[DoughtyOne]

You actually call that a monitored vote in Crimea? Seriously?

It was run by the Russians, counted by the Russians, and reported out as something like 95 to 98% in favor of joining Russia.

Then you talk about all the infractions of the Ukrainians, but forget to mention tens of thousands of Russian troops on the border, and Russian operatives taking over Checkpoints and at least one city.

Would you fault the U. S. if Mexico or Canada were pulling this routine on us? Evidently so...

[McGruff]

It was run by the Russians, counted by the Russians, and reported out as something like 95 to 98% in favor of joining Russia.

Kind of sounds like how Ukraine's new government operates.

[grania]

I would praise the US gov (for a change) if they put troops on our border with Mexico, and I would expect Mexico and Canada to put troops on the border if there were difficult situations that could spill over from the US.

As far as that vote is concerned, I remember reading that the European monitors said the vote was without abuse. And I also read that the European monitoring group condemned the Ukraine not airing Russian TV.

Like I wrote earlier, let the Kiev gov prove your point with a popular vote.