 1st?

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:17 | 4505020 Dr. Bonzo
Dr. Bonzo's picture

Would have carried more credibility if you had rephrased your article as, "the most naked example of peace-time aggression since the US's war against Iraq from 1991-2010."

OOPS. Yeah, forgot those half-a-million some Iraqi corpses, 5000 dead GIs and 75,000 WIA troops. Not to mention the minor issue of 2 trillion dollars wasted on.... well... we still don't know. No wait... we do know... we secured oil concessions for Petro China.

Thank you American taxpayer. Canon fodder, loyal unquestioning trooper.... sucker.

We won't be fooled again. Pffff.... who are we kidding. Of course we will.

 

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 01:54 | 4505436 Savyindallas
Savyindallas's picture

Agree  -Sudetenland was not agrression. it was german territory stolen from them at versailees. Chamberlain was right to agree to give it back. Our mistake was to not force the Poles to give back the Danzig  -and then France and germany declare war on germany  (instead of the Bolshevik murderors who also invaded Poland from the east after the Ribbentrop Molotov secret agreeement) We ally with satan (Stalin) when we should have allied with germany to destroy the Bolsheviks. Putin "invading" russian Crimea is nothing compared to our agression encircling Russia in Eastern Europe, Irawq, Afghanistan, Libya, africa and our efforts to do the same by destroying Iran and Syria. The US needs to get rid of our Bolshevik enslavers and get the hell out of Europe, the Middle east and Asia. 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:15 | 4505030 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

For the record, the guy is not advocating war. Measures, yes, but I reread and did not see war...

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 02:56 | 4505587 Ocean22
Ocean22's picture

if you did what this guy says there WILL be war...

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:27 | 4505065 Lucius Corneliu...
Lucius Cornelius Sulla's picture

The most logical response by the State Department and the Department of War (DOD) would be to press forward on Syria now while Russia is preoccupied with "internal affairs".

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:29 | 4505074 Youri Carma
Youri Carma's picture

"Russia’s seizure of Crimea is the most naked example of peacetime aggression that Europe has witnessed since Nazi Germany invaded the Sudetenland in 1938."

So Ukraine is Europe now??? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkOEkcB6ATs

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:33 | 4505080 ArrestBobRubin
ArrestBobRubin's picture

Think this piece is shit? This morning I had the special pleasure of hearing Jeffrey Goldberg and some other incredibly arrogant Jewish supremacist offer "analysis" on Crimea and Ukraine on that bowtie wearing moron Tom Keane's show on BBR (Bloomboig Bullshit Radio). It was something out of the Twilight Zone. It would be funny if it wasn't so revealing about the extent of how fucked up the "news media" is under control of the Jew. How incredibly irresponsible and indicative of the utter contempt and hatred they harbor for their audiences and for any form of truth. Absolutely disgusting state of affairs.

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:31 | 4505082 MontgomeryScott
MontgomeryScott's picture

I'm getting really tired of the political-media Zionist apparatchick TELLING me 'what to think' about events that they create and foster.

The 'Eastern powers', the 'Western powers', and the M.I.C., with their lap-dogs in the media, continue to forment the false paradigm of 'us versus them', while babies die, men are killed, women are raped, and everyone is getting GMO'd or RADIATED.

FUCK THEM TO HELL.

'We Want Your Soul':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH_DkBI9Qsk

FUCK OBAMA! FUCK PUTIN! Fuck 'em ALL to HELL!

Oh, yeah: FUCK YOU BERNANKE, and FUCK YOU, Yellen, and FUCK YOU, Greenspan, and...

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:44 | 4505130 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Now that the Olympics are over, the MSM has to switch from unfinished hotel rooms and terror attacks on athletes, to this crap...

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:45 | 4505138 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

While I can sometimes agree with the Tyler's need to produce a website that is not only filled with Crazies, this article will push some of the Putin ManCrush fan club over top.....

Well done!!!

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:51 | 4505153 adeptish
adeptish's picture

Complete garbage.

WTF Tylers...???

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 23:52 | 4505159 Wait What
Wait What's picture

i was going to post some witty comment about how much bullshit this article is, but almost every possible angle i thought of has been covered by other posters. kudos.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 00:14 | 4505216 Solarman
Solarman's picture

I'd like to do a poll.  How many on here has lived under the Soviet Union?  Well, if you have, you would not be so enamored with Putin.  My extended family had the pleasure, and this country and his dream of empire should chill you.  These are brutal people, grow up.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 02:59 | 4505593 zionhead101
zionhead101's picture

PUTIN has a +90% popularity

Obama has a -15% popularity

Why even try to talk about PUTIN, when the shit is as high in the ceiling back where the all the Hypocrites live?

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 06:31 | 4505812 Invinciblehandaxe
Invinciblehandaxe's picture

i did, my parents did almost all their lives, while in 68 it was kind of unwelcomed by the people in czechoslovakia (we were doin pretty good in terms of economics) at that time, well the west promised not to throw us under the red bus and we were ditched like a hot potato the very moment we needed help, the system was brutal at the beggining to those who wanted different and wanted to run away (the most important mistake of communism that it did not allowed ppl to emigrate - not like the whole nation would run away) but after a while things started to work, most of the agriculture farms, production plants, dams, highways, accomodation were biult during that time, we had cheap energy, affortable living (waaay better concrete buildings and more spacey than those paper fucking houses in canada), free health care and doctors actually cared, factories provided start up capital for young families to buy flats, houses, my parents bitched at that time they had to wait 2 years till the state gave them the flat for pennies on the dollar, because things were being built at that time, not like right now, we were self suficient in diary products, meat, electricity and were exporting, the first thing the fucking EU destroyed was the farms and our selfsuficiency so we had to import their c quality stuff, people actually bitched around to management at plants and had the power to change things and get better conditions, now everyone is pissibg theiir pants to loose their job so ferget the bitching there is none, my parents actually miss that time when they were not debt slaves and people actually cared about each other, while it is not the best system i can tell you fuck capitalism and the debt masters!!!

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 00:24 | 4505233 Tulpa
Tulpa's picture

In the mind of the hyperinterventionist, it's always 1938.  Never 1914 or 1964 or 2003 (hint: years of military interventions that utterly backfired).

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 00:33 | 4505252 BeerMe
BeerMe's picture

Hijacked?

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 01:46 | 4505415 Joe A
Joe A's picture

The author already lost me with his title. Equating Russia/Putin with Hitler -just like Albright and Brzezinski did- is so lame.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 01:54 | 4505438 tony bonn
tony bonn's picture

hey charles tannock -  fuck you cunt!! you and your ziocon imperialist blood thirsty war mongering shitholes can go fuck yourself. the most naked aggression since world war 2 was panama, libya, egypt, afghanistan, iraq, pakistan, serbia, viet nam, cuba, iran and all of your other foreign policies failures and aggressions...you losers are american traitors, your loyalties being to the crown of england and israel....you go to ukraine and fight anddon't come home till you're dead.

did anyone order the usa out of guantanamo? panama, granada, guatemala - still a hell hole from the nixon administration.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 01:56 | 4505446 Savyindallas
Savyindallas's picture

This article is Bullshit  -of course it is simply written for balance. Certainly not a reflection of the true beliefs and opinions of the editors of ZH. 

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 02:07 | 4505482 Cheese Potpourri
Cheese Potpourri's picture

What the Russians are doing seems to be different from what the US does mainly in style, as others have pointed out.  I can't believe that this essay is even here.  How many people have the Russian army killed in the last decade?  How many people have the American army killed?  The whole reason O has acted weakly is because he has no choice after he and the idiot before him trashed what was left of the American image by spreading death and destruction and bankrupting the nation in the process.  He has no room to preach from his soapbox without someone pointing out the hypocrisy.  Even John Kerry knows "You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext." 

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 02:42 | 4505555 discopimp
discopimp's picture

Sorry Charlie... if you want a war, me and the gang here at ZH will pitch in and buy you a Kalashnkof and 1,000 rounds.  Your on your own mate!  

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 02:53 | 4505583 Radical Marijuana
Radical Marijuana's picture

This is the first article I have read on Zero Hedge that provoked me to click on the lowest possible vote rating available to be cast at the bottom of that article.

I think that it is way more important to look at another article which happened to repeated twice in the current header of Zero Hedge:

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2014-03-03/backstory-russia-ukraine...

Furthermore, I would repeat my comments posted under this article:

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2014-03-03/i-don’t-know-what’s-going-ukraine-i-do-know-one-thing-we-should-stay-out-it

The most important thing to understand is the way that the international banksters have captured control over all NATO countries, and are using that power to advance the banksters' agenda, which has become CRIMINALLY INSANE!

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 03:00 | 4505590 zigizigi
zigizigi's picture

Erdogan will close Dardanelles for Russian warships? Th? guy that has "peaceful protesters" sponsered by CIA trying to oust him just like they did with the Ukranian guy? The guy that was threatened by Putin of sanctions to turkish agricultural exports and tourism industry highly dependant on Russia? The guy that disobeyed the CIA for that reason and did not took an active stand in Syria campaign, which is what he is being punished for now? This guy will close Dardanelles? If he will, this are rather going to be US ships that he will close the straits for.

The author must be from the moon.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 03:11 | 4505613 pcrs
pcrs's picture

wetern rulers want war too. To hide deficits, kill unemployed, obfuscate the mess . all rulers want war, they are based in violence and power

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 03:51 | 4505666 litemine
litemine's picture

Countless countries, from Japan to Israel, rely on America’s commitment to act robustly against grave breaches of the peace.

You have to consider the costs.....IMF controled economy, loss of Freedom

(except for the elite/ to ???? to Jail) , Quite a one sided Argument.

Don't quite your day Job, being a shill, You Lose.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 05:17 | 4505747 Invinciblehandaxe
Invinciblehandaxe's picture

this Charles zionist is fucking bastard, majority of ukrianians are against russia? what a dickhead, he should ask the question what would the bankrupted usa do is such bullshit supported by russia and china were happening in mexico, fucktard

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 06:49 | 4505830 Amagnonx
Amagnonx's picture

When a coup orchestrated by foreign intelligence agents causes the political power of an ally to be seized by extremists, their military defect in your favor, their elected president requests your intevention to stabilize the nation - naked aggression?  Or naked propaganda?

 

The US has invaded nation after nation - and never once in all those aggressive adventures did they have support like this - Russian troops will be walking on a carpet of flowers in Crimea, with Russian flags on every corner.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 06:53 | 4505833 Baptiste Say
Baptiste Say's picture

First, Turkey should close the Dardanelles to Russian shipping, as it did after the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. 

 

Any source for news of Turkey closing these straits? Seems to me that blocking the main supply line for all Russian imports (inc ship born food, medicines) would be a major act of aggression and no doubt be responded too accordingly, whether by military or indirect means.

 

0 star article. Thanks zerohedge.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 07:13 | 4505847 EmileLargo
EmileLargo's picture

I am disgusted by the arrogance of the West in always insisting on being the final arbiter of all morality. When the West bombs the crap out of Serbia, interevens illegally in Libya, bombs the crap out of Iraq etc. - it is all "legal" and nothing to be alarmed about. When the Russians intervene without firing a shot in their own backyard this is supposed to be like Nazis marching in Czechoslovakia. Ridiculous.

Tue, 03/04/2014 - 08:56 | 4506060 Xandrino
Xandrino's picture

He was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999. He was Vice-President of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Parliament 2004–07 and Vice-President of the EU-Ukraine PCC delegation 2004-09. He is currently Vice-President of the EP Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, UK Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman, ECR Co-ordinator (Spokesman) on the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is also the current President of the Friends of Taiwan Group and adviser to the UK Overseas Territory Association in the European Parliament, and was Vice-Chairman of European Friends of Israel 2006–11. He was appointed a Commissioner for Human Rights of the British Conservative Party in 2011. Tannock was educated at Bradfield College, before going up to read medicine at Balliol College, Oxford followed by the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London University, where he qualified as a doctor.

Source: Wikipedia

Friends of Israel huh?

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