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I agree nonetheless, the political math is on Putin’s side, has been sense day one ironically for exactly the same reasons Sarah Palin predicted it would be.

Obama is too weak, indecisiveness, and generally poor in judgement to do anything, he proved that in Syria, Egypt, and Iran. All opportunities to make a meaningful and positive difference squandered.

Putin being a sound political calculator simply observed and took advantage, as any good national leader would. Russia now owns Crimea again and I don’t see that changing. It is of course worth noting that Crimea had only belonged to the Ukraine for the last 60 years, prior to 1954 Crimea was part of Russia.

So its not exactly as big a culture shock or historic footnote as people might think here on the other side of the world.

Honestly I don’t care about the allegiance of Crimea. That is a matter that should be exclusively the province of the people of Crimea. Let them have a vote to decide what their region should do. Short of that I am more inclined to allow Russia to take back Crimea than I am to do anything about it.

Crimea did not have a referendum, really, at least, not a real one. At least 30 to 40 percent could have been depended upon to vote against it, but results were in the 90s in favor. There were photos of children voting, pre-filled in ballots, and, of course, the whole process was overseen by Russian forces. I'll also remind people that the Crimean "Prime Minister" was member of a fringe Russian unity party with only 3 members, who became Prime Minister by walking into the Crimean Rada and declaring himself so, and making it very persuasive with the men behind him holding grenade launchers. We cannot consider what happened in Crimea to be in any way legitimate, and it is likely that, if Russia invades the eastern half of Ukraine, we will see a similar "referendum," but only after everything is under their control.

Speaking of Russian forces, one of the Russian Spetznaz goons, posing as a "concerned citizen" in Crimea, appears to be operating now in Sloviansk.

That weapon, by the way, is also a RU Sniper Rifle, apparently limited production from 2006.

Mene mene Russkie, the writing is on the wall.