Why Putin is dictating terms to Kerry on Ukraine

CNN ^ | April 11, 2014 | By Simon Tisdall

[Jim Robinson]

London (CNN) -- High-level talks to defuse the Ukraine crisis, due to be held by the U.S., Russia, the EU and the Kiev government next week, amount to a big personal test for John Kerry after a notably accident-prone first year as U.S. President Barack Obama's secretary of state.

Kerry's State Department failed to see the Ukraine crisis coming and may have inadvertently helped to provoke it. They pushed too hard as the EU moved to cement closer ties with the former Soviet republic. Then, when Ukraine's elected, pro-Russia president was forcibly overthrown, the U.S. barely concealed its satisfaction.

The conviction that Washington deliberately engineered the Kiev "coup" predictably enraged Russian President Vladimir Putin. He decided he would try a bit of direct intervention of his own. The result was last month's annexation of Crimea and the apparent, continuing Russian military threat to eastern Ukraine.

There is a bit of a pattern emerging here...

Out of touch...

[Verginius Rufus]

The Republican Party started as the "anti-Nebraska" party--in reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which opened up the possibility that new slave states might be formed in areas which slavery had been banned by the Missouri Compromise. They stood for the "free soil" position--to stop the spread of slavery in the hopes that that would doom the institution, but not trying to interfere with it where it was already established.

I think on the whole their economic policies resembled those of the Whig Party. Lincoln was a big admirer of Henry Clay.

Ironically, Nebraska has voted Republican in Presidential elections most of the time, except in landslides like 1936 and 1964. (Of late the district system has allowed the Democratic nominee to win one electoral vote in Nebraska.)

[The Sons of Liberty]

Why Putin is dictating terms to Kerry on Ukraine

Because Vlad has a pair and J F'ing Kerry and Hussein 0bama are Ken dolls.

[Monorprise]

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.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

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.

[TADSLOS]

Those Spetznaz boys get around.

[Monorprise]

The same thing happened in West Virginia during the “Civil War”. If it was legitimate for the ‘union’ it must be for Russia.

That said I have no pretense about there not having been a fair election. I was just saying if there were it would be the only legitimate way to decide Crimea’s fate.

[Monorprise]

The same thing happened in West Virginia during the “Civil War”. If it was legitimate for the ‘union’ it must be for Russia.

That said I have no pretense about there not having been a fair election. I was just saying if there were it would be the only legitimate way to decide Crimea’s fate.

[TomasUSMC]

NOBODY pushed to hard. In politics, you and the opponent push very hard. The problem is if one decides that the military approach is to be used. That must be deterred immediately. If it isn’t then it is encouraged.

odumbi is a damn cheerleader for Putin’s insanity.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Why is Putin dictating? Because he can.

[The Public Eye]

There have been all too many foreign policy “Surprises, Caught Unaware, and Didn’t see it coming.” Why do we have a CIA? Why do we have an NSA? And why are we paying that guy who’s supposed to be giving King Barrak the First his daily intelligence briefings? Does anyone know if he’s getting briefed at all these days?