Posted on 04/15/2014 2:07:36 PM PDT by tcrlaf
The sharp escalation of the Ukraine crisis virtually puts the country on the brink of civil war, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a telephone call.
Putin and Merkel discussed the upcoming Ukrainian crisis talks between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and the US, scheduled to be held on Thursday in Geneva.
Merkel’s press office noted that, despite some differences of opinion, the upcoming talks were the main focus of the telephone conversation.
(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...
Certainly that's their right, but does it make sense for NATO or the US to go to war on Russia's doorstep on behalf of Ukraine -- a significant portion of which favors an alliance with Russia? That's what is at issue here.
Do we threaten Mexico or Canada with annexation? Of course not. Ask that question when we do threaten Mexico and Canada.
Do the battles of Monterrey, Tabasco, Veracruz and Chapultepec or the American military occupation of Mexico City ring any bells? We invaded Mexico in the 1840s and then "annexed" most of what is now the Western US. And just prior to WWI, President Wilson ordered the US Army into Mexico during the "Punitive Expedition" of 1916-17 -- which was actually our intervention into the Mexican Civil War.
During the War of 1812, we invaded parts of Canada since they were British soil and launching points for British attacks on American territory and shipping. And on many occasions throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, we have intervened militarily in numerous Central and South American countries when it served our interests.
So Russia must do what we say, and not what we do?
Do the battles of Monterrey, Tabasco, Veracruz and Chapultepec or the American military occupation of Mexico City ring any bells? We invaded Mexico in the 1840s and then "annexed" most of what is now the Western US.
1840?
It's 2014.
We are making no threats to annex Mexico.
So Russia must do what we say, and not what we do?
You've not made that point.
In a court of law, that would be their right. But the real world is not a court of law, so Georgia was forced to fight for that right -- which it did, and lost. Did anybody really expect Russia to tolerate the flag and troops of a hostile alliance on the east coast of the Black Sea? Really?
What is at issue around the Black Sea is not any pure concept of right and wrong -- there is plenty of each on both sides. What is at issue is power politics and the strategic military interests of Russia along its southern borders. Whoever doesn't like it must ultimately either live with it or challenge it on the battlefield. I argue that it is not our fight.
Perhaps we got all the land we wanted back then -- California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado!
Seriously, we aren't making any threats because Mexico has not formed any military alliances with our enemies. If Mexico City made a mutual defense treaty with Beijing and allowed Chinese troops, planes and warships along our border, we might behave differently toward our southern neighbor. And why wouldn't we react to such a threat to our national security?
~No.
Saakashvili served his full second term as president all the way to the end of 2013. The War was in early 2008. He didn’t “lose” his last election. He wasn’t eligible to run for a third term.
He didn’t “flee” Georgia.
Most of his administration isn’t jailed or wanted.
Russia didn’t “install” a new president in Georgia.~
Saakashvili says he will not return to Georgia
http://news.yahoo.com/saakashvili-says-not-return-georgia-160812902.html;_ylt=AwrBEiFGPE5Ts3wA_k7QtDMD
Georgian prosecutors summon ex-president Saakashvili
http://news.yahoo.com/georgian-prosecutors-summon-ex-president-saakashvili-163052716.html;_ylt=AwrBEiFGPE5Ts3wA.k7QtDMD
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