[Always A Marine]

This is the kind of provocation that could prompt Russia to sweep into eastern Ukraine and be done with it. Throughout history Russia has been invaded through Ukraine, so having this strategic borderland fall into Western hands would be untenable for Moscow. Today the likelihood of anyone invading Russia appears absurdly remote, but nations do not base their strategic decisions upon current assumptions. Things change, and we are threatening the legitimate strategic defense concerns of Russia. Beneath the recycled Cold War jingoism, one is hard pressed to explain why the United States is entangling itself in a distant civil war.

[Starboard]

Good post. I don’t think we fully appreciate Russia’s historical experiences and existential worldview. Not defending Putin, just more or less agreeing with you about what Russia considers as “untenable”, from their point of view. Obama and his merry band of clowns have no idea that Russia has a red line, and means it.

[kabar]

Beneath the recycled Cold War jingoism, one is hard pressed to explain why the United States is entangling itself in a distant civil war.

But it is okay for the Russians to seize Crimea and send train loads of weapons to the so called insurgents in Eastern Ukraine? One could easily make the comparison with what the Russians are doing in Ukraine to what Hitler did in Sudetenland. The Russians are claiming they are protecting ethnic Russians.

Throughout history Russia has been invaded through Ukraine,

Really? What about the invasion of Russia by Napoleon and during the two World Wars. Should the same logic you are using for Ukraine, i.e., Russia's strategic concerns, be also used for Poland, which is a member of NATO?

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for your history lesson. I’m taking the liberty to repost it. Thanks for your service.

This is the kind of provocation that could prompt Russia to sweep into eastern Ukraine and be done with it. Throughout history Russia has been invaded through Ukraine, so having this strategic borderland fall into Western hands would be untenable for Moscow. Today the likelihood of anyone invading Russia appears absurdly remote, but nations do not base their strategic decisions upon current assumptions.

Things change, and we are threatening the legitimate strategic defense concerns of Russia. Beneath the recycled Cold War jingoism, one is hard pressed to explain why the United States is entangling itself in a distant civil war.