The Crimea is Russia's REAL "red line." Note I said Crimea, not Ukraine.
Crimea was part of Russia for over 200 years, since the 1780s, until Nikita Khrushchev literally gifted it to Ukraine in 1954 in order to purchase the support of their party bosses during his accession after the death of Stalin.
Before Russia, it belonged to the Ottoman Empire, now defunct. Before that, it belonged to the city-state of Venice, going back to before Columbus discovered America. But the Crimea was NEVER part of Ukraine, until Khrushchevs unilateral gift."
(Imagine if President Eisenhower, as a dictator on his own, gave Long Island and NYC to Connecticut as part of an internal United States political deal to secure CTs critically needed support during a contested election or coup. That is how Crimea became part of the Ukraine.)
In 1954, the political gift of the Crimea was an internal USSR matter, not an international matter. Ukraine was then the Ukraine SSR, within the USSR. In 1991, the USSR broke apart, and Khrushchevs personal gift suddenly mattered. But despite the gift and the fluke that led Crimea to become part of the modern sovereign nation of Ukraine, Crimea has always been 90%+ ethnic Russian, and as always, it contains Russias most critical naval bases, air force bases and sea ports.
In fact, Crimea is far more Russian than Hawaii is American. Its foolish and naïve to believe that the Russians will risk losing the Crimea during a period of chaos in greater Ukraine.
If you want to see Russia's REAL "red line," threaten their control of the Crimea, and its naval bases and seaports. I'm not supporting Russia's position, I just want folks to know that this is a much more complicated picture than "Evil Russia invades poor innocent Ukraine," which is the kindergarten/MSM version of Crimean history.
Sorry Travis, too much history and common sense, you must be a Communist Russia sycophant, and Putin lover.
Nailed it. Consider making that a standalone vanity post.
“I’m not supporting Russia’s position, I just want folks to know that this is a much more complicated picture than “Evil Russia invades poor innocent Ukraine”
Yes, considering that the vast majority of those in Crimea and eastern Ukraine don’t want to be a part of Ukraine anyway and would much rather be a part of Russia. The scores of Russian flags and the singing of the Russian national anthem should be a clue to the West.
From our POV we have a known traitor in the SecState chair bloviating about "serious consequences" that aren't anywhere serious enough to dissuade Russia. We can't even be certain what Kerry's true motivations are. He may drag us into some mess to purposely do further harm to the U.S. There is no reason to think his boss isn't directing him to do just that.
What about the hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tartars that Stain had transported and put in camps? Almost half of them died. I guess it’s ok for us to tell the Ukraine to give their left leg to the tiger in hopes that the tiger will be satiated. That worked so well in 1938.
Absolutely great synopsis. Well done.