Not all Russian speakers will be loyal to Putin, as well.
Posted on 03/28/2014 2:05:36 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
The United Nations Security Council will meet Friday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine as concerns mount over new details about Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border, including Moscow's reported efforts to camouflage troops and equipment.
The council is expected to meet privately Friday afternoon, a day after the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity and deeming the referendum that led to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula illegal.
The vote came as the Pentagon said there are no indications that Russian forces along the border with Ukraine are carrying out the kind of legitimate military exercises that Moscow has cited as the reason for their controversial deployment in the region, Reuters reported.
"We've seen no specific indications that these -- that exercises -- are taking place," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters.
The Wall Street Journal reported late Friday that Russian troops are concealing their positions and establishing supply lines, stoking fears among U.S. intelligence agencies that have struggled to assess Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans.
Senior U.S. military officials told the newspaper that Russia's efforts to camouflage its forces and equipment could be designed to obscure images taken by American spy satellites or to conceal the location and size of their force from the Ukrainian military.
Another senior military official told The Journal that the Pentagon is concerned that the Russians have moved into place additional supplies, such as food and spare parts, which could support both a routine exercise or a prolonged military incursion into Ukraine.
"They are positioning logistics...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Whatever Stalin and his evil minions did (to both Russians and many other peoples), the Russian people suffered terribly when the Nazis invaded. That the tables got turned on Stalin is a rich historical irony, but millions were killed and murdered for that irony. Besides, Hitler would've invaded Russia no matter whether Stalin was an angel, or the devil that he really was.
Never confuse a people with its government - government is ALWAYS composed at the top of those that are incredibly hungry for power over others.
Russia, being Russia, was not exactly sitting around praising freedom and individuality, when their teammate in conquest and invasion turned on them.
Russians miss their Evil Empire, they even miss their Stalin.
“Why so many Russians still love Stalin To the bafflement of the world, Stalin is remembered quite fondly by millions upon millions of Russians”
“Poll Finds Stalin’s Popularity High”
“Joseph Stalin More Popular In Russia Now Than At End Of Soviet Union, Finds Carnegie Survey”
Russian history, the story of Russians, and history isn’t over yet.
Still, if Ukraine is so comfortable with Putin, what was the point of breaking away from Yeltsin and the Russian Federation?
The Referendum for Ukraine's independence received more than 90% of the vote in 1991.
I think the problem is that until Russia builds a big bridge and other infrastructure over to Crimea, from Russia, Putin needs Kherson / a land route. Kherson is only ~ 25% Russian speaking, probably less (%) Russian (occupation force) supporting. Ukraine already turned off the power to Crimea for several hours, ostensibly to get hostages returned. That effort failed, but it does show that Putin’s move to date is not without its problems for him, even “locally”. Many Ukrainians ARE pissed, now, and if the ultra-nationalists can sieze on that / force a confrontation over access to Crimea, well, who knows.
The other interesting consideration is that Russia’s Black Sea fleet is really only good for bullying their smaller area neighbors. The Italian Navy alone could send it to the bottom. So, why does Putin need Crimea so badly, when he was in little danger of losing the base there anyway?
Tartus, Syria, where the Russians have a Naval Base...Syria isn't exactly the most stable of places these days, so it multiplies the importance of her Black Sea Fleet.
Not all Russian speakers will be loyal to Putin, as well.
See my post 47...
Now, there, I agree with you.
Moles needed. Wish the ones from my yard would work...
FALSE
In three languages: Russian, Ukrainian and Tartar:
Choice 1: Do you support the reunification of Crimea with Russia with all the rights of the Russian Federation?
Choice 2: Do you support the restoration of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea in 1992 and the status of the Crimea as part of Ukraine?
But... That’s the point. There was little danger of Russia losing their bases in Crimea. Ukraine wasn’t going to break that lease unless threatened - even the EU and the Nationalists know they need the money.
Besides, after Maydan, what was most likely to happen (B4 Russia took Crimea)? Tymoshenko ends up as Pres., she’s always been able to work with Putin, what’s the problem? Now she’s pissed, and more extreme elements have a better shot in May’s elections.
Speaking of money, Putin / Russia are going to have to spend LOTS more rubles now, to prop up Crimea, even if things go very well for them from here on out, and no significant military action occurs. And in the long run, while I don’t expect Europe to be energy independent for a long time, they do now see the need for alternatives to Russian supply. Plus, Euro countries surely trust US “protection” even less than B4. A 0.3% increase in defense spending as a % of GDP by Europe would require, oh, at least 1% by Russia to match it, because Europe’s economy is so much larger. Russia would have been much better off simply spending their money on the fleet and other capabilities, without alarming the West.
Something more is at play.
I think one of the long-term ramifications is how the role of Poland in Europe is going to increase as a result.
On that point, I agree. That is also probably not to Putin’s advantage.
Not sure I agree with that.
The crisis came to a head when a moderately pro-Putin government was overthrown.
Long term, it's not clear to me what sort of government will replace the old one.
I think Putin's hand was, to some extent, forced by the political uncertainty in Ukraine.
But, Putin has certainly been opportunistic, too, since Crimea is majority Russian, and Obama is a comically weak president.
Without effective deterrence, the will to use it, and others' belief in our will to use it, "peace in our time" is always a short illusion, isn't it?
Well, supposedly there are Russian statements out there criticizing Yanukovych: They could have regurgitated those after Yanukovych was voted out by Parliament, expressed support for the Ukrainian people and hope to work well with a couple of the moderate pols. They could have not made any threatening moves, and maybe “house arrest” / detain Yanukovych in a nice hotel while “investigating crimes against our Ukrainian brothers” for a while. That would have defused any of the more extreme of the Right Sector types, who have never been a significant political force in Ukraine anyway. The rest, as I said, are sensible enough to have not threatened that lease. “money talks”.
Even if all that failed, Ukraine could not push Russia out of Crimea without a major provocation by Russia to energize the people.
However, Russian paranoia, opportunism, and a greater plan, I suspect, won over a more restrained approach.
Well, that will help negotiations!
In the meantime, the price of natural gas is about to go up in Europe and Ukraine.
The 1992 Constitution declares Crimea to be independent.
Great graphic!
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