mcsluggo Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Steven Segal.. we have a job for you..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD0506 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 If Putin got whacked, even if we had nothing to do with it, it would spark even more nationalistic fervor in Russia and we would be blamed. Probably the worst possible scenario imaginable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Segal works for Putin these days...unless of course he's a sleeper agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsluggo Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 thats what i meant! you can't see the stiletto in in Mr. Segal's hand.. but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulane Skins Fan Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Putin's popularity level in Russia has reached 71.6 percent. That's a 9.7 percent increase since Ukraine began. Putin's wildly popular in Russia... http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/03/13/we-treat-him-like-hes-mad-but-vladimir-putins-popularity-has-just-hit-a-3-year-high/ Obama's popularity level in contrast is like 45%. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll Are we really going to compare Obama and Putin from now on? Would you prefer we elect Putin next time around? Also, I know this is true in the US and I'm guessing its generally true in other major countries, but the president's approval always goes up in war time. I'm sure Bush had like a 90% approval rating at some points early in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. You're looking at a snap shot in time and missing the forest for the trees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/senate-republicans-seek-to-void-imf-money-in-ukraine-aid.html Senate Republicans Seek to Void IMF Money in Ukraine Aid A partisan dispute over the International Monetary Fund will be at the center of the U.S. Senate debate this week on legislation providing aid to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. After a Senate vote yesterday, 78-17, to advance the bill, Republicans say they’ll try to strike language boosting the U.S. share, or quota, at the IMF and implementing a 2010 international agreement giving rising economies more voice. “If the IMF reform is in there, you’re not going to have that strong show of unity from the Congress,” said Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, who said he would offer an amendment to eliminate the language. “Hopefully we can strip that out so that we have as singular a voice coming from Congress as possible.” The IMF provision has slowed Senate consideration of legislation that otherwise has drawn broad bipartisan support. The Senate measure, which Majority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday he wants to complete this week, would provide about $1 billion in loan guarantees and authorize $150 million in direct assistance to Ukraine. http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/201648-dems-eye-dropping-imf-from-ukraine-bill Dems eye dropping IMF from Ukraine bill Senate Democrats are considering abandoning their attempt to include controversial International Monetary Fund reforms in a Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions bill. House Republicans have put up firm resistance to approving the 2010 IMF reform, which may prove successful in getting the language dropped. "It is being discussed," a senior Democratic aide said. The Senate advanced the Ukraine bill on a 78 to 17 vote on Monday, setting up a final passage vote as early as Wednesday.The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday afternoon is poised to report a bipartisan sanctions and aid bill that does not contain the IMF language, which the White House has been pushing for. "[T]his bill cannot pass the House or become law in its current form — it must be amended," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/russia-force-activist-psychiatric-institution-after-quashing-appeal-2014-03-25 Russia to detain activist in psychiatric institution after quashing appeal http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/president-of-all-ukrainian-jewish-congress-rabynovych-tenders-registration-as-presidential-candidate-340827.html President of All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress Rabynovych tenders registration as presidential candidate President of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress Vadym Rabynovych has submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC) the documents for his registration as a self-nominated candidate for Ukrainian president. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/24/ukraine-crisis-russia-bankrossiya-idUKL5N0ML1LH20140324 UPDATE 1-Bank Rossiya asks for foreign currency payments halt after sanctions St Petersburg-based Bank Rossiya said it had asked its clients to refrain from making foreign currency payments to accounts at the bank due to U.S. sanctions over Crimea. Bank Rossiya, described by the U.S. as "the personal bank for senior officials" of Russia, was sanctioned alongside its chairman and largest shareholder Yuri Kovalchuk on Thursday. The bank has $10 billion of assets and numerous correspondent relationships with banks in the United States and Europe, according to the U.S. Treasury. Kovalchuk said in a television interview on Sunday the sanctions had backfired by helping him win new clients among patriotic Russians. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he would open an account at the bank. Bank Rossiya said in a statement on its website on Monday that payments in roubles were unaffected. http://www.people-press.org/2014/03/25/concerns-about-russia-rise-but-just-a-quarter-call-moscow-an-adversary/ Concerns about Russia Rise, But Just a Quarter Call Moscow an Adversary In the wake of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region, public concern about Russia has increased, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Even so, when given the choice, more describe Russia as a serious problem but not an adversary (43%) than say it represents an adversary (26%). Just 22% say Russia is not much of a problem. Since last November, the percentage viewing Russia as an adversary has risen eight points (from 18%) while the share saying it is a serious problem has increased seven points (from 36%). The number of Americans who do not think of Russia as much of a problem has fallen by almost half – from 40% then to 22% today. https://twitter.com/NabilAbiSaab Canada, Germany, Lithuania Ukraine, Poland are cosponsoring draft resolution on Ukraine in UNGA, more countries to join soon - Diplo 11:13 AM https://twitter.com/WilliamsJon Obama on concerns of Russia's NATO neighbors: "Collective defense cornerstone of NATO. We will act in their defense against any threats." 11:31 AM Remember when I said that the Russian takeovers of the military bases were a problem...https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR Rada accepted resignation of acting Defense Minister Tenyukh by 228 votes. 6:33 AM New acting Defense Minister voted for at Rada - Mykhaylo Koval. pic.twitter.com/M1nCSvyvPY 6:40 AM Radio Liberty launched a web site in Crimean Tatar language, editorial board to be based in Crimea: tatar.krymr.com/ 11:32 AM Peskov, Putin's press-secretary: Ukr military free to leave Crimea, whether w/ weapons or not, Rus Defense Ministry will decide. 11:56 AM The Right Sector demand resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Avakov http://bbc.in/1l0XYcH bbcukrainian 12:44 PM https://twitter.com/ReutersPolitics U.S. House committee passes Ukraine bill without International Monetary Fund reforms sought by Obama administration 1:22 PM https://twitter.com/Kateryna_Kruk Last Ukrainian ship that didn't surrender Cherkasy is being stromed by rus. now, they use helikopters 1:17 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR SOS! Ukrainian ship “Cherkasy” is now being chased in Crimea by Russian boats http://tsn.ua/politika/u-krimu-rosiyski-okupanti-namagayutsya-zahopiti-tralschik-cherkasi-341847.html … pic.twitter.com/Tbzuwg7dKe 1:22 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Steven Segal.. we have a job for you..... And now we get into the truly bizarre. from Businessweek.. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-13/vladimir-putins-man-crush-on-steven-seagal Vladimir Putin's Man Crush on Steven SeagalWhen six members of Congress went on a fact-finding trip to Russia in May to learn more about the brothers accused of the Boston Marathon bombings, they sought the help of a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin: Steven Seagal. The aging star of bone-snapping action films such as Hard to Kill and Under Siege took the lawmakers around and arranged meetings with Russian security officials. “Seagal opened some doors,” Representative Dana Rohrabacher, the California Republican who led the delegation, said on CNN. “We got to meet top people.” Wait—Steven Seagal? As it turns out, Seagal and Putin pal around quite a bit. The actor has dined with the Russian leader, gone with him to sporting events, and attended state functions. The two “have long been friends and regularly meet each other,” Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian Itar-Tass News Agency in March. More recently, Seagal has cultivated a side gig as an informal go-between for Moscow and Washington. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/25/barack-obama-russia-regional-power-ukraine-weakness Barack Obama: Russia is a regional power showing weakness over Ukraine President Barack Obama has described Russia as no more than a "regional power" whose actions in Ukraine are an expression of weakness rather than strength, as he restated the threat from the G7 western allies and Japan that they would inflict much broader sanctions if Vladimir Putin went beyond annexation of Crimea and moved troops into eastern Ukraine. Speaking at the end of a summit on nuclear security in The Hague, Obama rejected the suggestion made by Mitt Romney – his Republican challenger in the last president election – that Russia was the United States' principal geopolitical foe. The president said he was considerably more concerned about the threat of a terrorist nuclear bomb attack on New York. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26724081 Lithuania pleads for US gas exports to counter Russia Jaroslav Neverovic said that Lithuania was being forced to pay a "political price" for being entirely dependent on Russian gas supplies. The crisis in Ukraine has led to calls for the US to ease its current restrictions on gas exports. Some analysts have suggested that doing so would help challenge Russia's dominance in the sector. In his statement to a US Senate committee, Mr Neverovic urged members to do everything within their power to release natural gas resources "into the world market". "A law enacted in your country some 75 years ago denies us access to your abundant and affordably priced energy resources," he said. The energy minister said customers in Lithuania were having to pay 30% more for natural gas than other European nations, because they were "beholden to a monopolistic supplier." "This is not just unfair," said Mr Neverovic. "This is abuse of monopolist position." https://twitter.com/Kateryna_Kruk rus.brought explosive mat. to UA ship Cherkasy. Ukarainians barricaded in one of the rooms,we've lost phone contact with them 2:00 PM russia occupants are on UA ship Cherkasy.....smashing everything 2:03 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR Breaking! Ukrainian ship “Cherkasy” stopped moving. Attack has started. All contacts with the crew lost. 1:59 PM 8PM Ukraine time Crimea, shots are heard at Ukrainain ship “Cherkasy”. Russian occupiers already aboard. -ukrpravda_news 2:05 PM The crew of Ukrainianhas been holding up for 2 hours now @ Donuzlavt lake and said they won't surrender -krymrealii 2:19 PM https://twitter.com/RolandOliphant Appears to be Rus policy to hold Ukrainian commanders when the Russians take bases. Yuli Mamchur still missing (via pete_leonard) 2:05 PM https://twitter.com/vplus CNN: Russia has moved an additional 10,000 troops near Ukraine border...total now 30,000 -U.S. official to barbarastarrcnn 2:21 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Are we really going to compare Obama and Putin from now on? Would you prefer we elect Putin next time around? ? That's not what I was doing. Also, I know this is true in the US and I'm guessing its generally true in other major countries, but the president's approval always goes up in war time. I'm sure Bush had like a 90% approval rating at some points early in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. You're looking at a snap shot in time and missing the forest for the trees. Yes after we were attacked on 9/11 Bush enjoyed wide popular support for military action he framed as a response for 911. This included Afghanistan and Iraq. And Yes I think it's informative to know Putin is receiving that same kind of support, and for much of the same reasons for conducting what we in the west would consider an unprovoked offensive invasion on an otherwise friendly neighbor. As I've said, One theory I've heard is Putin's entire Crimea adventure is designed to shore up support domestically and cover up his already slowing economy which has had anemic growth now since their 2009 recession. And ifrom his approval rating it's working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 President Barack Obama has described Russia as no more than a "regional power" whose actions in Ukraine are an expression of weakness rather than strength, as he restated the threat from the G7 western allies and Japan that they would inflict much broader sanctions if Vladimir Putin went beyond annexation of Crimea and moved troops into eastern Ukraine. Seems like every word of that is meant for Russian consumption. Putin's popularity is based upon the perception he's returning Russia to the center on the world stage. To my mind Obama is reiterating the world view here that Putin's actions aren't seen as a threat, that Russia's not a threat, not more important now... That Russia's international role has been diminished not enhanced. I think one problem Obama has in selling this is that in the old Soviet days, Russia was never part of the club West. Excluding Russia from the G8 and other western cooperation councils doesn't have the same effect it would on countries who expected to be included in those meetings. I think the Russians are comfortable with being excluded. I do think Obama tact is correct. He just hasn't found the right note yet. He needs to find something Russia does care about.. The UN's security council seat for example... Give that puppy to Japan and give Russia the boot. That would wake them up. Speaking at the end of a summit on nuclear security in The Hague, Obama rejected the suggestion made by Mitt Romney – his Republican challenger in the last president election – that Russia was the United States' principal geopolitical foe. The president said he was considerably more concerned about the threat of a terrorist nuclear bomb attack on New York. And I agree with Obama here. Russia's not the return of the Soviet Union. We aren't spending $729 billion dollars on our military annually because Russia gives us concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/25/us-russia-military-exercises-idUSBREA2O1KB20140325?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews Russian military holds exercises in breakaway Moldova region: agency Russia's military staged training exercises on Tuesday in Transdniestria, a breakaway sliver of Moldova that is a focus of tension following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region. NATO's top military commander said on Sunday he was worried that Russia might have its eye on Transdniestria, a largely Russian-speaking region that borders western Ukraine, after seizing Crimea, which has a narrow ethnic Russian majority. The Interfax news agency quoted a spokesman for Russia's Western Military District, Colonel Oleg Kochetkov, as saying that Russian forces stationed in Transdniestria had "conducted an anti-terrorism drill and practiced operations to rebuff an attack on their military base". Transdniestria, with a population of half a million, has run its own affairs since 1992 after fighting a brief war against the Moldovan government over fears that it might join Romania after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Russia has a permanent garrison of peacekeepers there. http://bnn-news.com/pro-kremlin-forces-launch-activities-latvia-111523 Pro-Kremlin forces launch their activities in Latvia Following the events in Ukraine and Crimea, pro-Kremlin forces have become active in Latvia as well. At the end of February, a socially-political organization was founded in Moscow called the Russian International (RusIntern). Its target countries include Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Estonia and others. One of the first actions to be performed by this organization was the formation of self-defence units in Crimea. It was done in order to express support for Crimea’s joining of the Russian Federation. This organization promises to defend Russian schools and rights of non-citizens in Latvia. Among the founders of this organization, there is even a non-citizen of Latvia Sergei Malakhovsky, as reported by De facto programme of LTV. When violence and death reined the streets of Kyiv, a special socially-political organization was formed with help from high-rank Russian officials in Moscow on February 19th. This organization was named RusIntern. It is said to be close to such Russian politicians as Vice-Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin and the head of the Russian Rodina party Aleksey Zhuravlev. ‘I believe this organization was formed in a way that allows it to have strong political backing. The people who are members of this organization have strong backing from Russian special services,’ – says deputy Chief of Latvian Security Police Juris Leitietis. http://news.yahoo.com/russian-troops-storm-last-ukraine-ship-crimea-kiev-182144372.html;_ylt=AwrBEiJBzTFTCxwA747QtDMD Russian troops storm last Ukraine ship in Crimea: Kiev Russian troops on Tuesday stormed the last naval vessel still flying the Ukrainian flag on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, a regional Ukrainian defence official said. The raid on the Cherkasy trawler occurred one day after Russian forces took control of the Kostyantyn Olshanskiy, which, like the Cherkasy, had been blocked by Russian ships in western Crimea's Donuzlav Lake, defence ministry spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov said in a statement published on his Facebook account. "The assault team is on board the Cherkasy. The crew has been barricaded inside the trawler. The assault is on," Seleznyov wrote. The spokesman wrote in an earlier post that the trawler had been surrounded by several Mi-35 attack helicopters, two cutters and a tugboat. http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Ukraine_liveblog/110670309 Crimea port disbands militia and declares 'revolt' over: The self-proclaimed leader of the Crimean port city of Sevastopol on Tuesday disbanded its pro-Russian militia and called on them to disarm according to Russian law. Alexey Chaly, who has been in charge of the city for about a month, signed a decree to disband the "functions of people's militia units" which said they were "no longer useful". Some of the commanders are opposed to the move, however, and plan to stage a protest against it on Wednesday. "Chaly didn't even say thank you," one of them, Vladimir Tyunin, told AFP. "He is trying to rule this city single-handedly." Chaly, a vehemently pro-Russian politician, was proclaimed Sevastopol's mayor at the end of February by people at a rally in support of calls for the city - home to Russia's Black Sea fleet since the time of the tsars - to join Russia. http://live.america.aljazeera.com/Event/Ukraine_Crisis Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the US Senate has dropped the IMF reform provisions proposed by the Obama administration from the Ukraine aid bill. by Jared Keller 3/25/2014 6:41:04 PM 2:41 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I don't expect or even believe that the US will initiate any military action, but when the Russians send armour into eastern Ukraine to "protect" more of their supposed kin, there will be shots fired. Russians play chess, there is more to this than just Crimea, and reabsorbing the Ukraine by force would be ugly and only done as part of a larger plan. I have already heard rumblings about Moldova, which is on the far side of Ukraine, and who else might be intimidated if the Red Army is on the road? The Baltic states and Poland especially and gonna have the ****s, the fits and the blind staggers at the thought of a new Warsaw Pact entity and we are no tied to them, where does that lead? Many seem to voice opinions about Putin seizing Crimea as though he's merely a bully doing it because he thinks he can, that is extremely shortsighted, Russian plans are always very deep and far-ranging. I could not agree less with this post. The Baltic States and Poland are in NATO. We DO have ties to them. Ukraine and Moldova are not in NATO. They lack that protection. I do not think that there are "deep and far ranging" plans going on here. Not at all. I think Russia was completely surprised by the fact that the Euromaiden protests brought down their buddy Yanukovich. I think Russia thought that their heavy handed leveraging of their gas and oil would bring Ukraine back into the fold and the overtures to the EU would die down. And I think Russia has been winging it ever since. I do think Obama tact is correct. He just hasn't found the right note yet. He needs to find something Russia does care about.. The UN's security council seat for example... Give that puppy to Japan and give Russia the boot. That would wake them up. Err... how would Obama do that? We don't control the UN and Russia has a veto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I could not agree less with this post. The Baltic States and Poland are in NATO. We DO have ties to them. Ukraine and Moldova are not in NATO. They lack that protection. Respectfully LD0506 does seem to be spot on here. Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova wanted into NATO and we didn't want to offend Russia so we wouldn't let them in.... But it's not like NATO membership is a sheild against Russia right now. LD0506 is right, Russia is targeting them too. The Baltic States are being targeted. Troops are massing at their boarders and their energy imports are being messed with. The Baltic States are worried, and the NATO commander is worried. Pro-Kremlin forces launch their activities in Latvia http://bnn-news.com/pro-kremlin-forces-launch-activities-latvia-111523 Nato military chief voices concern on Russia and Baltic states http://euobserver.com/tickers/123587 Putin Is destabilizing the Baltics. You see Putin doesn't even have to fire a shot to win against any or all of the Baltic States. Those guys are isolated, defenseless and their population has travel papers to anywhere in the EU. All Putin has to have is the impression NATO is impotent, rattle his saber, and those countries will disintegrate. Everybody who can get out, will get out. and that will leave the ethnic Russian Population in place to vote Putin in. I also question whether Germany's Merkel has the stones to stand up to Putin. She's an appeaser and if she would appease him as he swallows 45 million folks in Ukraine, you think a signature on a paper is going to motivate her as he swallows 2 or 4 million more who are pretty much landlocked inside of Russia? ( pretty much but not entirely ). I do not think that there are "deep and far ranging" plans going on here. Not at all. I think Russia was completely surprised by the fact that the Euromaiden protests brought down their buddy Yanukovich. I think Russia thought that their heavy handed leveraging of their gas and oil would bring Ukraine back into the fold and the overtures to the EU would die down. And I think Russia has been winging it ever since. You very well might be right... Putin very well might have risked the outrage of the world simple for Crimea and that's the end of it... Only Crimea is over and done now. It's been annexed. The west has spoken it's harsh words and done little else. Our "sanctions" have literally been the topics of jokes at Putin's press conferences. Putin could not have hoped for a more compliant response from Europe and the United States... Literally. Now the west has signaled business as usual, if Russia will just stop.... And Putin is expanding and escalating the crisis. He's currently targeting Eastern Ukraine, the Baltic States, and Moldova with invasion along the same lines he took Crimea... Defense of ethnic Russian speakers. If Putin isn't serious, why is he still deploying troops both on and into other countries boarders? He's threatening 5 different countries now, and all are requesting more US troops for assurances... We've got President Obama and VP Biden barnstorming Eastern Europe trying to assure these countries. Clearly Putin has a plan, and clearly he's two steps ahead of us still. We signal weakness, and Russia is stepping into the void. Russian troops poised to 'run' into Moldova, Nato commander warns A pro-Russian enclave of Moldova could be Moscow's next target after Crimea, Nato warns http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/moldova/10717260/Russian-troops-poised-to-run-into-Moldova-Nato-commander-warns.html Russia has just deployed Troops into the breakaway region of Moldova. Russia stages exercises in breakaway Moldova region of Transnistria http://www.smh.com.au/world/russia-stages-exercises-in-breakaway-moldova-region-of-transnistria-20140326-zqmyi.html Russia is trying to destabilize the region, and it's working. Russia's Liberal Democratic party has advised the heads of Poland, Romania and Hungary to hold referendums on taking control of former territories in modern-day Ukraine. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ldpr-advises-poland-romania-and-hungary-to-divide-ukraine/496716.html Poland is the largest country in Eastern Europe under threat after Ukraine, and they are freaking out too. Why are Polish men in London getting military call-up papers? http://www.theweek.co.uk/europe/ukraine/57830/why-are-polish-men-london-getting-military-call-papers#ixzz2x0LEAD7V Poland Asks the United States to step up Military Presence in Poland http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/22/polish-defence-minister-us-military-presence US 'Preparing For Military Exercise In Poland' http://news.sky.com/story/1229750/us-preparing-for-military-exercise-in-poland We've just seen the West turn it's back on 40 million Ukrainians because the West doesn't want to risk angering Putin. You don't think that sends shock waves through Poland and the Baltic states and every other country in Eastern Europe? You say Poland and the Baltic States are NATO and that's different. But our Eastern European allies see the west refusing to raise a pen in support of Ukraine for sanctions, that fills them full of doubt about NATO raising a sword for their own defense. And frankly it should. Poland has been sold down the river to Russia before as the lesser of two evils. Treaty members is one way to view this crisis... You are in or you are out... As you say. Another way to look at it is Ukraine is 45 million people who just got owned by Russia without a shot being fired. 38 million Poles would go down the same exact way... to say nothing of a handful of Baltic states at 2-3 million people per state geographically isolated and already nearly land locked by Russia. Err... how would Obama do that? We don't control the UN and Russia has a veto. Obama couldn't do it alone. But the United States and the EU could. How? The same way the United Nations was formed out of the League of Nations after WWII. The important countries formed a new organization with new leadership. Then stopped attending the old organization.. Hell we could even use the same buildings in NY. Hit Russia where it hurts. In the prestige. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichmondRedskin88 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I know no one wants to get something else after decades of foreign crap but we need to do something here. Something to atleast send a message even if its something like mentioned above like smashing Russia's pride. They like being isolated, fine. Let's start taking things. Screw Russia's veto. Give the seat to Japan and then next take the World Cup from them. Considering the way they have been acting endangering other countries goes against everything that competition stands for. Strip them of it and give to Germany or something. Just not us cuz everyone will raise eyebrows about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 https://twitter.com/statedeptspox World will hold Russia to account for treatment of crew of the Cherkasy RussiaIsolated 6:21 PM https://twitter.com/SenatorReid We've been able to reach agreement to vote Thursday on an important measure to both provide aid to Ukraine and sanction Russia. 6:20 PM Are these new sanctions he's mentioning? Or is this something old that's being officialized? Or does he mean that sending aid to Ukraine sanctions Russia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Are these new sanctions he's mentioning? Or is this something old that's being officialized? Or does he mean that sending aid to Ukraine sanctions Russia? It appears these are the sanctions that have already been announced and the aid package also already announced. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-senate-advances-ukraine-aid-russia-sanctions/1878390.html US Senate Advances Ukraine Aid, Russia Sanctions March 24, 2014 The Senate bill authorizes loan guarantees for Ukraine, codifies economic penalties for Russian officials and shifts America’s contributions to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a way that could facilitate additional loans to Kyiv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Russia won't be hit hard by sanctions, experts say http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/03/24/ukraine-russia-sanctions/6819745/ Russia Steps Up Economic Pressure on Kiev http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/europe/russia-steps-up-economic-pressure-on-kiev.html?_r=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocountyskins Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I don't even care anymore. Their soldiers not even bothering fighting just tells me all I need to know. You would think that there would be 1 or 2 soldiers who would at least fight or civilians that would take up and fight but nah just get surrounded and give up, not worth the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/consider-this/2014/3/former-pres-jimmycarteronukraineweneedtobeveryforcefulnow.html Former Pres. Jimmy Carter on Ukraine: 'We need to be very forceful now' Former President Jimmy Carter says Russia 'needs to be stopped' if it moves forces into eastern Ukraine http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/opinion/stand-up-to-russia-now.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimesworld Stand Up to Russia Now Russia’s annexation of Crimea is unlikely to lead to a new Cold War; Russia is simply too weak to compete on a global level. But there is a serious risk that the United Nations could revert to Cold War-era gridlock. The threat of Russian intransigence in the Security Council, however, is not cause for the West to waver in the Ukraine crisis. Instead, the United States should impose further sanctions against Russian officials, increase support to regional allies (including the restoration of American missile defense commitments and the movement of NATO forces into Eastern Europe), provide military assistance to the Ukrainian government, and arm forces willing to resist a Russian occupation of Eastern Ukraine. Left undeterred, Russia would be emboldened to pursue absolute hegemony in the region at tremendous cost to the United Nations’ credibility and ideals — not to mention the independence of countries along Russia’s frontiers. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303725404579460183854574284?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303725404579460183854574284.html Putin's Challenge to the West Russian President Vladimir Putin has a long-festering grudge: He deeply resents the West for winning the Cold War. He blames the United States in particular for the collapse of his beloved Soviet Union, an event he has called the "worst geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." His list of grievances is long and was on full display in his March 18 speech announcing the annexation of Crimea by Russia. He is bitter about what he sees as Russia's humiliations in the 1990s—economic collapse; the expansion of NATO to include members of the U.S.S.R.'s own "alliance," the Warsaw Pact; Russia's agreement to the treaty limiting conventional forces in Europe, or as he calls it, "the colonial treaty"; the West's perceived dismissal of Russian interests in Serbia and elsewhere; attempts to bring Ukraine and Georgia into NATO and the European Union; and Western governments, businessmen and scholars all telling Russia how to conduct its affairs at home and abroad. Mr. Putin aspires to restore Russia's global power and influence and to bring the now-independent states that were once part of the Soviet Union back into Moscow's orbit. While he has no apparent desire to recreate the Soviet Union (which would include responsibility for a number of economic basket cases), he is determined to create a Russian sphere of influence—political, economic and security—and dominance. There is no grand plan or strategy to do this, just opportunistic and ruthless aspiration. And patience. So far, however, the Western response has been anemic. Mr. Putin is little influenced by seizure of personal assets of his cronies or the oligarchs, or restrictions on their travel. Unilateral U.S. sanctions, save on Russian banks, will not be effective absent European cooperation. The gap between Western rhetoric and Western actions in response to out-and-out aggression is a yawning chasm. The message seems to be that if Mr. Putin doesn't move troops into eastern Ukraine, the West will impose no further sanctions or costs. De facto, Russia's seizure of Crimea will stand and, except for a handful of Russian officials, business will go on as usual. No one wants a new Cold War, much less a military confrontation. We want Russia to be a partner, but that is now self-evidently not possible under Mr. Putin's leadership. He has thrown down a gauntlet that is not limited to Crimea or even Ukraine. His actions challenge the entire post-Cold War order including, above all, the right of independent states to align themselves and do business with whomever they choose. Tacit acceptance of settling old revanchist scores by force is a formula for ongoing crises and potential armed conflict, whether in Europe, Asia or elsewhere. A China behaving with increasing aggressiveness in the East and South China seas, an Iran with nuclear aspirations and interventionist policies in the Middle East, and a volatile and unpredictable North Korea are all watching events in Europe. They have witnessed the fecklessness of the West in Syria. Similar division and weakness in responding to Russia's most recent aggression will, I fear, have dangerous consequences down the road. When Bob Gates and Jimmy Carter tell you to be more forceful...you know it's serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Left undeterred, Russia would be emboldened to pursue absolute hegemony in the region at tremendous cost to the United Nations’ credibility and ideals — not to mention the independence of countries along Russia’s frontiers. Not to mention American and EU credibility. they are both absolutely correct. You don't have to use military threats. But you have to stand up. You lay down and they are going to walk all over us.. and we are laying down. When Bob Gates and Jimmy Carter tell you to be more forceful...you know it's serious. The only counter argument is the markets themselves are exacting their own toll. The Ruble is at a 3 year low against the dollar, and the Russian stock market is off about 13% this year. We just keep poking Russia and the markets themselves might teach Russia the lesson she needs to learn. I guess that's the Merkle thinking.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/world/europe/us-challenge-now-is-stopping-further-putin-moves.html?ref=world&_r=2&gwh=115E5C5187FD038FE3EEA0AE2FEED4A9&gwt=pay U.S. Challenge Now Is to Stop Further Putin Moves Officials in the United States and Europe have privately concluded that Crimea is lost and that the real challenge is stopping Russia from further destabilizing Ukraine. https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/540777-another-genocide-has-started-already Crimea's Tatars dread the consequences of the peninsula's annexation Tears well in Ayla Bakkalli’s eyes as she speaks about her family. “My mother used to exchange letters with her relatives during the Soviet years. She went to Uzbekistan with my sister in the 1990s. My uncle would never speak inside, only in the park. What was he going to say? He was a humble man, not a wealthy man. He was two years in the gulag. He suffered. What could he say? That it’s awful the way he’s living? And yet he and my mother would meet in the park just to share stories. My mother wanted to speak with him. It’s very hard. Very hard.” Bakkalli is the U.S. representative for the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, the 33-member governing body for the Muslim-majority population of indigenous people living in the autonomous Ukrainian peninsula. Last week, the peninsula was made slightly less autonomous by its annexation via a sham “referendum” under the gun of occupying forces from the Russian Federation. So when Bakkalli and I meet in a restaurant in central Manhattan, it is mostly to discuss what will likely prove the biggest challenge to Vladimir Putin’s designs on the Black Sea region: Crimean Tatars who have been through hell once before under Russian domination have no intention of a repeat performance. To illustrate her point, Bakkalli tells me a story of a 91-year-old man that is frequently cited in the Crimean Tatar press. “He lived through World War II, Stalinism, the fall of Communism, the resurrection of democracy. Having noted this annexation, he now says, ‘I am digging in the basement of my home a grave. If something happens to me, I will be buried in Crimea.’” This sentiment, she warns, is widespread among her people and is not easily dislodged, no matter how many Russian servicemen Putin imports or how many proxy militias of ethnic Russians he underwrites. http://www.kyivpost.com/multimedia/photo/ukrainian-soldiers-on-border-with-crimea-pray-for-peace-prepare-for-war-340963.html Ukrainian soldiers on border with Crimea pray for peace, prepare for war Amid the boundless steppes in southern Kherson Oblast, a tent camp can be found with a big Ukrainian blue-yellow flag and the words “Zviagel. We will stand for Ukraine until death.” Zviagel is the historic name of Novograd Volynsky, a city in Zhytomyr Oblast, from which these hundreds of soldiers travelled almost 1,000 kilometers to take their places on Ukraine’s new front line just north of Russian-occupied Crimea. Their mission is to repel Russian troops that dare to trespass into the mainland. Until in Crimea, where Russian troops quickly overran surprised and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers, the nation’s political and military leaders have pledged a fight if Russia invades Ukraine’s mainland. After Russian forces invaded Crimea in late February, the Ukrainian army began moving its units to Kherson Oblast, conducting military exercises in fields. “I think we have a 70 percent chance to avoid war,” said Oleg Roy, deputy commander on the motorized military troop residing in camp. “But there is a 30 percent doubt that diplomacy won’t work.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA2P0VB20140326 Economic cost of Crimea seizure mounts for Russia The economic impact of annexing Crimea from Ukraine could drive Russia into a sharp recession this year even if the West stops short of trade sanctions, the World Bank warned on Wednesday. The gloomy assessment, far more negative than Russian government forecasts, came on a day when U.S. President Barack Obama was meeting European Union and NATO leaders to discuss how to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian energy and bolster NATO defenses of east European allies bordering Russia and Ukraine. Obama and leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations agreed this week to hold off on tougher economic sanctions unless President Vladimir Putin takes further action to destabilize Ukraine or other former Soviet republics. Western concern has focused on Russian troops massed on Ukraine's eastern border amid Kremlin allegations of attacks on Russian speakers in that industrial region of the country. But Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday it seemed likely that the firm Western response so far would stop Russia undertaking what he called "other acts of aggression and interference on the territory of Ukraine". So I guess anything Russia does in Crimea from this point on is allowed, as long as it doesn't directly involve destabilizing Ukraine. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/03/26/vladimir-putin-wants-all-russians-to-be-tough-like-steven-seagal/ Vladimir Putin wants all Russians to be tough like Steven Seagal Think Russians are tough? They could be tougher. They could be Steven Seagal tough. That’s at least the logic behind Vladimir Putin’s move this week to reinstate a Soviet-style fitness workout called “Ready for Labor and Defense.” Inspired by both Russia’s haul of 33 medals at the Sochi Olympics — the most of any country — and, apparently, Steven Seagal, Putin has funded the workout program with the games’ leftover cash. “The Olympics and Paralympics have demonstrated that we are again becoming one of the leaders in global sports,” Putin said in his remarks. He added: ”We’re discussing what is necessary to … attract the vast majority of our citizens to take part in regular physical training.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-usa-eu-summit-idUSBREA2P0W220140326?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=992637 EU to press Obama at summit for aid in cutting Russian gas imports The European Union was set to press U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday to help reduce Europe's reliance on Russian energy by exporting U.S. natural gas, as relations with Moscow chill over its intervention in Ukraine. Obama began his visit to Belgium by visiting the Flanders Field American war cemetery, visiting the graves of some of the 368 U.S. service members, most killed during World War One. His visit and the symbolism of transatlantic unity had added resonance at a time when tensions in Europe are running high because of Russia's military occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region. http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-moldova-gagauzia-referendum/25310592.html Russian Deputy Praises Gagauzia's Referendum Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky has praised last month's referendum in Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region, calling it a "timely" event. Meeting with a Gagauzia delegation in Moscow on March 26, Slutsky said "we fully approve of the poll." Gagauzia has a population of about 155,000, mostly ethnically Gagauz, Turkic-speaking Orthodox Christians. Its residents voted in an unauthorized referendum for integration with a Moscow-led Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia in February. Chisinau, which initialed an EU Association Agreement in November, called the referendum illegal, saying it challenges Moldova's territorial integrity. http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-37-russian-troops-on-the-move/#1422 1422 GMT: Social media is flooded today with fresh pictures, videos, and reports of Russian tanks and troops on the move towards the Ukrainian border. 1433 GMT: The tanks reported near the border north of Kiev are not just on trains, either. Take this video (which we are still working to verify) reportedly showing Russian tanks on the ground and on the move near Novozybkov, which is just north of the Ukrainian capital. If these tanks are where the video says they are, they’re within an hour from the Ukrainian border. I wonder what we'll do if Russia invades Western Ukraine. https://twitter.com/BBCMatthewPrice Perhaps most important announcement for Russia made just now by Obama in Brussels: EU-US trade deal will make it easier to send US gas to EU 9:55 AM https://twitter.com/Beltrew rt Egypture_ BREAKING: Egypt eyes liquid gas from Russia. Source from ahramonline 10:38 AM https://twitter.com/BSpringnote Interior minister says he has stand off with Right Sector in Zakarpatya and Zaporizsche where they refuse to surrender weapons 11:26 AM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR Crimea rezidents with the Russian won’t be allowed to enter EU society.lb.ua/life/2014/03/26/260852_krimchanam_russkimi_pasportami.html pic.twitter.com/4HVYjKX9ei 10:37 AM Ukraine's Defence Ministry will charge Russia for the Ukrainian military property captured by Russian soldiers in Crimea 10:57 AM Belarus President Lukashenkot recognize Yanukovych as a President http://glavcom.ua/news/194884.html 11:33 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichmondRedskin88 Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 It's about to get real folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 So I guess anything Russia does in Crimea from this point on is allowed, as long as it doesn't directly involve destabilizing Ukraine. Crimea is a done deal. There is no will in the west to challenge Russia or to even exact a price for moving into Crimea. Our sanctions were a joke and there won't be any new sanctions if Russia doesn't invade any more of her neighbors, according to the US and EU. The problem is the US and EU have demonstrated they are spineless and unwilling to stand up to Russia. So it's likely Russia will just ignore them and move further into Ukraine, Moldova, and even the Baltic States. The West threatened a response to Crimea, and rolled over... Why should Russia listen to their threats on further military actions? Perhaps most important announcement for Russia made just now by Obama in Brussels: EU-US trade deal will make it easier to send US gas to EU9:55 AM Which is also pathetic. Natural gas markets aren't integrated. Translation.... Russia at the beginning of this mess was charging about four times what the United States charges for natural gas.. Since they invaded Crimea Russia has further increased the price of their natural gas to Ukraine, and the Baltic States. So much so the energy prices are becoming destabilizing. That's happening today. So we announce years in the future we will export Natural Gas to the EU and give them an alternative to Russia's price gauging. It's a meaningless gesture with regards to what is happening today. We don't have the export facilities to liquify and transport the natural gas from the US... Europe doesn't have the facilities to receive or process the liquid natural gas back into it's gaseous form. If we started work today that won't change for years... and by announcing these changes today, that means we are probable years removed from even starting the effort. It's the way government works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6926 Meeting with Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/123974 Russian Officials Dump iPads over Spy Fears Russian government officials have swapped their iPads for Samsung tablets to ensure tighter security, the telecoms minister told news agencies on Wednesday. Journalists spotted that ministers at a cabinet meeting were no longer using Apple tablets, and minister Nikolai Nikiforov confirmed the changeover "took place not so long ago." He said the ministers' new Samsungs were "specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information." "Some of the information at government meetings is confidential in nature and these devices fully meet these demands and have gone through the strictest system of certification." http://bigstory.ap.org/article/obama-russia-miscalculated-ukraine Obama: Russia miscalculated in Ukraine President Barack Obama says Russia's leadership miscalculated if it thought the world wouldn't care about its actions in Ukraine. He says Russia was mistaken if it thought it could drive a wedge between the U.S. and the European Union. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/26/obama-putin-menace-threat-speech-brussels Obama to highlight Putin threat to EU during keynote speech in Brussels Barack Obama is to charge Vladimir Putin with being a menace to an international system built up over decades following the Russian leader's sudden appropriation of part of Ukraine. In his sole big policy speech of a four-day trip to Europe, Obama, on his first presidential visit to Brussels, the capital of the European Union and Nato's headquarters, will seek to stiffen European spines against Russia and pledge US security guarantees for east European allies on Russia's borders who are alarmed at the Kremlin's expansionist aims. "The speech itself is an opportunity for him to step back and look at the current events in Ukraine in a broader context," said a senior US administration official. "Standing at the heart of Europe in Brussels, the centre of the European project, he will be able to speak about the importance of European security, the importance of not just the danger to the people of Ukraine but the danger to the international system that Europe and the United States have invested so much in that is a consequence of Russia's actions … [Europe] ultimately has been an anchor of the international system that we've spent decades to build, and it's that international system that has been put at risk by Russia's recent actions." https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR Col Mamchur & others now being freed frm Russian captivity & would be in Kyiv tmrw http://news.liga.net/news/politics/1130293-polkovnik_mamchur_svoboden_i_zavtra_budet_v_kieve_turchinov_.htm 12:19 PM Colonel Mamchur came to Sevastopol under guard escort to get his personal belongings & will leave Crimea- his wife ukrpravda_news 1:19 PM some good news, hopefully. https://twitter.com/HalaGorani Awaiting President Obama address in Brussels in a few minutes. On air now on CNN. Join me! 1:04 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Does anyone else (besides Obama I mean) really believe that Russia's actions were an attempt to drive a wedge between the US and the EU? I don't think this has anything to do with us... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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