Ukraine vs. Russia -- here's what's really going on

FOX News ^ | Feb 28, 2014 | By Peter Brooks Heritage Foundation

[Jim Robinson]

When Moscow tells us that their massive military maneuvers in Western Russia have nothing to do with what’s happening in Kiev it’s like the old Marx Brothers’ routine: Who are you going to believe, me (Moscow) or your own eyes?

Puh-leez.

In fact, while not a major military incursion by Moscow, the ongoing power plays in Crimea manifested in the presence of yet-unidentified, armed Russia-loyalists at two airports could be an ominous harbinger of things to come.

First, Moscow is signaling strength to Kiev, reminding their western neighbor that Mother Russia is a force to be reckoned with. You Ukrainians may be able to change your government—against Russian wishes—but you can’t change your geography.

“Location, location, location” doesn’t just apply to real estate, it matters in geopolitics, too.

Russia is also flexing its muscles at the Europeans and the United States. Moscow is cautioning the “West” that the “East” won’t brook any foolish attempts to bring Ukraine into a European or American sphere of influence.

Remember that the ongoing crisis was precipitated last November when Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich scuttled a trade pact with the European Union in exchange for a competing economic package from Russia, leading to months of street protests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also wants to make it crystal clear that Russia considers any thought of trying to bring Ukraine into NATO a complete non-starter. Indeed, it’s a move Moscow might even go to war over.

[Chgogal]

I thought they would go in during the Closing Ceremonies.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3124497/posts?page=16#16

Gaddafy learned the hard way. We lost a fine pilot on that mission. RIP to both the pilot and Reagan.

[a fool in paradise]

[a fool in paradise]

Those Ukraine girls really knock me out...

[Hot Tabasco]

Since Yanukovich took office in 2010 following a perfectly legitimate election, who is actually behind his removal from office? It certainly isn't the Russians......

When you remember the report of CNN's Eason Jordan, who admitted that for a decade the network had censored the attrocities that were occuring in Iraq under Hussein, one has to wonder if what we are reading about the Ukraine is not more propaganda by our own MSM in order to further this administration's agenda.........

I'm open to suggestions.........

[Jim Robinson]

I don’t know. Communists? Nazis? Sorry, redundant.

[Hot Tabasco]

How does it affect Russian interests?

The Ukraine is rich with newly discovered natural resources and there are forces within that want them to join the failing EU.........

Yanukovich is opposed to that union, and rightfully so, and has instead chosen to accept aid from Russia..............

This is not a typical uprising of the people against the president who really hasn't done anything wrong. Instead, there's a coordinated faction, similar to our past SDS and Weathermen, that is successfully funding and leading the civilian protests that are going on in the Ukraine........

[Hot Tabasco]

I don’t know. Communists? Nazis? Sorry, redundant.

Communists? Nazis? I don't know either. You going to trust the MSM to give you the truth?

We know how that turned out regarding the final disclosure of chemical WMD's to Syria and the uranium that was shipped to Canada don't we?

According to the MSM, they never existed...........

[Tonytitan]

It’s a major vulnerability, economically speaking.

I agree! The thing that would hurt Russia the most is the per barrel price of crude dropping below $70. The Unicorn President - also known as President Hornbreath - would never sign off on American energy resources being brought to bear to make that a reality.

[Prince of Space]

What scares me domestically speaking is Putin putting Zero in his place and dissing him so publically. I’m afraid Zero will be so enraged by Putin’s actions that he’ll take it out on his own citizens in order to prove he’s a badass. Get ready for an avalanche of executive orders and regulations then.

[Grzegorz 246]

Ukraine is a key element to reestablishing (or not) Russia as a major global power. Russia has huge area, thousands of nukes and oil/gas money, what they are missing are people, Russia has population of only 144 million, not enough to be a major global player, that's why they are trying to put together ex-Soviet republics slowly turning them into client states. Ukraine is by far the largest of them, once they get it back (or at least a large part), cold war 2.0 is on (it will be initiated once Russia is strong enough, how the west reacts is irrelevant, Obama could even tattoo “reset with Russia” on his forehead, it doesn't matter, actually appeasement will only speed things up). Gorbi guy didn't shut down the business, he just sold a part of fixed assets to regain liquidity, implement new market strategy and wait for a good opportunity to buy them back. With the west in economic crisis and under weak leadership, the opportunity is now.

[GeronL]

Now some are trying to use a tiny radical movement as justification for partitioning of the entire country. As if we didn’t witness a huge movement in Kiev and it’s Parliament to oust the dictator.

[GeronL]

Parts if the US are heavily Mexican

Parts of Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia were heavily German in the 30’s...

this justifies nothing

[GeronL]

Yanukovich robbed the country blind, they removed him from power legitimately too

[Hot Tabasco]

Yanukovich robbed the country blind,

According to who? CNN?

You may be right but I no longer have any faith in reports the MSM is airing on the Ukraine or anywhere else in this world..........

As I stated previously, the MSM totally ignored what was going on in Iraq under Hussein and they hid the revelation of the chemical WMD's being shipped to Syria and the uranium to Canada..........

The primary question I have is who was behind the riots in the streets and why were they so organized?

The last such insurrection we saw involved a bunch of protesters over a youtube video..........at least that's what we've been told.

[GeronL]

According to every media outlet and the opposition too.

Anyone who would declare the Presidential Palace their private property is a crook, any leader who wants to create their own Constitution is a third world-type dictator.

Who was behind the “riots” in the streets? Apparently millions of Ukrainians.

video report
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26303913

in pictures
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26307745

...

There was no insurrection over a Youtube video.

[jmacusa]

I'm curious as to how it will all go down. I really wonder if the Russians have the stomach for a fight. This isn't Chechnya and these aren't Muslim thugs and second stringers. This is two modern armies with lots of lethal firepower, attack helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, artillery, tanks, the works and anything that does happen will be played out in real time on CNN, Fox, SKY News, the whole world will see this. Putin's nuts if he goes to the mat on this.

[savage woman]

That’s what scary - Putin could be nuts, and we know
Obama is nuts, and they just talked for 90 minutes...

[Carry_Okie]

Crimea is Russia’s #1 concern; I doubt they care all that much about the rest of Ukraine, beyond lip service. But Crimea is do-or-die for Russia.

To control the Dnieper is to control water traffic from the Black Sea to the Baltic.

[Carry_Okie]

Putin holds all the cards except for one: his pipelines are vulnerable to a prolonged campaign of sabotage and civil disobedience. That's not much, but it's something.

Killing the petrochemical cash flow is what brought down the Soviet Union.

[GeronL]

bump