Posted on 03/03/2014 7:32:11 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Full scale war with Ukraine (if not all of NATO) is still a possibility, and it is a bad idea to leave pockets of surrounded but armed enemy troops behind your lines.
If the Russians threatened Western Ukraine, NATO would not be able to keep the Poles from going in.
Putin does not want to be loved. He wants to be feared and respected, as a world leader and a man you do not cross. Ukraine dumping the Kremlin puppet was a blow to his status and reputation. He had to act to show he is still boss. Syria, Olympics, Crimea are perfectly consistent.
I predict that the US will go to the G8, so Obama can again push the “reset” button with Putin and negotiate more arms reductions. At that time, Russia will have the southeastern half of Ukraine under its control.
For that analogy to work, a Russian conquering of Ukraine would trigger World War III. I don't think that would happen. Ukraine is closer to 1939 Austria.
Biden told him that every mother in the Ukraine had told their kids that if Russia knocked them down, get back up and fight!
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