ptown_trojans_1;1585927 wrote:It's easy to point fingers and say, "the administration is getting beat up by Putin and Russia"
After Syria I must say yes it is quite easy.
ptown_trojans_1;1585927 wrote:But, honestly, how is this different than 2008 with Georgia?
Scale: Georgia is a country of 5 million, Ukraine 50 million. This will affect a lot more people. The potential for things to spiral out of control is much greater.
Russian confidence: Georgia, Syria, Gas, Russian parliament's strong approval... Putin's balls are growing larger by the day.
Crimea: Russia never intended to permanently give up their only warm water port on that strategic peninsula. A lot of Russian blood spilled there. As I type this the Russians are in full control of the Crimea. The Crimea was under Russian military occupation without a shot being fired before Obama ever opened his mouth.
ptown_trojans_1;1585927 wrote:How would W handle this? The same way pretty much.
Initially in a similar manner I would say but who cares its all speculation. W has been out of power for 5 yrs Obama can stand on his own now.
ptown_trojans_1;1585927 wrote:So, what is the solution then complainers?
The EU, US, and the pro western Ukrainian opposition overplayed its hand. There was a singed deal with Yanukovych conceding to early elections and loss of power but they ran him out on a rail seeing it as weakness right into Russia's hands. They should have left Yanukovych in power and dealt with him until early elections. Now the Ukrainian government the EU, US, helped get into power outside of free elections is pleading for help from the west to stop the Russians from taking by force at the very least the Eastern 1/3 of Ukraine. Crimea is a done deal.
ptown_trojans_1;1585927 wrote:Are we willing to use force for Ukraine, or "sanctions" or NATO?
No. The pro western opposition should have known this unless they were lied to (I'm sure the Europussies talked a good game). Now they are tangling with the Russian military.
ptown_trojans_1;1585927 wrote:A lot of complaining for people that offer no solutions.
Split Ukraine. Avoids bloodshed for now. The Russians have Crimea it would mean war now to reverse that. Obama says there will be consequences (obviously not direct military) at this point. Consequence #1 Georgia is brought into NATO posthaste. #2 Western Ukraine to follow. Let Russia have their buffer state in the east.
That said I am not personally a fan of the expansion of NATO. But the Russians do fear it for good reason. They will make concessions to avoid it.