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Posted on 03/01/2014 1:29:54 PM PST by Errant
Moments ago Interfax reported that two Russian anti-submarine warships have appeared off the coast of Ukraine's Crimea region, violating an agreement on Moscow's lease of a naval base, according to a Ukrainian military source as saying. Then again what else would a Ukrainian military source say. The source added that the two vessels, part of Russia's Baltic Fleet, had been sighted in a bay at Sevastopol, where Moscow's Black Sea Fleet has a base.
So imagine two extra anti-sub ships off Sevastopol in the map below which until this latest update from Contemporary Issues and Geography, was keeping an accurate running update of all the most recent developments in the staggered Russian invasion of the Ukraine.
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
Putin thought this one out —all his ducks are in order. He even got permission from the Duma (also set up) How is the Russian Media spinning this? He will snap up what he wants. What can we do? We will not have the ability to move and act swiftly—its like 1914—this could be the dawn of WW III if cooler heads don’t over react.
Spiraling out of control!
Hey, don't stop there, Israel was even smaller and did win!
Unfortunately, the Ukraine isn't overly populated by either Germans or Israelis - no offense to the folks living there. What I'm saying is there is a diverse population living there; many are even Russian (at least in the east). For a David verses Goliath fight, you must have strong bonds between the people to have a hope of winning.
That could very well be the outcome. It sounds like half the country wants to align with Russia anyway, so perhaps that would actually make everyone concerned happy. The other half (Western half) can be free to align with the EU (which I'm not sure is real wise either).
No, it isn't. Vlad has it fully under control.
A “velvet divorce” wouldn’t be the worst possible outcome.
"On the initiative of the US, a phone call took place between Vladimir Putin and the President of the US, Barack Obama. Under discussion were the various aspects of the extraordinary situation in Ukraine. In response to the concern expressed by Barack Obama regarding the possible use of Russian armed forces in the Ukraine, Vladimir Putin drew attention attention to the provocative, criminal acts of the ultranationalist elements, in effect encouraged by the present authorities in Kiev. The Russian president stressed the existence of real threats to the lives and well-being of Russian citizens and numerous compatriots located in the Ukraine. Vladimir Putin underscored that should the violence spread further to the eastern regions of the Ukraine and the Crimea, Russia reserves the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population living there."
I’m not fooled. I’m pointing out that at least Putin PRETENDS there is a legislative branch. I guarantee you that if obama decides to act militarily, he will NOT go to congress. And don’t be surprised. This has already taken obamacare off the front pages. But our troops involved in this quagmire will take obamacare off the front pages for a long time.
Is it likely that the Ukrainian army enters a ‘combat’ zone or do they simply bottle up the Russians in the Crimea?
I have to think the latter initially and we’ll see from there. Putin doesn’t want a hot war. He wants a fait accompli such as in Georgia.
Why? I thought that went pretty well for Czechoslovakia. It was peaceful, and both sides would up joining the EU eventually.
Russia has no interest in occupying Ukraine - it would have to take over responsibility for housing, feeding, clothing and looking after a part of the population that hate their guts.
No one in Russia wants the army to get bogged down in a European Afghanistan. And even pro-Russian ethnic Ukrainian Russophones don’t necessarily want to become part of Russia.
There is always that element that it could. I'd say it depends on the west and what they tell those currently running the show in the Ukrainian government and the military and if NATO comes to their aid, which I doubt NATO will do now.
You're welcome to your opinion. I disagree and feel I'm in good company with Palin and Romney thinking the same as I about what Russia's plans are.
It is becoming clear that Putin has been planning this for some time. OTH 0bama’s a few days ago intelligence was telling him that Russia would not go into Ukraine. Putin is playing chess, 0bama is Googling the rules for checkers.
Let me remind you - Ukraine is practically bankrupt, it has an obsolete military and it needs a through revamping to become part of Europe. And it has to start from scratch.
Oh - and where will the money come from to help them rebuild?
Russia has reserved the option to use force but it hopes it does not have to exercise it.
Right now Ukraine is the failed state of Europe no one wants.
In 2014, no other country will risk coming to Ukraine's aid, and most don't care.
Can the Ukrainians in 2014 defend themselves any better than the Poles could stop the Russians in 1939?
Certainly helps explain yesterday’s “happy hour” celebration & this admin’s post-2012 election increased flexibility demo (US involvement) and explains his royal highness’ absence from today security briefing.
What Putin may be after is a Ukraine that is just as subservient to Russia as Belarus is. He doesn't need formal reunification with Russia. If he gets his way, he only needs to cow Kazakhstan into submission and he will have effectively recreated the Soviet Union, minus the Baltic nations and some Central Asia republics that aren't that much use to him.
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