Official Ukraine/Georgian Thread

[JBS]

Give Putin a few more years, some of his agenda is to rebuild Russia's fleet. Commonly published US analysis of Russian strategic intent has been and largely still is that they are focused on a non-agressive 21'st century Navy. As late as 2012, papers like this one were being published.


But meanwhile Putin has committed $200 billion to rebuilding their Navy:

http://rt.com/news/russia-navy-nuclear-submarine-fleet-450/

As of present they have 26 operational nuclear subs, but by 2020 are slated to have a total of 47.

 

[RackMaster]

I have the feeling Putin has made peace with his maker and is willing to "push the button". I'm sure every nation with the capability would then nuke the fuck out of whomever they hate.

 

[JBS]

I have the feeling Putin has made peace with his maker and is willing to "push the button". I'm sure every nation with the capability would then nuke the fuck out of whomever they hate.

Angela Merkel said that in her most recent phone conversation, Putin seemed out of his right mind, a little nutty. And there have been other, similar accounts.

 

[pardus]

Angela Merkel said that in her most recent phone conversation, Putin seemed out of his right mind, a little nutty. And there have been other, similar accounts.

Genuinely nutty or "watch me act like a crazy man because no one fucks with a crazy man."? Putin is KGB, he's Russian, which means he's a chess player. He hasn't made a misstep yet, which (at this point in time) to my mind means he knows what he's doing.

Time will tell though.

 

[JBS]

Genuinely nutty or "watch me act like a crazy man because no one fucks with a crazy man."? Putin is KGB, he's Russian, which means he's a chess player. He hasn't made a misstep yet, which (at this point in time) to my mind means he knows what he's doing.

Time will tell though.

She said he was talking like a crazy man. And this is coming from a woman who had regular convo's with him.

US reports said Merkel phoned Barack Obama on Sunday evening after speaking to the Russian president to press him to back down from his invasion of Ukraine and occupation of the Crimean peninsula.

"She was not sure he was in touch with reality, people briefed on the call said. 'In another world,' she said," the New York Times reported.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/ukraine-vladimir-putin-angela-merkel-russian

And here:

If you weren't sure of the veracity of that little reportorial nugget, all doubt should've vanished after Putin's press conference today.

Slouching in a fancy chair in front of a dozen reporters, Putin squirmed and rambled. And rambled and rambled. He was a rainbow of emotion: Serious! angry! bemused! flustered! confused! So confused.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116852/merkel-was-right-putins-lost-his-mind-press-conference

 

[pardus]

She said he was talking like a crazy man. And this is coming from a woman who had regular convo's with him.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/ukraine-vladimir-putin-angela-merkel-russian

And here:


http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116852/merkel-was-right-putins-lost-his-mind-press-conference

Interesting about Merkel's comments.

I just spent 20min or so watching the interview that the newrepublic was talking about. I didn't know anything about the newrepublic but after reading that piece on the interview I watched (in part) Id advise anyone to find another news source because that was complete bollocks, just a political rag piece and not factual.
Putin was normal.

 

[AWP]

The average Russky, son, don't take a dump without a plan.

 

[Chopstick]

And in other news...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ll-obamas-disapproval-rating-hits-a-new-high/

The AP-GfK poll shows 59 percent of Americans now disapprove of Obama -- a point higher than the previous high set in December.

Obama's approval rating stands at 41 percent. That's the second-lowest figure the poll has ever found.

Part of Obama's problems appear to be related to foreign policy: The poll shows Americans disapprove of his handling of the situation in Ukraine 57-40 and disapprove of how he handles relationships with other countries 58-40.

 

[Kraut783]

The average Russky, son, don't take a dump without a plan.

Nice Hunt for Red October reference.

 

[JBS]

26MAR2014 US Intel: Greater Russian Invasion Likely in Ukraine

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/...likelihood-russia-will-enter-eastern-ukraine/

 

[pardus]

26MAR2014 US Intel: Greater Russian Invasion Likely in Ukraine

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/...likelihood-russia-will-enter-eastern-ukraine/

I'm not surprised in the slightest.

Operation Citadel II commence!

 

[Dame]

 

[TLDR20]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...3-8020-b2d790b3c9e1_story.html?wpmk=MK0000205

An op-ed saying what we should actually do, not just bitching about what hasn't been done.

 

[Etype]

I'm going to go against the grain, yet again, and agree generally with Alan Grayson's comments on the matter. He spoke out in favor of Russia annexing Crimea, citing that it was the citizens' choice and also reference Ukraine removing Crimea's autonomous gov't as soon as the decided they were unhappy with them.

 

[JBS]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...3-8020-b2d790b3c9e1_story.html?wpmk=MK0000205

An op-ed saying what we should actually do, not just bitching about what hasn't been done.

So basically his answer to what should we do - what "we should actually do", as you put it- is "Europe".

The whole premise of that article is "how to not get into a Cold War again". The writers then go on to eloquently put forth the idea that we should do nothing, and let Europe handle it.

 

[Etype]

The writers then go on to eloquently put forth the idea that we should do nothing, and let Europe handle it.

Good idea!

 

[TLDR20]

S

The whole premise of that article is "how to not get into a Cold War again". The writers then go on to eloquently put forth the idea that we should do nothing, and let Europe handle it.

Shouldn't that be the goal?

 

[pardus]

Shouldn't that be the goal?

If we want the USA to look like they have no intention of honoring their agreements/treaties...

 

[JBS]

Shouldn't that be the goal?

I think it's a false premise.

We are in zero danger of falling into a new cold war.

 

[Etype]

If we want the USA to look like they have no intention of honoring their agreements/treaties...

This is a good point. We've been so eager to jump at the opportunity to sign treaties and agreements in the past- and look at how ridiculous the terms are that we agree to.

In the case of Ukraine, we want a former Soviet country to surrender its nukes to its former oppressor in exchange for our protection. This is racketeering without a payout. We created a necessity for protection, then we fulfilled it- terrible.