visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/Mar-05/249309-russia-seizes-2-ukrainian-missile-defense-units-in-crimea-interfax.ashx#axzz2v2fnniga Russian forces seize part of Ukrainian missile unit: Ukrainian ministry Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Russian forces had partly occupied a second missile defense unit in Crimea on Wednesday, but insisted the missile depot was still under Ukrainian control. News of the partial seizure in Cape Fiolent, near the city of Sevastopol, followed an earlier announcement that a base in Evpatoria -- further north but without missiles on its grounds -- had come under partial control by pro-Moscow forces. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-prepared-to-place-unilateral-sanctions-on-russian-officials-businesses/2014/03/04/ffe8f76a-a3bd-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html U.S. prepared to place unilateral sanctions on Russian officials, businesses The Obama administration is prepared to take unilateral steps to sanction Russian individuals and business entities it holds responsible for corrupt and illegal behavior in Ukraine while it moves to persuade its European partners, some more reluctant than others, to consider more substantive sanctions to directly affect the Russian economy, according to senior administration officials. The officials declined to provide a timeline but said Tuesday that Russian actions over the next few days would demonstrate whether President Vladimir Putin has any interest in an early de-escalation of the situation in the autonomous Ukrainian region of Crimea. Even as it tried to provide Putin with a face-saving way out, the administration publicly challenged his stated reasons for deploying thousands of Russian troops across Crimea, where they have surrounded government buildings and military installations. In statements of disbelief bordering on ridicule, President Obama and Secretary of State John F. Kerry dismissed Putin’s assertions that his troops are protecting ethnic Russians in Crimea threatened by pro-Western Ukrainians who took over the country last week in what Putin called a “coup.” “Mr. Putin can throw a lot of words out there,” but “facts on the ground” tell a different story, Obama said following a Putin news conference in Moscow. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/world/europe/in-eastern-ukrainian-city-a-tug-of-war-for-more-autonomy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimesworld&_r=0 In Eastern Ukrainian City, a Tug of War for More Autonomy Pro-Russian demonstrators demanding greater independence from the central government overcame riot police in this eastern Ukrainian city and poured into the regional administration building here on Wednesday evening, retaking it for a second time this week in a tug of war with the local police. Led by Pavel Gubarev, the founder of a local self-defense militia who has declared himself “the people’s governor,” demonstrators pushed past rows of police officers with riot shields in less than a minute, stormed inside through a broken window in the lobby and raised the Russian flag over the administration building. They demanded a referendum to give the region greater autonomy from the interim central government in Kiev that seized power from President Viktor F. Yanukovych last month. Some called for secession and a decision to become part of Russia. The police on Wednesday morning evicted the protesters on the basis of a bomb threat, a claim that Mr. Gubarev called “a provocation” to force them out of the government building. As 2,000 of Mr. Gubarev’s supporters gathered outside Wednesday evening, the police said they would resist any new attempts to capture the building, signaling a growing resistance to Mr. Gubarev’s group. On Monday, police officers calmly stepped aside after negotiations with Mr. Gubarev and allowed his supporters to occupy the building. https://twitter.com/maxseddon Russian university unfires professor fired for comparing Kremlin to Third Reich over Ukraine after outcry http://m.lenta.ru/news/2014/03/05/zubov1/ … 4:15 AM https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak Reuters: around 100 pro-Russia protesters march on headquarters of OSCE observers in Crimea in Ukraine 12:25 PM Off ramp seems to be collapsing as we speak.... https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk Just WAW! RT @Zgama_UA: at least 10,000 Ukrainians in Donetsk now chanting 'Ukraine is united' pic.twitter.com/n0U5fUNpXZ 12:25 PM https://twitter.com/BSpringnote Back and forth battle in Donetsk between euromaidan and pro ruskies. Numbers favor good guys by about 9 to 1. Putin will spend energy here 12:29 PM https://twitter.com/BBCTimFranks BREAKING: Polish FM sikorskiradek tell me on @BBCNewshour Russians refused to meet Ukrainians at Paris talks 1:00 PM https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer Now the protestors are shouting "OSCE go out" and "referendum" Simferopol 12:56 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 You sure? I would think so, depending on specifics. But I was being facetious anyway. (1) Texas isn't any more "autonomous" than any other state. Even though during football season some of us woiuld like them to be. (2) Russia has a lease on it's bases in Crimea until 2042, Ukraine just agreed to that extension in 2010, ten years before their original leasing deal was to run out. and nobody was talking about terminating that agreement early. (3) As for dangerous economic relationships.. Anchorage Alaska is a sister city to Khaborovsk Russia Fairbanks Alaska is a sister city to Yakutsk, Russia Homer Alsaska is a sister city to Yelizovo, Russia Flagstaff AZ is a sister city to Barnaul, Russia Macon Georgia is a sister city to Ulyanovsk, Russia Honolulu Hawaii is a sister city to Kyzyl, Russia We haven't invaded or deployed troops to Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, or Hawaii to stem these dangerous economic relationships. Fundamentally Putin did not understand what was happening here. He jumped to conclusions and invaded Ukraine needlessly. Anybody looking at how well the Ukrainian and Russian militarizes are working together under some very tough times can see they have much more in common than they have which devides them. Ukrainians like Russians, they lived together for 300 years. Texas - see above. Sister city? Really? Putin's perspective is different than ours. The new government of Ukraine isn't democratic and it replaced one that marginally was. I'm sure it's too uncertain for him, and if the tables were turned it would be too uncertain for us as well. THere is a big nationalist contingent in the new Ukraine government that wasn't there before. That should worry him. Our job isn't to make Putin's life easier, so don't get me wrong I'm not on his side, but I can totally understand the steps he's taken so far. Should live ammo start to be used that understanding goes out the window, but to ensure continued use of one of your most important naval bases the steps he's taken so far don't seem entirely unreasonable. For the record, my grandmother came from Ukraine so if I have a horse in the race it's them, but they don't have the best governmental record in the best of times. Anyone know why it's Ukraine now and it was always 'The' Ukraine when I was growing up? Same goes for Crimea. I know Ukraine means border region or marches so using 'the' makes sense to me in that respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 Whoa wait a second, the new government is totally legal and democratic. Unlike the bunch in Crimea everything was done by the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Whoa wait a second, the new government is totally legal and democratic. Unlike the bunch in Crimea everything was done by the book. That's not a universally held opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 No, but it's the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 No, but it's the truth. Fair enough. I think it's really only important in so far as the stability, or lack thereof, of Ukraine's government is important to Putin with respect to keeping their agreement on the naval fleet. There are enough right winger nationalists in the new government that Putin isn't sure they will keep the agreement and it's not something he can chance. I'm trying to get in Russia's head here and be reasonable in assigning motives to them. Certainly Russia, with their 'official' reasons ranging from protecting Russian speaking Crimeans against a phantom menace or protecting their ability to speak Russian without reprisal, is not being helpful to my efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 There are some nationalists involved in the parliament and in the protests, but so far the government is mostly moderate old school capitalist and pro-Europe liberals. https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak Chancellor George Osborne says assets being frozen across the EU of 18 Ukrainians suspected of misappropriating Ukraine state funds 1:25 PM https://twitter.com/mpoppel REU: NATO’S RASMUSSEN ANNOUNCES REVIEW OF ALL NATO COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA OVER EVENTS IN UKRAINE 1:28 PM https://twitter.com/AndersFoghR We suspended planning for 1st NATO-Russia joint op: maritime escort for US ship Cape Ray which neutralizes Syria CW 1:24 PM No staff-level civilian or military meetings w/ Russia for now – decisions to be taken by NATO ForMin in April 1:24 PM We want to keep door open for dialogue & maintain ambassadors meetings in NATO-Russia Council 1:25 PM I have just chaired a frank meeting of NATO-Russia Council & asked Russian Ambassador to convey our message to Moscow 1:25 PM We also decided to intensify NATO relationship w/ Ukraine. I’ll meet PM Arsenii Yatseniuk tomorrow to express our support 1:25 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR Journalists wait outside business lounge where UN Sec. Gen's spec. envoy R. Serri was taken to by pro-Rus. activists pic.twitter.com/zXVEeyseRO 1:13 PM Journalist try to get comment from pro-Rus. activists holding UN Sec. Gen's spec. envoy R. Serri captive in airport pic.twitter.com/wNIgUPm6pY 1:23 PM Customs officer just entered business lounge where pro-Rus. activists hold captive UN Sec. Gen's spec. envoy R. Serry in Simferopol 1:36 PM https://twitter.com/nickschifrin Serry now in business lounge blocked by pro-Russia militia members. Agrees to fly out at 935 local. Only flight at that time is to Istanbul 1:12 PM https://twitter.com/AngusM1966 Breaking from AFP Russian and Ukrainian FMs both at French Foreign Ministry. Looks like there will be some sort of talks on Crimea crisis. 1:40 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Putin's perspective is different than ours. The new government of Ukraine isn't democratic and it replaced one that marginally was. The basis of the new government in Ukraine is the parliament. The same parliament which was the democratic basis of the previous government. The same parliament which impeached the previous president nearly unanimously, and appointed the new president. The same parliament which has called for new national elections in May. How is that not Democratic? Putin isn't sharing with us his perspective, or even a perspective. Putin is trying to obfuscate the truth, and taint peoples view of what is happening with made nonsensical facts which transparently favor Putin. That's not a universally held opinion. If you ask a bank robber who's money he's holding his opinion might vary from everybody else in the community too. Does that make the bank robber's opinion reasonable or worth considering, beyond the determination he broke the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I tell you, the longer this goes on the more I think "just give it to him" Russia wants Crimea. Crimea wants Russia. Not sure what business that is of the international communith. I mean, the Crimean sheeple cant wait to please that prick. Let it happen Careful, the libertarian in you is shining through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I'm trying to get in Russia's head here and be reasonable in assigning motives to them. Certainly Russia, with their 'official' reasons ranging from protecting Russian speaking Crimeans against a phantom menace or protecting their ability to speak Russian without reprisal, is not being helpful to my efforts. You have to kind of think like a poorly adjusted two year old playing with blocks. He sees a block he wants... he takes it... then if somebody complains he starts crying. Putin did not need to take Crimea in order to secure the Black Fleet's home port. Ukrainians liked the Russians. They just gave them a 30 year lease extension on those bases in 2010. There were no troops dispatched from Kiev, no imminent threat to that base when Putin decided to deploy 8-16 thousand masked gunmen / soldiers into Crimea. I think the reality is Putin sees this through the glasses of the cold war. He see's Ukraine drawing closer to Europe as a threat. That is a delusional paranoid and xenophobic view. Especially considering Europe is already Russia's most important trade partner and that relationship has transformed the Russian economy over the last 20 years. The reality is Ukraine will always be a close country to Russia, trade, economy, culturally, language.. The real shame of this Russian activity is if the EU was successful and was able to help transform the Ukrainian economy then it would have drawn Russian in too. Benefited Russia too. Enriched Russia too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss_Hogg Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Russian lawmakers are drafting a law that would allow Russia to confiscate assets belonging to U.S. and European companies if sanctions are slapped on Moscow, Russian state media reported. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/europe/ukraine-russia-tensions/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Yeah, Russia. Threaten to escalate a trade war between Russia and the worlds economy. That'll hurt the rest of the world more than it hurts you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 https://twitter.com/AmbassadorPower Why is it that an unarmed mediator representing the UN Secretary-General is stopped and seriously threatened by armed forces? 12:47 PM As I said to UNSC, only someone who fears the truth would be fearful of monitors with specific mission of identifying and reporting truth. 12:50 PM https://twitter.com/mpoppel REU: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO NATO SAYS ALLIANCE APPLIES “COLD WAR” STANDARDS TOWARDS RUSSIA 1:49 PM https://twitter.com/NabilAbiSaab UN just confirmed that Robert Serry is "taking a late flight" today out of Crimea, "will shortly return to Kiev" 1:55 PM UN: Robert Serry to return today to Kiev to continue his mission that was cut short by today's incident. 1:57 PM https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak Reuters: Kremlin says President Putin and German Chancellor Merkel have discussed possible int'l efforts to improve situation in Ukraine 2:05 PM https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak Sergei Lavrov says after meeting John Kerry that they agreed Ukraine Govt and opposition need to stick to February's EU peace deal 1:18 PM Reuters: senior U.S. official denies earlier Russian report & says no agreements made at Paris meeting between John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov 2:08 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 THere is a big nationalist contingent in the new Ukraine government that wasn't there before. That should worry him. There really isn't. There was such a presence in the protests, but the new President and all the leadership of the new government are moderates who posed no threats to the status qua with Russia. Putin had no reason to be worried beyond the fact Ukraine was going to join the EU. Which fundamentally does not change their close ties to Russia at all. It's not like the EU can replace the oil, and natural gas which Ukraine buys from Russia today and will tomorrow regardless of how all this mess turns out. Should live ammo start to be used that understanding goes out the window, but to ensure continued use of one of your most important naval bases the steps he's taken so far don't seem entirely unreasonable. Given the fact that Russia's "important naval base" is inside of the Ukraine; Putin's actions are not only unreasonable but they are stupid. First let's just be clear... To invade another country you've had good relationship with it's entire existence is not reasonable. It's not reasonable to land 8-16000 uniformed troops in somebody else s country and deny they are your troops because they have a mask pulled up over their faces. Putin is not at all being reasonable, he's being authoritarian and paranoid.. not reasonable. Putin is being stupid because he has fundamentally undermined his position with his most important trade partners. Partners who make Russia more secure ultimately. Undermined his relationship with the Ukraine too. Anybody want to guess where the pipeline which feeds Europe all that expensive natural gas runs through? Ukraine.. Yeah, Russia. Threaten to escalate a trade war between Russia and the worlds economy. That'll hurt the rest of the world more than it hurts you. Forget the Trade war... The Russian Parliament look like they've stolen the intellectual property of the American Tea Party... Unilaterally defaulting on debt? And stealing private assets to boot? That is really going to encourage future lending and private investments in Russia. I would love to see what the Russian stock market looks like the day after they pass that bill. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iQbdDxXvXb_yN2maW7r2O3EbdfzA?docId=f468e16a-74ac-4d88-995b-fc89ab5f175a Lavrov leaves French ministry, no meeting with Ukraine FM: western diplomat Paris — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov left the French foreign ministry on Wednesday without having held a hoped-for meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, a western diplomat told AFP. Lavrov had been pressed by the US and its allies to meet Ukraine's Andriy Deshchytsya as a signal of Moscow's willingness to de-escalate the current stand-off with the West over Russia's actions on the Crimean peninsula. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/world/europe/us-seeks-to-reduce-ukraines-reliance-on-russia-for-natural-gas.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimesworld&_r=0 U.S. Seeks to Reduce Ukraine’s Reliance on Russia for Natural Gas The crisis in Crimea is accelerating Obama administration efforts to reduce Ukraine’s dependence on Russia for natural gas, part of a diplomatic push that seeks to undercut President Vladimir V. Putin’s ability to use his nation’s gas supplies as a weapon. Republican leaders on Capitol Hill and major oil companies have urged the Obama administration to speed up the nation's first exports of natural gas. Although environmentalists, some Democrats and American manufacturing companies that depend on the competitive advantage of cheap domestic natural gas oppose the effort, they have fallen to the sidelines in the rush to export the gas. At the State Department, an initiative to promote the sale of American natural gas in Europe, underway since 2011, intensified this week as Gazprom, Russia’s state-run natural gas company, said it would no longer provide gas at a discount rate to Ukraine. Russia supplies 60 percent of Ukraine’s natural gas, and the move was reminiscent of Russia’s previous moves, in 2006, 2008 and 2009, to shut off natural gas supplies to both Europe and Ukraine. The administration’s strategy is to move as aggressively and swiftly as possible into the European market, undercutting Russian natural gas sales and any moves by Mr. Putin in future years. Although Russia is still the world’s biggest exporter of natural gas, the United States recently inched ahead of Russia as the world’s largest natural gas producer. https://twitter.com/attackerman MEANWHILE, Pentagon says it's sending F-15s & a tanker to the Baltics & increasing air training in Poland. Obviously aimed at Russia. 2:29 PM yeah, put better: aimed at reassuring the Baltic/Polish NATO allies against any additional Russian incursions. 2:31 PM https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak Reuters: U.S. official says Pentagon to send six additional F-15s to Baltic air policing operation 2:38 PM https://twitter.com/jamesmatesitv UN Envoy Robert Serry confirms to itvnews that he's on his way to Istanbul Wants to 'have a sleep, and then brief the UN Sec Gen' crimea 2:53 PM https://twitter.com/jamesmatesitv Ukraine Economy min tells me Russian PM Medvedev spoke to acting Ukraine PM. Said other ministers in gov talking to Russian counterparts. 2:58 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I tell you, the longer this goes on the more I think "just give it to him" Russia wants Crimea. Crimea wants Russia. Not sure what business that is of the international communith. I mean, the Crimean sheeple cant wait to please that prick. Let it happen The problem is the Crimean people weren't in favor of succession until Russia had operational control of the peninsula. The way a province succeeds is not typically when a neighboring country invades, occupies, and appoints a leader who only garnered 4% of the last local election. And of course the problem with doing nothing about this is doing nothing will encourage him to be even more brazen in the future. Guys willing to invade and impose their solution on other countries aren't placated by success.. They are emboldened by success. If you don't exact a cost, this behavior will continue and will worse. Think of Putin as a 5'5" Bully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearrock Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 And of course the problem with doing nothing about this is doing nothing will encourage him to be even more brazen in the future. Guys willing to invade and impose their solution on other countries aren't placated by success.. They are emboldened by success. If you don't exact a cost, this behavior will continue and will worse. Think of Putin as a 5'5" Bully. Yeah. I hope the world doesn't look back 50 years from now and say "We should have stopped Putin at Ukraine". I think Chamberlain and appeasement gets somewhat of an unfair treatment in history (not that it was ultimately the right choice, but perhaps not completely off the rockers at the time considering the circumstances), but appeasement inaccurately assumes that everyone can be placated and there are reasonable limits to imperial ambitions. All it takes is one madman to throw that assumption out the window. And no one announces that they are a madman to the world until it's too late. In the end, the world has got to find a way to stop this behavior. I would not advocate military actions at this point, but if the cost is paying higher prices for natural gas or turning off the lights, well, the rest of the world is going to have to suck it up. Despite all the bluster, I think coordinated sanctions would end up being way worse for Russia then for rest of Europe. And to all the European countries thinking we'll just look the other way this one time, your choices may get a lot worse the next time somebody decides to flex their imperial muscles. Global economy has given coordinated countries unprecedented power to levy damage at other countries through non-military means. It's time to use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeesburgSkinFan Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Offshore odds to win World War III: USA (-800) Russia (+500) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 https://twitter.com/CdnPress BREAKING: Canada to send observers to unarmed military mission in Ukraine, will impose sanctions on regime of fugitive President Yanukovych 2:49 PM https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer First reports coming in that Russia troops besieging Ukraine army bases Belbek & Perevalne have left and been replaced by "Cossacks" 3:15 PM https://twitter.com/Kateryna_Kruk sorry, but after what happened to UN envoy in Crimea td I'm officially afraid ab.my country. Putin's actions are simply outrageous 3:16 PM https://twitter.com/ReutersLive Kerry has begun remarks in Paris - watch live video here: http://reut.rs/13ClIvQ https://twitter.com/McFaul US (as of last week - former) ambassador to Russia Russia govt.,champion of critical role for UNSC on international issues, chases out UN official from Crimea. 3:22 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pez Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 We all know (and I would assume the world knows) what Russia is after..... Crimea. Yes, there has been an extended agreement made with the Ukraine that allows russia to maintain some of their bases there, but I have feeling Putin and other Higher rankings from Russia are not so sure that the agreement will last under the new Government. I am not sure exactly happens when a country undergoes a change in government, such as if previous deals/treaties basically become null and void, or if the new government has to honor them until new deals are made. It sounds as if Putin was given a chance to end this, but is too headstrong or believes it will make him look weak. I hope for Ukraine's sake that this will end peacefully with Russian forces leaving without resistance. Because their ownership of the Crimean region I am sure helps the success of their economy (Never underestimate the value of key lands particularly when they provide access for trade or other uses - ex: Panama Canal). The U.S. and some of it's closest allies I am sure are all in favor of sanctions against Russia, but I could see some of the members of the EU and/or NATO dragging their feet and disrtupting the "united front" I also am not quite sure how large of a population there in Crimea is pro-russian and if that would be any influence on the outcome on that area's future. I do not quite understand how members of a country would be so open to another country taking them over. If their love with Russia was so deep to the point that they would invite invasion, why did they not attempt to move back to their homeland before this event? Another part of me wonders if these reports aren't in fact being staged by some of the russians spreading propaganda. Very confusing situation and it will be interesting to see what is true and what is not as this unfolds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Offshore odds to win World War III: USA (-800) Russia (+500) The US DoD probable spends as much money on IT as Russia spends on it's entire military... $90 billion... It's probable close. My bad, we only spend about $62 billion on IT in the DoD.. that I can see roughly... General DoD IT budget about $40 billion http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/2014-budget-request-dod-it-and-disa/2013-05-12 NSA budget of $10 billion http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/07/news/economy/nsa-surveillance-cost/ DISA budget of $12 billion... http://www.disa.mil/About/Our-Work/Budget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I am not sure exactly happens when a country undergoes a change in government, such as if previous deals/treaties basically become null and void, or if the new government has to honor them until new deals are made. You should ask Fidel Castro that question and reference the American base in Guantanamo Bay and our perpetual lease to that base granted in 1903. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=341265 US warship given go-ahead to traverse Turkish Straits Turkey has granted authorization for the passage of a US warship through the Turkish Straits to the Black Sea, an official speaking on condition of anonymity said on Wednesday. The ship is expected to travel through the straits within the next few days, the official added. Turkish media reported on the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in a Greek port, but the official said that a different US ship was set to pass through the Straits, but that he could not reveal its name. The passage of the US ship comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over Russian military incursions in the Crimea peninsula in southern Ukraine and hints of a larger invasion of Ukrainian territory following the toppling of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich in the wake of anti-government and pro-EU protests. http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6768 Meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Vladimir Putin, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev held a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Ukraine is the key economic partner for the Customs Union. We are united by close industrial and trade ties. Ukraine belongs to the CIS free trade zone. We are very concerned by the extreme situation unfolding in Ukraine. The Ukrainian economy is going through an extremely difficult crisis. There may be negative consequences for the Customs Union market as well. Thus, we need to think together about measures to take in order to prepare our manufacturers and exporters, and develop the framework for further cooperation with Ukraine. We certainly need to do everything to help our partners out of the difficult situation in which they find themselves today. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/05/hillary-clinton-calls-putin-a-tough-guy-with-a-thin-skin/ Hillary Clinton calls Putin ‘a tough guy with a thin skin’ Former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered a more measured assessment of the unfolding crisis in Ukraine on Wednesday after having likened Russian President Vladimir Putin to former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Clinton seemed to step back from her remarks on Tuesday that Putin’s actions in Ukraine were akin to Hitler’s aggression in the 1930s prior to World War II. In a Wednesday speech at the University of California at Los Angeles, Clinton said Russia had violated international law by invading Crimea and that Putin’s actions were a “deep concern” to the United States and its allies. “As for President Putin, I know we are dealing with a tough guy with a thin skin,” Clinton said. “I’ve had a lot of experience, not only with him but people like that.” http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20140304/NEWS08/303040031/OSCE-sending-military-observer-mission-Ukraine OSCE sending military observer mission to Ukraine Acting at Ukraine’s request, the United States and 14 other nations on Tuesday formed a military observer mission intended to monitor the tense Crimea region, and a U.S. official said the team planned to leave within 24 hours. Daniel Baer, the chief U.S. delegate to the Organization for Security and Cooperation, told The Associated Press that each country was contributing two individuals. But with more OSCE member nations expected to join, he said the mission could grow beyond its present strength of 30 people. The 57-nation OSCE works on consensus, so most monitoring missions would have to be approved by all nations, including OSCE member Russia. But a provision of its regulations allows member countries to ask others to send unarmed military monitors in case of emergencies, and Baer said that Ukraine made use of that rule. OSCE officials responsible for minority rights, freedom of the media and representing the head of the organization already are on the ground in Ukraine, and Baer said they were en route to the Crimea on Tuesday night. A senior OSCE human rights official planned to join them Wednesday, he said. This was before their headquarters in the Crimea was blockaded by pro-Russia protesters earlier. https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak John Kerry following meeting in Paris: "we cannot allow sovereignty of Ukraine to be violated", Russia has made the "wrong choice" 3:30 PM https://twitter.com/SalmaCNN After days of blockading a Ukrainian military unit in Perevalne, Crimea, 600 troops, widely accepted to be Russian soldiers left the base 3:34 PM https://twitter.com/GlobeRowland JohnKerry says Russians want negotiated settlement to Ukraine. `Russia indicated that they would prefer to see us find that path.' 3:45 PM JohnKerry: This is hard tough stuff and a very serious moment. I would rather be today than where we were yesterday. 3:47 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR RU military are withdrawing blockade in some units but "Putin's tourists"remain and are threatening the families of marines 3:54 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR 39 russian trucks left territory near MilitaryBases in Perevalne, Feodosiya& Bakhchysarai. However, 'Putin's tourists' stay -InfoResistance 4:30 PM https://twitter.com/HannahAllam State on Putin: Haven't seen such 'startling Russian fiction' since Dostoyevsky wrote ''The formula 2 + 2 = 5 is not w/out its attractions.” 5:00 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 http://www.topendsports.com/sport/tennis/men-v-women.htm EU offers $15 billion in aid to Ukraine The European Union announced Wednesday it will offer Ukraine at least $15 billion (€11 billion) in aid as the country struggles with dwindling cash and a military standoff with Russia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 The problem is the Crimean people weren't in favor of succession until Russia had operational control of the peninsula. The way a province succeeds is not typically when a neighboring country invades, occupies, and appoints a leader who only garnered 4% of the last local election.And of course the problem with doing nothing about this is doing nothing will encourage him to be even more brazen in the future. Guys willing to invade and impose their solution on other countries aren't placated by success.. They are emboldened by success. If you don't exact a cost, this behavior will continue and will worse.Think of Putin as a 5'5" Bully. So the fear is Putin will send Russian forces into other countries that want to be annexed by Russia? Like I said, let it happen. The fact that no shots have been fired should be a major clue to anyone with an opinion on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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