Why the eruption in Kiev could set off a tsunami that will engulf us all...

The London Daily Mail ^ | February 22, 2014 | Mark Almond

[2ndDivisionVet]

Television pictures of revolutions can make them seem like a spectator sport.

Having Vitali Klitschko, the world heavyweight boxing champion, playing a starring role in the events in Kiev reinforces that impression.

But the implosion of the Ukrainian state in the last 48 hours is a political earthquake.

Chaos in Kiev could set off a tsunami that will toss Western Europe from its moorings too.

It is a mistake to think we are watching from a safe distance.

Maybe Ukraine is as foreign to the British people today as it was when an obscure crisis on its southern coast in Queen Victoria’s reign became the Crimean War.

But not since the 1850s has this country come so close to colliding with Russia.

Ukraine sits on the fault line dividing Eastern Europe between pro-Western and pro-Russian views. Her people are split over attitudes to the old imperial capital, Moscow.

That divide is now opening up as pro-Russian districts in the East such as Kharkov and Crimea refuse to accept the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych celebrated in Kiev.

Civil war would be a tragedy for Ukraine’s people. But what makes the crisis so dangerous is the international dimension.

Since the collapse of Communism in 1991, the US and its European allies have seen keeping Ukraine independent of Russia as a key result of victory in the Cold War.

For Russians, losing Ukraine was a huge blow....

[wardaddy]

The irony and contradictions of this conflict threaten to engulf history books

Former communist entity and superpower commie big brother

Now arguably less leftist than the euroweenies trying to usurp Russia’s in house neighbor

Western media...progressives or neocons all....not much difference on foreign policy really

Laud these Euromaidans as folk heroes

But if one looks who they really are and who’s behind them....Soros....US state dept.....western leftists

And that they are seriously armed

You realize once again this is no “spring” and our media and govt are idiots

Russia offers sweetheart deal but we push for Euro Union crap and who’s more lefty

Putin or Euro Union

Now the Ukraine will divide but they can’t split the pipeline so I see full scale war coming and Brussels will clamor for treating Russians like Serbs

But Russians are a lot bigger and I don’t blame them for wanting Ukraine to stay in the fold

This will likely end poorly and our govt.... and media will have helped screw it up

One calls human rights ...the other nation building

They are enamored with the partially victorious rebels as freedom fighters or....lord is the west poorly led

[ken5050]

The danger here, IMHO, is if Putin decided to send Russian troops into the Ukraine, under the guise of sending them south to “protect” the big Russian naval base..

[Southack]

People have no idea. We haven’t been in this much danger of the balloon going up since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[PA Engineer]

True, not that much. On the other hand there are numerous pipelines in Ukraine, feeding Europe with Russian oil and gas.

I agree with you. Geopolotics often is based on economics. Gasaprom is driving the Russian position. If we had a true representative in the WH, we would be excellerating the CNG conversion of the refinery in Philadelphia, and pipelines for Marcella Gas in Pennsylvania. Secondly, we would be supporting and defending the Israel and Cyprus gas developement.

This alone would benefit both the US and Europe by undercutting Gazaprom rates by at least 50%. I always first follow the money before nationalism. Russia will not go easy when the primary source of foreign exchange is disrupted.

[hosepipe]

Its comin’......

[867V309]

Putin or Euro Union

There's the rub. I think the EU is every bit as evil as Russia. In fact, I think the Russian people have a deep yearning for capitalism and freedom, whereas Europeans seen hooked on dependent socialism.

[Beowulf9]

“People have no idea. We haven’t been in this much danger of the balloon going up since the Cuban Missile Crisis.”

But this time we have a jerk for a leader.

[jocon307]

“Who thought that the assassination of a relatively minor Hapsburg would start a major world war?”

yes, that’s always the thing, isn’t it?

I’ve never made a serious study of WWI, but I’ve read enough about it to conclude that it is unlikely I’ll ever understand it.

And it was the end, the very end of the world as it had been (with minor erruptions like the American and French revolutions) for hundreds if not thousands of years.

In a way we may still be living in its upheaval.

So, yes, while I don’t think it’s likely that what’s happening in Ukraine will affect us, I wouldn’t rule it out.

[867V309]

“People have no idea. We haven’t been in this much danger of the balloon going up since the Cuban Missile Crisis.”

But this time we have a jerk for a leader.

Do you really think Obammy is calling the shots?

[Beowulf9]

“Do you really think Obammy is calling the shots?”

Not if it’s not on his teleprompter.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Every corrupt government especially ours should pay attention

[ResisTyr]

You would be wrong. I have a very good friend who is Russian & lives near Moscow. A large portion of the population want things back the way they were before the wall fell & ripped apart their country. But they realize that Putin is their best option. Spend some time on Russian blogs (via Google translate) & you will see the truth.

[SeminoleCounty]

Of course, no one thought about siding w Ukraine until Russia started banning Homosexual activity....all this “save Ukraine” is just the Gay Rights folks looking for another way to whine about Russia “not being gay”.

You saw none of these articles on Ukraine until after Russia passed its law...and you have a lot of leftist folks on here siding w liberal media, EU, Soros, Obama, on Ukraine

[Enterprise]

It IS chilling when we consider that the people of Ukraine want closer ties with the EU and Nuland is saying .... the EU. Is she perhaps voicing support for Putin?

[SeminoleCounty]

You get what’s going on in Ukraine...

Scary is a lot of folks on here support the liberals overthrowing a lawfully elected govt....and a lot of folks supporting the US liberal media version of everything.

[867V309]

A large portion of the population want things back the way they were before the wall fell

As large a portion as the socialists in the EU? And I doubt the old USSR satellite countries yearn for communism/socialism.

[SeminoleCounty]

Or...voicing George Soros frustration with the EU not moving fast enough...

Obama supports the EU/Soros/Liberal Globalist in Ukraine

[Enterprise]

"Le Monde newspaper has labeled the familiarity with which she referred to the leaders of the Ukrainian opposition (”Yats” for Arseniy Yatsenyuk, “Klitsch” for Vitali Klitschko) as clumsiness and even arrogance."

Pretty much describes the Obama Administration from top to bottom.

[Enterprise]

I get your point. Nuland could be frustrated that the EU and Ukraine are not yet joined, for lack of a better word. It’s going to take me a while to fully understand this situation.