With Ukraine in turmoil, Hagel can’t get Russian counterpart to take his calls

Washington Times ^ | 4-25-2014 | Maggie Ybarra

[tcrlaf]

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has been unable to get Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the phone amid escalating tension near the country’s shared border with Ukraine.

Mr. Shoigu announced Thursday that Russia planned to engage in a new series of military exercises near the Ukraine border. The military move, he said, is in response to ongoing NATO training exercises in Poland and the death of at least two pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Friday that Mr. Hagel has been trying to communicate with Russian officials but has yet to hear back from Mr. Shoigu or anyone else. Pentagon officials have reached out to Russia on Mr. Hagel’s behalf within the past 24 hours, according to Col. Warren.

“We have made it clear to the Russians that Secretary Hagel is available for a phone call at any time,” he said. “We have reached out to them and made it very to them that he is willing to speak to his counterpart there at any time.”

[familyop]

"That is so completely wrong its frightening. Study up on current nuclear doctrine and Rand studies"

Some organizations are more concerned with libertine social trends and international, civilian idealism. Others design and produce hardware. It's understandable, though, that reading much lefty bilge can induce irrational fears. What's more, nuclear conflict is survivable for for the vast majority--even soldiers.

The West has been saturated with nonsense about hypothetical nuclear exchanges since the '80s (not to mention the political games played about feminism, queer-ism, etc.). And no, the West is not getting rid of useful weapons. Lifelong civilians and rear echelon folks have isolated from realities with pretty, televised hogwash for a long time except for the few, who pay closer attention to the tangible and physical (hardware, for one).

What's wrong is encouraging expansionist enemies by rhetorical cowering and allowing them to invade other countries. That's what will quickly lead to nuclear exchanges. Criminals refuse to consider consequences, though, and don't care about what happens tomorrow. They only care about getting paid today.

[familyop]

"Weapons are only destroyed on the ground if we have a leader who is willing and able to act fast enough. Obama is no such leader by any stretch of the imagination.

We will be lucky if Obama even fires back after 3 weeks of UN deliberations regarding the nuking of half our cities."

He's a civilian at heart and in experience. He's only along for the ride. I reckon Ivan already sees the traffic overhead, just as Charlie does. There's nothing they can do about it but complain and be blowhards.

[familyop]

"Putin is making strategic moves to acquire territory and expand Russian influence.

Playing the west west’s ain’t war stupidity to its limits. Putin will make slow gains here and there, but he won’t start a war with the west, and if he does he will quickly back out with a settlement.

In the end Russia gains territory and the economic influence that comes with it while the west settles for peace."

That and the rest of the same comment: very well said. Agreed.

With no large physical action imminent, Obama and his political associates here and in other NATO nations can retreat through diplomacy, which may be more dangerous for us in the near future (foreign buildups and intentions). And yes, that's what expansionist nations want.

But expansionist nations sometimes go through with conventional, physical surprises. Allowed to do so again, the situation will intensify and buildups everywhere will follow. But that's happening now, which leaves the question: are time, economics and morale on their side or ours? It appears that we are flunking in morale and economics at the least.

[familyop]

Our most encompassing and general doctrine is this: losing is unthinkable. That knowledge is no secret, although many folks adverse to defense like to ignore it. No socio-political organization is going to change that, although such entities may get nods to abominable, civilian social doctrines in socio-political circles and media—pretty much what the weirdos and manhaters receive.

[rbmillerjr]

“Ukrainians are not our countrymen, we have no compact of mutual defense of their rights. If we did then we would be apliged to go and defend it.”

You miss the point. Completely.

The US and NATO are not going to fight in Ukraine. That doesn’t make Russia’s illegal annexation and provocations and more accepted as naked aggression and Hitler-like steamrolling of weaker nations.

If it is none of our business and acceptable for Russia’s big Govt. to do this, it is entirely acceptable and none of our business when the US big govt. steamrolls the rights of our citizens.

Your contention that Crimea should vote on it’s fate is absurd. It is the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Russia illegally annexed it and it has nothing to do with voting.

[Gay State Conservative]

Why won't they take our calls? One word:

FLEXIBILITY

When Vlad heard that word he *knew* he was dealing with a weakling.And still not a *word* of apology to either Governor Palin *or* Governor Romney for having clearly told Osama Obama what Vlad was all about.

Hey,Obama...it's the 1930's on the phone...they want their policy of weakness and appeasement back.

[Monorprise]

““Ukrainians are not our countrymen, we have no compact of mutual defense of their rights. If we did then we would be apliged to go and defend it.”

You miss the point. Completely.

The US and NATO are not going to fight in Ukraine. That doesn’t make Russia’s illegal annexation and provocations and more accepted as naked aggression and Hitler-like steamrolling of weaker nations.”

I don’t know where you been living all your life, but
1: Their ain’t no law between nations, therefore their ain’t no lawbreakers between nations.
2: Country’s only tend to get involved in the affairs of other nations if they see something in it for themselves or at least their leaders, or they are obligated by treat to do so.

As far as I know we ain’t got no treaty obligating us to defend the Ukraine. The Ukraine is not a member of NATO. So unless we got some pressing need to keep Russia out of the Ukraine I don’t see how its worth our time and money trying to stop them.
The cold war is over, russia isent commuist anymore, at least no more than the Federal goverment is.

“If it is none of our business and acceptable for Russia’s big Govt. to do this, it is entirely acceptable and none of our business when the US big govt. steamrolls the rights of our citizens.”

As a matter of note when the Federal Government steamrolls over our rights No foreigner is going to raise a finger to help us unless that Foriginer;
A) Has something to gain by Bashing the US and
B) Is not afraid of Washington’s reprisals.

If we needed their help we would have find a way to make it in their interest and probably compromise Washington’s ability to intimidate them out(As Washington did during the ‘Civil War’).

“Your contention that Crimea should vote on it’s fate is absurd. It is the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Russia illegally annexed it and it has nothing to do with voting”

Well now its a “Sovereign Territory” of Russia and there need not be any voting. You obviously have a very different understanding of Sovereignty than I do. I say legitimate Sovereignty ultimately belongs to the people that live there, who they associate with is their legitimate choice. There is no “Magical” organization that owns the Ukraine, its simply the people that live in the Ukraine ultimately down to the smallest governable community.