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Red Line Crossing: Ukraine Effectively Gifts Crimea To Russia, Says "Will Not Intervene Militarily"
It May be time for Obama to explain to Putin the whole thing about "costs" and "red lines" one more time, maybe over a two hour phone call this time so the former KGB spy finally gets it, because while Russia has been seemingly confused for the past two weeks, Moscow just successfully annexed Crimea, without spilling a drop of blood. Which is what Ukraine essentially just confirmed after its acting president, who attained his position after a violent coup and remains unrecognized by Russia, told AFP in an exclusive interview saying Ukraine will not attempt a military move to prevent the southern Crimean peninsula's breakaway in order not to expose its eastern border.
"We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border and Ukraine would not be protected," Turchynov said, as Crimea prepares to vote in a referendum Sunday on becoming part of Russia.
Crimea's upcoming referendum is a "sham" whose results will be fixed in Moscow, Turchynov told AFP.
"What they call the referendum will not happen in Crimea but in the offices of the Kremlin," Turchynov said ahead of Sunday's vote and hours after the pro-Russian authorities in Crimea voted for full independence from Ukraine.
So with Crimea down, as Putin prepares for his strategic endgoal - splitting the country in two and annexing the East in an identical fashion - the US strikes back:
- HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTION SEEKING SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA
- HOUSE VOTES 402-7 FOR NON-BINDING RESOLUTION ON UKRAINE
Surelt this time Putin will lose some sleep, perhaps over all the laughter. Or perhaps from constantly repeating "if you want your sanctions, you can keep your sanctions."
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What a hangover!
Yes I love you.
Why does my ass hurt?
Of course you can have Crimea.
LOL, exactly. What did anyone think they could do? Shoot spitballs at them? Russia wanted them to open fire on them to justify a full blown excuse to roll 1000 tanks into Kharkov and onwards to Kiev.
The Ukrainian military might fight but many units would just surrender so they can get paid by the Russians in vodka and whatever the hell they bribe them with now.
I'll do BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA...laying down like good sheeple...bah bah bah...munch munch munch.
Don't blame 'em, suicide anyway.
Only possible outcome. Why pretend otherwise?
Bububububu...t whaddabout the bailout?
We took longer to take over Grenada. ..gezzzzz
I got some news for you, friend. Your eastern border is still exposed.
"...(4) declares that the Ukrainian people have the right to determine their own future free from outside interference;...18) affirms the right of all countries in the region to exercise their sovereign rights within their internationally recognized borders free from outside intervention and to conduct their foreign policy in accordance with their determination of the best interests of their peoples."
This section of the resolution is an insult to all critical thinking individuals who are aware of the role the US played in the coup of a democratically elected leader.
This is a link to the resolution.
http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20140310/BILLS-113hres499-SUS.pdf
This section of the resolution is an insult to all critical thinking individuals who are aware of the role the US played in the coup of a democratically elected leader.
So that's what... all of us at ZH plus maybe a few dozen more?
"How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think." —Der Führer
I thought they were going to us the Soros company in Spain to count the votes.
Does Diebold have an office in Crimea?
nyet
Good heads up move by Ukraine. Now Russia, won't be able to already have boots in the ground when it talks if liberating and protecting Russians in eastern Ukraine.
Hopefully that will open the entire world to Velvet Divorces.
You can't fool all of the people all of the time and you don't have to.
Said it before, I'll likely say it again.
Government is the problem.
Said it before, I'll likely say it again.
Countries are fictions used to divide and conquer.
Said it before, I'll likely say it again.
Anarchism is the only way forward.
No 'leader' no war.
Those that claim to be 'leaders' are, in reality, parasites.
I would prefer panarchism.
Some people do want government and forcing them into anarchy would be wrong.
This does not excuse Putin for his invasion. He has taken the same agreement and decided to punish Ukraine for the sins of the west. He's just another guy looking out for himself, no one else. However, it is very well done without any killing. It seems to be extremely well thought out and executed.
Don't be in such a rush to defend democratically elected leaders. A whole bunch of bad people fit that catagory. Yankabitch seems dirty as hell. People on ZH talk about removing corrupt leaders from their own country all the time. Why should it be wrong for the Ukrainians to do the same? The fact they had support does not reduce the man's guilt nor their dissatisfaction.
oh Lord save me.
i dont even know where to begin......
Russia does not violate international agreements on safeguards the integrity and security of Ukraine.
Think about what I say, from the standpoint of international law.
1. In Kiev, was a coup d'etat. So-called "new authorities in Kiev", seized power undemocratic, unconstitutional way, by force of arms, through mass murder and deception. These people are illegitimate. Moreover, they are criminals. It does not depend on the opinions of Washington and Brussels. It depends only on the rule of law. For all the norms of law, these people are criminals .
2. Via actions of these criminals in Kiev, Ukraine as State, actually was split into two parts. One part of this is part of the captured coup, including Kiev. And the second part - this is the part where the population and local authorities have remained faithful to the Constitution of Ukraine and the legitimate, democratically elected President of Ukraine.
And now think please: which of these two parts of the country, today has the right to represent Ukraine as a legal entity?
I mean: What today is the "Ukraine", in terms of the Act:
- It's the rebels who had committed an armed coup in Kiev?
- Or is the region to remain faithful to the Constitution and laws of the state government?
Well, go further.
Russia, according to an international treaty is obliged to observe the integrity of Ukraine and its safety. State - is primarily population. In this situation, Russia not only has the right to impose its troop, but must do it.
Because the deployment of troops to maintain the integrity of Ukraine and at the request of the legitimate President and the people of Ukraine - for Russia is a duty arising out of an international treaty. Furthermore, in the current situation coup sending troops is the only way for Russia to conscientiously fulfill their obligations under the international treaty for protection Ukraine as a state and legal entity.
In addition, the legal concept of "invasion" is contrary to the introduction of troops to restore constitutional order, at the request of the legal, legitimate, democratically elected President, with the support of 80% of the population.
We often hear from the western media that "Ukraine's parliament dismissed Yanukovych from power." But the parliament has no right to remove from power the President. Parliament can only declare impeachment. Impeachment was not.
And finally:
At the time of the vote, it was no longer a "parliament." At the time of the vote, it was a bunch of criminal rebels and accomplices criminal rebels.
Because they supported an armed rebellion coup and has expelled forcibly all those members of parliament, who was did not agree with them.
You want to see how to vote these criminals? See here:
http://cubeupload.com/im/d8Bvfn.jpg
http://cubeupload.com/im/OsmCBf.jpg
http://cubeupload.com/im/wxnm6d.jpg
MP can not vote without a personal ID card. It is technically impossible. In the first shot we see as one of the criminals haved and holding 5 or 6 personal cards of other deputies. They took these cards by force and threats.
On other shots we see how criminals vote with both hands. One hand, they vote in my own name. But the second hand, they vote on behalf of the other deputies, which at this point are not present in parliament. This deception of voters and it is a crime.
This is called the rule of law and US democracy, is not it?
---
Violent protests in eastern Ukraine city , Russia arrests Ukraine border guards and send in troops to protect russian speakers in city. Local pro russian pol calls for referendum which Russia conducts and Russia incorporates area,wash, rinse and repeat all te way to the Carpathians.
Russians in eastern Latvia and Estonia report human rights violations which Putin takes verry seriously...
Yes, and without congratulating or even admiring Putin, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, eh? It's standard playbook stuff.
Putin made a big mistake in this situation. He behaved in this situation very gently.
Putin had to recreate on the east of Ukraine, all public authorities. I mean on the territory, which remained faithful to the Constitution and the legitimate, democratically elected President.
And I mean: to recreate the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and so on.
After that, Putin had to support the legitimate army of Ukraine, to restore constitutional order in Kiev. And after that, it was necessary to arrest all criminal Kiev rebels and bring them to justice.
In this way , Russia had to act in line with their obligations under an international agreement. In which Russia is a guarantor of the integrity of Ukraine. Integrity of Ukraine, was broken up by the criminal rebels in Kiev. Through their revolt, they divided Ukraine into two parts:
- Part under the control of the rebels , including Kiev.
- And the part where the people remained faithful to the Constitution of Ukraine and the legitimacy of the president.
Putin was legally obligated to provide military assistance to Ukraine , in restoring constitutional order in the entire territory of Ukraine including Kiev.
Please stop with your propaganda bullshit. You don't need this on ZH, as people are supposed to be informed. No need to whitewash Russias actions.
I do not bleach Russia's actions. I criticize Russia and Putin personally, for excessive softness and failure to fulfill obligations under an international treaty. I repeat:
Putin have legally obligated to provide military assistance to Ukraine , in restoring constitutional order in the entire territory of Ukraine including Kiev.
All criminal rebels in Kiev, as well as all their supporters, should be arrested and prosecuted.
at least in the baltic countries there is a real russian population.
did you see many americans living in Afghanistan or Iraq which needed protection?
Well actually there's the Haliburton clan, Blackwater consultants, Something something Bush, and a bunch of others that were looking for a homeland; Bush doctrine - pre-emptive protection...........
Crimea was gifted to Ukraine by Russia to start with.
Disinherit the distasteful revolutionaries was ever
easy as such.
Get to rule over recalcitrant relatives was never meant
to be easy. Getting the beautiful Ukraine off the US pimp is a daunting task, but worth it for this pretty daughter
and the lost pride that not defending would deprive you off your humanity...
da I was thinking next we will hear from Kiev snakes more of same excuses...that some other can't be defended....
expect more pushback....
Found out they were going to be paid in Bitcoin....
Why pretiend otherwise? Theatre. the tail that wags the dog. It distracts you from the ongoing criminal enterprise known as the Obamanation in Washington, D.C.
"We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border and Ukraine would not be protected."
Translation:
"We practically have no fucking army to speak off. We also fear that, if sent to battle, the few units we can (barely) mobilize will defect to the Russian side. However, we still hope to fool the Americans (or NATO ?? or EU ???) into doing (some of) the heavy lifting for us. We are morons... and we'll be victorious !"
The Kiev government doesn't trust the military and I expect this comment is posturing to hide that fact. The country is split and likely so is their armed forces. We've witnessed two major officer defections (lord only knows how many junior officers) since all this began which is a vote of confidence in the new regime in Kiev. Not that this wasn't the case under Yanukovich as he fired his military chief of staff who was drawn from the army and replaced with someone from the Ukrainian navy. I think everyone in the Ukraine knows that what happened in Kiev was now a mistake, and if they don't now, the austerity, pension cuts, and state asset sales to foreigners will drive it home.
There is a saying everyone knows: be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
Transition of officers and soldiers from the Kiev criminal rebels to the side of legitimate authority and the Constitution, can not be referred to as "desertion."
I am - Ukrainian.
I would like to explain to you what is happening. This is not a conflict between the Russian and Ukrainians . It is a conflict between the western and eastern Ukrainians Ukrainians.
- United States support the Western Ukrainians.
- Russia support Eastern Ukrainians.
Centre of Ukraine, including Kiev, always was mixed, but with a predominant influence of eastern Ukrainians. Now, with the support of U.S., western Ukrainians captured center of Ukraine including Kiev.
You should know that the western and eastern Ukrainians - they are completely different people. They have different languages, different mentality, different cultural traditions and different religions.
- Western Ukraine - a former land of Poland and Poles live there , which we now refer to as " western Ukrainians."
Stalin cut off from the land of Poland and annexed by force to the Soviet Ukraine, together with the population.
- East, south of Ukraine and Crimea - a former Russian land and live there, Russian , which we now refer to as "eastern Ukrainians ."
Lenin and Khrushchev power cut off from the land of Russia and joined the Soviet Ukraine, together with the population .
Approval of Western propaganda that in Ukraine 83% of the population use the Ukrainian language, it is a lie and the top of Western hypocrisy.
Ukraine, Russian language as their mother tongue today use more than 60 % of the population.
In addition, between the western and eastern Ukrainians, has always been hostility and contempt. Ukraine - is an artificial entity which communists created by force.
- Poles in western Ukraine, infamous Russian east and pull Ukraine into the EU and Poland.
- Russian eastern Ukraine, Poles despise the West and pull Ukraine into the Customs Union and Russia.
This model of state, which was created by the Communists via mixed different nations by force, doomed to collapse.
I think that the true purpose of the United States - is to create a civil war between the western and eastern Ukrainians.
silvermail - you are not Ukrainian and your arguing and 90% of your "facts" are completely wrong.
@ redeemed:
That's all that you can argue?
Only general words about anything and zero arguments and facts?
I - Ukrainian. Moreover, I was born there, where there was a famine.
So I know the truth from his family, not from the faux news US program.
But I understand that my knowledge for you insulting. Because liars always afraid of the truth.
I concur redeemed.
What does US/EU/NATO have to say about it?
HOUSE VOTES 402-7 FOR NON-BINDING RESOLUTION ON UKRAINE
Nothing says "we mean business" like a non-binding resolution. That's the kind of serious taunting a Frenchman would dish out.
Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time.
Where do you think I got this outrageous accent?
I fart in your general direction!
This is as American as Apple Pie. I can't believe they actually found 7 people to vote no.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAVN_n0PljQ
I mean all the Ukrainian PM needs to do is after seeing President Obama is head to San Antonio, then Dallas, then Houston...and back again...he'll have a 25,000 flying back with him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWmr0Afr4f8
Like in Monty Python:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yjNbcKkNY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Nothing says "we mean business" like the base of a teleprompter on a bent shaft protruding out of someone's ass.
.
Invertebrates are not known for taking a stand.
Well, he has a pen and a phone. So he'll call Putin and send him a stern letter, probably Postage Due.
It will be returned to sender.
From Russia with love
Does this mean spx 1900 tomorrow?
I wish Putin had told the Ukrainian people - we have no problem with you, we do not want a war. Your country was taken over by gangsters who have looted and are still looting the Ukraine. We will come in and arrest the oligarchs and their goons. Then you should have free and fair elections. I bet the Ukrainians would round up the scum who sold them out to the USSA, Zato and the IMF.
Drudge has Rahm on his site. The Dems want to run a dual passporter in 2016. Rahm is like the people who looted the Ukriane.
"I wish Putin had told the Ukrainian people - we have no problem with you, we do not want a war. Your country was taken over by gangsters who have looted and are still looting the Ukraine. We will come in and arrest the oligarchs and their goons. Then you should have free and fair elections."
+1000
Yeah, but Yanukovich wasn't a gangster ? Two power blocks of oligarchs fighting for the right for looting the Ukraine. And the people lose with both options....
There are no people who advocate "For Yanukovych." There are people who oppose the criminal rebels, who committed armed coup in Kiev.
Hitler about the Ukrainian crisishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjU8MFabyOs
Amen, pass the KY...
Nice! Kerry looks like he's been "hanging" out with Carradine hosting some Thai lady boyz>_<
That's the best Kerry has looked in years. Chalk up one for Obamacare plastic surgery.
There's another 1/2 pint out my nose...thanks WB7
If you like your Crimea you can keep your Crimea!
at this point does it really matter? :P:P:P
LOL....and there you have it in less than 24 hours........and it's over, like i said this morning its all about Oligarchs and their power
please excuse the pun and pass the bowl of resolution, please sir may i have sum MOAR!
Congress passed a non-binding resolution. That's gotta count for sumthin'! Bwhahahawhhahahah!!!
....kinda like bringing a politician to a gun fight
and, we have the greatest stock bubble of all time and the ability to print money like there's no tomorrow. afterall, stocks are everyone's path to a brighter tomorrow. not silly things like jobs or innovation....
so to putin: na na na na. hey hey. yeah, we suck.
i'm ready for a new dose of grand political bullshit....next!
Putin for President! Hey, he gets things done and doesnt make excuses.
+1
Putin response "If you want yor sanctions you can have your sanctions" wisphering "just wait".
Well played Putin! Well played
There were "costs" for Putin:
.
overtime for troops,
extra fuel for military hardware,
added wear and tear on military vehicles,
etc.
I'm sure that's what Obama meant.
the cost for russia will be that they have to build new infrastructure to crimea as it lost lifesupport from ukraine(gas, banking, goods etc). crimea on its own is far from self-sustaining. as a municipality it is in constant debt. rough estimate is they need $5 billion investment for all of it.
But the real estate they got alone is worth much more, add to that the possible oil and gas deposits and one third of gold resources in Ukraine are in those Crimean mountains. Not to mention the money they will make from tourism. There is a lot of tourist infrastructure already there from Soviet times, the military also loves the exclusive beach front resorts for military families. And hey to a half frozen Russia for most of the year, subtropical weather and 70 to 80 degree F water in the summertime is to DIE FOR. Putin will go down in history on a level of fame equivalent to Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. A Man who has served his country well and proud.
of course $5 billion is loose change for the whole area. actually putin got a great deal. some estimate that russia was paying for the bases $1 billion a year when we take all the gas discounts to ukraine into account as it was probably part of the deal from the beginning.
but spare me the politicians serving their country with proud bullshit please.
He is not a politician. He is a leader. Ofcourse he does know who comes first but in the process he is building a strong Russia like there has not been a long long time. Probably mainly to protect his interests but fuck it it's still happening.
And he has a knack for making western offensive policies look retarded and making western strategists look completely out of the loop like a deer in the headlights.
.
In all fairness, western policies and strategists did most of the work for him.
They sure did but normally we bully our way through and he is not having any of it. He even makes all our disinformation campaigns not stick or stick very very badly to the people they are meant to reach (amongst which are the westen citizens). This is unheard of. Syria would have gone through without a hitch not ten years ago. This one same thing. There are actual critical comments in the online newspapers in NEurope these days. Amazing success. Sure a lot are psyops but they would have been dealt with smoothly not too long ago without the normals complaining or even noticing.
Putin - is not only the President of Russia.
Today, Putin is our global leader in the fight against evil.
The real problem for Putin is that the rest of East and South want to join Russia to double or triple their paychecks and benefits. Never mind that they don't want to learn Ukrainian language.
Since Ukraine is broke, and without Crimea is not worth investing in, it is likely that Putin will reverse split Ukraine with Poland by returning Lviv along with the neo-Nazis.
Tourism will have to come from Russia not from the west.
Once Crimea votes to rejoin Russia do the current residents get to repatriate to Ukraine? Will US and western europe take them as political refugees? Does the Crimean border become the new Berlin wall? Political refugee status for Crimeans could effectively depopulate the place.
If Crimeans are unhappy with their affiliation with Russia can they hold additional referenda to return to Ukraine?
Short answer to all your questions: No !
To your questions:
1) Yes, anyone who wants to leave can go. But if they own Crimean rental property, they don't get the rent. If they stay, they can collect the rent.
2) Will they be accepted as political refugees? Not Russia's problem.
3) Does the Crimean border become a Berlin wall? No reason why it should if people can leave when they wish, without taking assets (other than via bitcoin).
4) Why would political refugee status depopulate the place. The majority are going to vote to become part of Russia.
5) If they want to change their minds at a later date, I would think Russia might consider it -- provided they pay for all the aid about to flow and the billions required to break the navy base lease.
"If Crimeans are unhappy with their affiliation with Russia can they hold additional referenda to return to Ukraine?"
If the Southern States wish to leave the Union, would they be allowed?
I was in Sevastopol last summer. Most tourists were from Russia. I could not find any English map of the city. And people who speak English were in real short supply even at hotels and other places.
There was a signboard that said it was put there using a donation from the U.S. That explanation was the only thing in English. Everything else was written in Russian.
The area and its people were quite nice.
If Texans are unhappy with their affiliation with US can they hold referenda to return to independence?
Why not?
russia got a warm water port for a few packs of smokes.... Black sea resorts boomed during the soviet days and crimea will be no exception.
Exactly....guide Crimea to prosper...
wait for other regions rise from the coming depradations.....
though further far west idiots will never learn..different dna
Crimea was a popular summer resort in USSR, back when it was actually part of Russia, so I don't know what all the fuss is about when all it does is return to where it was little over 20 years ago. It hasn't even been that long!
I think Putin knew that NATO in Ukraine was a foregone conclusion. It was already backed into the Maidan cake. It seems that Putin simply struck first instead of waiting for the Ukraine to simply hand over Sevastopol to NATO.
As for being "cut off", it's not really that big a problem considering that most of the east and south are in near revolt now as it is. It might not be as "landlocked" as you think it will be.
ukraine itself has been on lifesupport for a long while.
lol, like the rest of Ukraine is far better
And not least, Obama talking shit for over an hour over the phone.
Seriously that must be painful, knowing Obama's gonna call again.
Like talking to a concussed person who keeps asking "what happened?" - so you tell him and two minutes later he asks "what happened?", and he keeps asking over and over, until you just want to tell him to shut up.
Translators can probably tidy up "look moron, you started it, I ended it" to sound nice though, so Putin's got that at least.
Is the show over? Nope, just time to change channels.
what is there to vote? just check the statistics of how many russians live there, that will be the vote. 56% yes
right wing and turkey supported tatars might have a different opinion and might try to cause a conflict just before the referendum but russia is taking over the border guard to prevent at least the right wing nuts from permeating crimea.
Kadrov announces he is ready to send Chechen forces to Crimea for support Crimea to fight any Shaitans (devils)
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2014/03/ukraine-sitrep-march-11-1350-est-and.html
Also...moderate Tatar leadership have pressured for moderation. Tatar population there should much better off than before.
The Amazone drone delivering their nuke went missing.
Terrorists probably, the irony.
Wow, what a suprise....says no one.
Game, Match, Set!
God I hate being an American at this stage.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/03/10/putin-speaks/
Game, Match, Set!
Is that like Ready, Fire, Aim?
For more than 3 1/2 minutes and without a teleprompter....
America can be seen right here on ZH, where 99% are blathering morons.
This is America,... does PUTIN respect ZH, AIPAC,... fuck no.
What does ZH respect? /sarc, /snide, /stupid,
Sort of like a little boy with matches, ant's a toilet bowl and matches, he can humor himself for a long, long time.
Will the American people ever grow up?
Hell no, its going down and hard, and the Bamiists are going to get fucked very hard and and there livers will be eaten.
People don't eat liver anymore, do they? Jeez, that would be like eating the oil filter on your car.
"Will the American people ever grow up?"...
"No" but if they don't very soon I wouldn't want to be any Western European Nation that borders Russia because when we start the next one as we did twice before in the last 69 years there isn't going to be anything on this planet worth living for whether the U.S., Canada and Mexico get destroyed or not by a group of ballistic missile submarine(s).
We are that dangerous by virtue of the voters apathy and ever higher thresholds of tolerance to the most corrupt and deranged leaders on the planet.
Thanks for the link. That interview was something else. Putin makes the Americans look like a bunch of children playing with matches while the adults are distracted with something.
If I came from Mars and only knew there was Ukraine, America and Russia, and I had to decide who I supported based on recent statements and actions from all sides, I would long to live in Putin's Russia.
Very sad indeed.
How's that Budapest Memo workin out for ya now?
My kingdom, my kingdom for a nuke ;-)
POOR SUCKERS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH TOO WELL
"Western powers have been careful to note that Ukraine, not being a member of NATO, has no automatic claim on the alliance to defend it."
Didn't stop NATO in Kosovo or Libya.
The first act of a sovereign (individual or state) is to be able to defend itself.
They gave it up (more properly said, had it stolen from them) for a piece of paper and all the good intentions of useful idiots of the world. With the collapse of the Soviet empire, the Ukraine had the third largest strategic nuclear force in the world...larger than Britain, France and China combined.
The former "communist" Putin wouldn't be so brazen if they still had it They play a long game, not a short one and not all of us here were born yesterday.
A piece of paper, diplomacy in fact, stole their sovereignty long before these events ever happened.
Excellent point.
Had some of those nukes stayed in the country, with the level of corruption in Ukraine, some of them would probably be unaccounted for by now and showed up somewhere else.
As I wrote in another post, parents don't give kids matches for a reason. They can burn themselves, or worse, the whole house.
Certainly I understand the "stated motivation" for getting them out. Conversly, most fair minded people would agree that the Ukraianian government has been nothing but a succession of one corrupt politician after another.
But not having an adequate defense has led to where the Ukrainian people are now.
I disagree. It is the bolded part of your sentence that led them to where they are, not lack of nukes.
Putin is as crooked as a dogs hind leg and he hasn't nuked anyone. As long as we're speculating on what might have been, who do you think the Ukrainians might have sold one to...had they not been suckered into giving them ALL up?
oh, they still have a nuke.
it's called Chernobyl.
Putin’s leadership frustrates Washington and makes Putin a candidate for assassination.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/03/10/putin-speaks/
Now, they'll kill Putin like previously, they killed Kennedy?
Georgia.... check
Crimea.... check
Easy pickings.
Now on to.......
turduckistan
Hahaha. Oh yeah, one more, Olympics.... check
Do they need to re-state the Olympic medal count? I mean, let's get to the heart of the matter here.
The fucktards at State are trying to cut their losses and hold on to as much of the Ukraine as possible. Maybe the war starts in Odessa?
Beware the tunnels of Odessa.
Follow the pipelines.
The six steps to tyranny
Step 1: fund NGO / check
Step 2: fund & promote anarchy / check
Step 3: plunder assets / check
Step 4: deny, assert fault, create false flag / in work
Step 5: invade and confiscate land / pending
Step 6: prosecute & imprison / pending
Exactly. Claims that the US policy has failed may simply be a misunderstanding as to the actual goals of said policy. We keep doing it over and over again and getting the same results. Sure, if our stated goals were our true goals, our foreign policy couldn't be more incompetent. Which would tend to indicate our true goals are something different. Needs are being met.
Oh it is worse than that:
Step 7: Loot everything (anything left after Step 3)
Step 8: Offer IMF loans to enslave the populace forever.
Step 9: Raise taxes plus austerity cuts
Step 10: Pass many new laws to criminalize everything
Step 11: Make sure to pay cops and military
I wonder what happens when Russia pushes further toward Kiev.
Can't help but think this situation is being negotiated through back channels. I wonder what the outcome truly is and not just the data that is fed to the masses.
Translate of negotiations through back channels "come, we will shove it up your ass in real".
The right-wing loons Ukraine were steely smart on this -- get in power, no matter what, cut whatever deal needed, stay there. Their base skews toward Lviv any way and fascists are always parochial, preferring power in a small space to influence in a much larger one. Next up, those EU loans and natural gas contracts with Western oil companies.
Putin strategic end goal was amassing hundreds of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine Eastern boarder, invading Crimea with a reported 16,000 men, tanks, helicopters and warships. Cutting off Ukraine's ports. The West as weak as it is, hoped that the Russian ruble will collapse and stocks (y'know market forces style) - so they wouldn't have to inflict sanctions, they get an hour of selling, then Putin does his master play, calls an 'invasion, not an invasion', the West (UK/Germany) responds with this 'this cold war is not a cold war' = markets rally. The West won't do anything, nor Obama.
That's our world. Seneca warned Rome with this bullsh*t behavior/denial, same deal...The barbarians are not at the gates, they're already here.
Bullshit...Crimean citizen want protection and rights, planned to have fair vote..no worry.
They don't want experience depradations from Russian hater crazies who already showed their colors..
You ever listen to yourself?
Let's see what happens.
yeh...even after...Russia must sleep one eye open.
President is likely more in danger than ever.
There are doubles.
All the time.
I f*cking hate propaganda where ever it comes from. Right now Russia is spewing a sh*tload.
You seem to savor the taste of the propaganda you vomit.
Obama comes out of this even worse than expected ... which is pretty fucking bad given everyone expected a POS loser mongrel like Barry to come out with a very sore ass and russian sperm running down his chin.
Putin, we in Texas love you. Come help us secede from these despotic assholes in DC, man.
Not enjoying that constitutional republic so much any more in Texas? If secession doesn't work out for you, you could move to Russia. You get much more of Vlad over there.
imagin all those beautiful russian girls on every finger !
Rescue IL first. Chock full of spineless Dems here. Should be a breeze.
Let's see the results of the 402-7 vote and who the Magnificent Seven were.
....soon dead or fleeing?
It seems that when the Ukrainians did their live fire tank drill today, an important realization dawned on them. Their weapons are Russian and require ammo that comes from...Russia.
Shoot at a Russian..they shoot back..
I think that greater influence on decision making here...
Destroy sewage treatment and water treatment and kill millions of children in middle east.
Do that shit near Russia and Russia brings it home to America.
Correct, america is the GUY that kick's puppys, but would never kick a grown up dog.
*
We should thank god the the DOG's of the world, are just sitting back and letting the USA run itself into the ground, and of course the USA will even sell itself once it hits bottom.
The smartest thing that RUSSIA/CHINA can do is NOTHING, nobody can FUCK the USA quicker than it can fuck itself.
When goes full turn, if you LIVE in the USA run like hell, cuz its going to fucking IMPLODE.
If the US is going to impose sanctions, then Putin might as well take all of Ukraine.
Dressed up like a billion-dollar trooper (adjusted for inflation)
Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper
(Super duper)
Come let's mix where Rock-a-fellas
Walk with sticks or umbrellas
In their mitts
Putin on the Ritz!
Here you go... MsCreant: Putin on the Ritz!...Sparrow Hill, Mockba Russia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMphMomzBHw
+1
No Trayvons anywhere in that crowd. Nice kids having fun. No attacks or knockout games or robberies. It looks like America in the 1950s. Cute girls too. And no f**king tattoos either.
The irony is Russia has a growing middle class so Putin on the Ritz is probably a good song.
Obama-Trayvon Amerika is a song about the poor eating rats out of the garbage when the dollar fails. Not a happy tune Americanski comrades.
USSA is shit.