...” he could do so with raw force”.....
What raw force? His military was already there...and under perfectly legal agreements could have 25,000 troops in Ukraine at any time of his choosing....the people voted....chose to go with Russia...the Ukraine Military left their bases and the Russian authorities took over....all without force.
So what raw force are you referring to?
Further Busloads of Crimea citizens recently returned from Russia where they were of course wined and dined and honored at the Kremlin.....since when do you overtake a nation forced upon and then take them to dinner?
Natural the world now wonders if they might loose those who would want to join another nation....and here we are....things have certainly changed....and so has the entire dynamics of the European World Order.
Because the Soviets have no history of fixing elections.
I wonder if you actually believe what you what you write. The massive infiltration of special troops IS a great example of raw force. The immediate intimidation of innocent defenseless people and that sham referendum are things you seem proud of??? The sinking of a ship to block movements is force. And perhaps you too are part of the misinformation campaign.
Right.
Nothing like that has ever happened before.
Except in Northern Ireland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, the Middle Eastern Lands conquered by Muslims, ...
The Sudenten Germans were considered complete pariahs by Hitler...
[Marty Feldman quality eyeroll.]
The RF occupation of Crimea by armed goons without national insignia is use of force regardless if any shots were fired.
since when do you overtake a nation forced upon and then take them to dinner?
In many nations ethnic enclaves exist that might behave like some Crimean Russian ethnics. That does not legitimize the occupation.