Ukraine Crisis

[bullmoose88]

I think the key fact, obviously, here is that Ukraine for better or worse isn't a NATO member. (Duh, I know).  If Putin decided to use his Putin Doctrine (hey, did I just invent a term?) to justify sending the Russian army to protect Russian minorities in say, the Baltic states, that's when the proverbial inks hits the fan. (turn and burn baby)  I highly doubt that he would, but the man has surprised me before.

[bullmoose88]

Ukrainians repelled that Russian landing attempt, while Russia vetoed a UNSC resolution declaring the referendum illegal.

I think it's time for President Obama to ask for a Declaration of War against Russia (Which we know he won't, but it's not the Ukraine can really hold for more than two weeks if Putin puts some effort into an invasion.)

If you're sincere about this, you better decide and practice the pose in which you would like to be etched into the sidewalk.  The West isn't going to turn and burn for Ukraine.  Moscow knows this.

[bullmoose88]

According to Al Jazeera, the Russian line on the Strilkove incident is that they were trying to prevent a "terrorist attack" on a gas plant.  (The implication was also that the Russian troops are still there.)

A "pre-emptive strike" against "terrorism"? No wonder Bush liked what he saw in Putin's soil.

I don't see what dirt, earthworms, and shrubs have to do with this.

[bullmoose88]

I'm really interested to see what China does from here on out...

[bullmoose88]

The level of naivety of Westerners is sickening.

Do tell.

[bullmoose88]

The level of naivety of Westerners is sickening.

Do tell.

Well, everyone here seems to assume than Putin is rational and mentally sane. I'm not sure at all of that.

I think he's correct in inferring that the West will not shed blood over Ukraine because it is not obliged to do so.  The sane/rational part will come into play if he decides to use the Putin doctrine to step into the territory of a nato member.