Ukraine
This is pretty heavy...
I like this perspective from the WP. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...39c_story.html -spence |
Putin was made to look like a fool at Sochi. This is his attempt at redemption.
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There are enough Russian nationalists in Ukraine to warrant protective measures. We are always telling other nations what to do but I have a feeling if the shoe were on the other foot we may be whistling a different tune. Do you honestly feel if Block Island chose to become independent we would wish them good luck?
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Primarily this appears to be about Putin trying to stop the power shift towards the EU. His bribe to the former president didn't appear to work as planned... -spence |
Security is paramount and breeds some odd partnerships.We exploit countries every day to protect US interests.Does that make it wrong?
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-spence |
" Obama would be wise to seek Russia to defer Russian aggression without
specifying too clearly what the US ladder of escalation might be." Ignatius, WP. Putin is in the catbird seat carrying the "Big Stick" and will do what he wants. We have become like Casper the Ghost carrying a tooth pick and planning to cut our military in half. True peace comes from strength ,not weakness, without it there is nothing to negotiate with. |
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But I still look forward to making a fishing trip happen this year. Please bring Nebe to translate, I often don't understand what you are trying to convey. |
:rotfl:
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-spence |
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Aside from China it looks like there's already strong alignment between the US and EU. It's amazing how fast the Right jumped on the opportunity to divide Americans. I'll give the GOP this, they haven't proposed any meaningful policy in a decade, but their one liners are priceless. -spence |
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List the "meaningful " Democrat policies By that I mean good ones Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
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-spence |
I hope this Ukraine thing doesn't continue in the obvious direction it's heading .Your dear leader might have to sit in on a security council meeting or two .
I believe Ukraine is loaded with natural gas . This has nothing to do with Russian nationals . That's an excuse to invade . We've seen it before Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
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[QUOTE=spence;1033929]Nonsense. The Russian economy is nothing without access to western banking, trade and his ability to sell natural gas to the EU at a premium. __________________________________________________ _____________ EU will have to want to take the big blows here. __________________________________________________ ______________ Quote=spence It's amazing how fast the Right jumped on the opportunity to divide Americans. I'll give the GOP this, they haven't proposed any meaningful policy in a decade, but their one liners are priceless. __________________________________________________ _____________ Spence get real, this current administration has done more to divide our country then anytime I can ever remember in my life time. Palin and Romney both brought up the possibility of a possible geo political Ukraine issue and were put down by the great forward leftist thinkers. Lets think about the pressing global warming. :) |
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-spence |
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Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
Well thankfully we have John Kerry to guide a path through the shoals here. If that doesn't work, we have Joe Biden in reserve on the bench ready to go. /Sarcasm
This is a fustercluck no matter how it works. Putin was trying to keep a lid on this until Sochi was done. This hit the hot water just after but had been brewing for a while. Ukraine has 4 things important to Russia:
Militarily there are no great options. The Navy cannot get in there (the Turks might not even let us through as they try to figure out are they Muslim or EU/NATO). The Air Force would be playing in Russia's back yard. The Army is nowhere close and what is 1000 miles away is at the end of a Russian railroad for logistical supply. NATO/EU is a near useless shell of a force that could stop the Russians heading west but not much else - the fruits of a peace dividend and near 2 decades of having the US do their heavy lifting. We can't afford it anymore. They are not going to go into Ukraine and have the Russians turn off their heat (they buy Russia's LNG). If I were the Baltics, Poles, and Czech/Slovs, I'd be real nervous. This will at best be settled diplomatically / economically. At worst, if our vaunted elected leaders fail, any other country with a treaty / memorandum is going to be real concerned that we will not meet our obligations. Taiwan / Japan / Philippines / Poland / Balitcs / Israel are all watching this very intently. Crimea is gone, South Oesstia all over again. With luck, Crimea is the only thing lost. They could use the same tactics and get the entire coast from Odessa to the Crimea under their wing and have a small, landlocked Ukraine remaining. This major leadership deficit in our country is gonna hurt us real soon. From both parties. The Titanic Deck Ass Containment Apparatus Rearrangement Team is in full swing. |
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The important negotiations here will be with the EU. -spence |
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But I digress. I may actually agree with the important negotiations being with the EU. If Spence means by that negotiations amongst Russia, the EU, and Ukraine. In fact, those are the ONLY relevant negotiations. And, power to truth, if the EU is not militarily strong enough or morally resolute enough to stand up to the same of Putin's Russia, the "negotiations" may be one sided in results. The U.S. has too long been the military backbone for Western Europe--and NATO. That is not only outside our sphere of influence, but we are, again, in the process of weakening our own military might. Europe, if it wants to stand on whatever it considers its principles, needs to be willing to fight for them. As far as "economic" sanctions--those cut both ways. Besides, Russia has always managed to be outside of Western Europe's economic sphere. And it is forming other alliances rapidly, now, in response to threats against its hegemony in what it considers its sphere of influence. |
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The irony here is that the us stock market is soaring today. That's the biggest "F-U" to Putin we can send. No one takes him seriously.
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What are you talking about? |
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You can't use sayings or phrases unless they have been pre-approved by the diversity kommissars. |
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OOps . . . sorry John . . . I jumped in while you were posting and before I saw it. And I like your explanation better.
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Reminds me why I don't come on this thread much anymore, everyone is so uptight and looking for any reason to jump on someone. PS. Putin is Eurotrash...might as well bring the KGB into the investigation too :devil2: |
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