Russia kinda-sorta invades Ukraine

[Mojo2]

RUSSIA KINDA-SORTA INVADES UKRAINE

By: John Hayward
2/28/2014 09:20 AM

One of the strangest acts of war in history is under way, as Russian troops – wearing uniforms without insignia – saunter across the border and take control of airports in the semi-independent Crimean region of the Ukraine, thus far without firing a shot. Confronted about the slow-motion invasions, the Russian government shrugs and claims to be surprised by all those troops milling around. From an Associated Press report:

Armed forces were blocking the two main airports in the strategic peninsula of Crimea on Friday in what Ukraine’s new government described as a takeover by Russian forces, as the country asked the U.N. Security Council to intervene in the escalating conflict.

No violence was reported, and flights continued to operate at the airport serving Simferopol, the regional capital. It was not immediately clear whether the airport in Sevastopol, owned by the Ukrainian defense ministry, was open but there are no scheduled services to the facility.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is based in the area, denied its forces were involved in seizing one of the airports, Interfax news agency reported, according to Reuters

The Russian foreign ministry refused a request for comment by The Associated Press while a spokesman for the Russian defense ministry also had no comment.

Nope, not us, say the Russians. This is a deadly serious matter, but it is very difficult to read this account of the airport occupation without a rueful chuckle:

At Simferopol airport, an Associated Press photographer saw military men armed with assault rifles Friday morning patrolling the airport. The men were wearing uniforms without any insignia. Most refused to talk to journalists. One of them, who identified himself only as Vladimir, said they were part of a “self-defense unit” that was making sure that no “fascists” would arrive from Kiev or elsewhere.

A Reuters eyewitness at the scene said the men were dressed in full battle gear and carrying assault rifles and machine guns. They were reportedly moving freely in an out of a control tower.

Chill out, everyone, Vladimir says he’s totally not with Russia or anything. Hey, anybody around here seen any fascists?

Some of the men involved in these takeovers have openly admitted to journalists they are Russian soldiers, while others claim to be part of a Crimean militia. Meanwhile, properly uniformed Russian forces (described in different accounts as either marines or paratroopers) from the Black Sea fleet have surrounded the Ukrainian Coast Guard base in Sevastopol, where the Russian fleet is based. These troops – whose movements the Russian government still officially denies – say they’re in position “to prevent any weapons at the base from being seized by extremists,” according to the Washington Post.

Russia kinda-sorta invades Ukraine | Human Events

*Sigh*

I hate to be THIS cynical but what is Obama's role in all of this?

 

[Meister]

RUSSIA KINDA-SORTA INVADES UKRAINE

By: John Hayward
2/28/2014 09:20 AM

One of the strangest acts of war in history is under way, as Russian troops – wearing uniforms without insignia – saunter across the border and take control of airports in the semi-independent Crimean region of the Ukraine, thus far without firing a shot. Confronted about the slow-motion invasions, the Russian government shrugs and claims to be surprised by all those troops milling around. From an Associated Press report:

Armed forces were blocking the two main airports in the strategic peninsula of Crimea on Friday in what Ukraine’s new government described as a takeover by Russian forces, as the country asked the U.N. Security Council to intervene in the escalating conflict.

No violence was reported, and flights continued to operate at the airport serving Simferopol, the regional capital. It was not immediately clear whether the airport in Sevastopol, owned by the Ukrainian defense ministry, was open but there are no scheduled services to the facility.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is based in the area, denied its forces were involved in seizing one of the airports, Interfax news agency reported, according to Reuters

The Russian foreign ministry refused a request for comment by The Associated Press while a spokesman for the Russian defense ministry also had no comment.

Nope, not us, say the Russians. This is a deadly serious matter, but it is very difficult to read this account of the airport occupation without a rueful chuckle:

At Simferopol airport, an Associated Press photographer saw military men armed with assault rifles Friday morning patrolling the airport. The men were wearing uniforms without any insignia. Most refused to talk to journalists. One of them, who identified himself only as Vladimir, said they were part of a “self-defense unit” that was making sure that no “fascists” would arrive from Kiev or elsewhere.

A Reuters eyewitness at the scene said the men were dressed in full battle gear and carrying assault rifles and machine guns. They were reportedly moving freely in an out of a control tower.

Chill out, everyone, Vladimir says he’s totally not with Russia or anything. Hey, anybody around here seen any fascists?

Some of the men involved in these takeovers have openly admitted to journalists they are Russian soldiers, while others claim to be part of a Crimean militia. Meanwhile, properly uniformed Russian forces (described in different accounts as either marines or paratroopers) from the Black Sea fleet have surrounded the Ukrainian Coast Guard base in Sevastopol, where the Russian fleet is based. These troops – whose movements the Russian government still officially denies – say they’re in position “to prevent any weapons at the base from being seized by extremists,” according to the Washington Post.

Russia kinda-sorta invades Ukraine | Human Events

*Sigh*

I hate to be THIS cynical but what is Obama's role in all of this?

He's already played his role in all of this. The US isn't the big player any longer, Putin is.
When the US stated that they are downsizing the military, it was a green light for Putin.
Putin probably would have made some kind of move, but his decision was a lot easier with what the world knows now.

 

[hjmick]

Who would stop them?

 

[blackhawk]

Russian troops have crossed the border into Ukraine President Obama is saying there will be serious cost for this do you think anyone in the world especially Putin actually believes that?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&ved=0CC4QqQI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworldnews%2Feurope%2Fukraine%2F10668357%2FRussia-admits-that-it-has-moved-troops-in-Ukraine.html&ei=AiARU9TQCufr2QWBhoFA&usg=AFQjCNG16P8jeHRo3_p8IrQjEuoANun1cA&sig2=vWBCTomR2jhpaR8wGsp0yw&bvm=bv.62286460,d.b2I

 

[Connery]

Announcing a downsize and actual downsize are two different things. What also has to be assessed os the reason for the downsize. Putin is no fool Obama will be out Putin has to worry about the next president. I do not think this was much of a factor.

 

[Sunshine]

RUSSIA KINDA-SORTA INVADES UKRAINE

By: John Hayward
2/28/2014 09:20 AM

One of the strangest acts of war in history is under way, as Russian troops – wearing uniforms without insignia – saunter across the border and take control of airports in the semi-independent Crimean region of the Ukraine, thus far without firing a shot. Confronted about the slow-motion invasions, the Russian government shrugs and claims to be surprised by all those troops milling around. From an Associated Press report:

Armed forces were blocking the two main airports in the strategic peninsula of Crimea on Friday in what Ukraine’s new government described as a takeover by Russian forces, as the country asked the U.N. Security Council to intervene in the escalating conflict.

No violence was reported, and flights continued to operate at the airport serving Simferopol, the regional capital. It was not immediately clear whether the airport in Sevastopol, owned by the Ukrainian defense ministry, was open but there are no scheduled services to the facility.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is based in the area, denied its forces were involved in seizing one of the airports, Interfax news agency reported, according to Reuters

The Russian foreign ministry refused a request for comment by The Associated Press while a spokesman for the Russian defense ministry also had no comment.

Nope, not us, say the Russians. This is a deadly serious matter, but it is very difficult to read this account of the airport occupation without a rueful chuckle:

At Simferopol airport, an Associated Press photographer saw military men armed with assault rifles Friday morning patrolling the airport. The men were wearing uniforms without any insignia. Most refused to talk to journalists. One of them, who identified himself only as Vladimir, said they were part of a “self-defense unit” that was making sure that no “fascists” would arrive from Kiev or elsewhere.

A Reuters eyewitness at the scene said the men were dressed in full battle gear and carrying assault rifles and machine guns. They were reportedly moving freely in an out of a control tower.

Chill out, everyone, Vladimir says he’s totally not with Russia or anything. Hey, anybody around here seen any fascists?

Some of the men involved in these takeovers have openly admitted to journalists they are Russian soldiers, while others claim to be part of a Crimean militia. Meanwhile, properly uniformed Russian forces (described in different accounts as either marines or paratroopers) from the Black Sea fleet have surrounded the Ukrainian Coast Guard base in Sevastopol, where the Russian fleet is based. These troops – whose movements the Russian government still officially denies – say they’re in position “to prevent any weapons at the base from being seized by extremists,” according to the Washington Post.

Russia kinda-sorta invades Ukraine | Human Events

*Sigh*

I hate to be THIS cynical but what is Obama's role in all of this?

He sent a couple of gays to swish around! Isn't that enough?

 

[skye]

Who would stop them?

I don't know who could but I do know who could not. His name is Hussein Obama he who didn't have the stomach to attack Syria when it used chemical weapons against civilians... can you imagine him having the stomach to attack Russia?


Hell will freeze over first.

 

[Mr. H.]

Who would stop them?

Obama mentioned "consequences".
Does that mean "red line"?


Sent from my ass using USMessageBoard.com

 

[The T]

Who would stop them?

Obama mentioned "consequences".
Does that mean "red line"?


Sent from my ass using USMessageBoard.com

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkzWyOaS8kU]Cross This Line - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Rocko]

Remember when Romney tried warning us about Russia, and Obama said to him 1980 called it wants it's foreign policy back?

 

[jon_berzerk]

Who would stop them?

Obama mentioned "consequences".
Does that mean "red line"?


Sent from my ass using USMessageBoard.com

Obama mentioned "consequences".
Does that mean "red line"?

more like a strongly worded letter

 

[deltex1]

RUSSIA KINDA-SORTA INVADES UKRAINE

By: John Hayward
2/28/2014 09:20 AM

One of the strangest acts of war in history is under way, as Russian troops – wearing uniforms without insignia – saunter across the border and take control of airports in the semi-independent Crimean region of the Ukraine, thus far without firing a shot. Confronted about the slow-motion invasions, the Russian government shrugs and claims to be surprised by all those troops milling around. From an Associated Press report:

Armed forces were blocking the two main airports in the strategic peninsula of Crimea on Friday in what Ukraine’s new government described as a takeover by Russian forces, as the country asked the U.N. Security Council to intervene in the escalating conflict.

No violence was reported, and flights continued to operate at the airport serving Simferopol, the regional capital. It was not immediately clear whether the airport in Sevastopol, owned by the Ukrainian defense ministry, was open but there are no scheduled services to the facility.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is based in the area, denied its forces were involved in seizing one of the airports, Interfax news agency reported, according to Reuters

The Russian foreign ministry refused a request for comment by The Associated Press while a spokesman for the Russian defense ministry also had no comment.

Nope, not us, say the Russians. This is a deadly serious matter, but it is very difficult to read this account of the airport occupation without a rueful chuckle:

At Simferopol airport, an Associated Press photographer saw military men armed with assault rifles Friday morning patrolling the airport. The men were wearing uniforms without any insignia. Most refused to talk to journalists. One of them, who identified himself only as Vladimir, said they were part of a “self-defense unit” that was making sure that no “fascists” would arrive from Kiev or elsewhere.

A Reuters eyewitness at the scene said the men were dressed in full battle gear and carrying assault rifles and machine guns. They were reportedly moving freely in an out of a control tower.

Chill out, everyone, Vladimir says he’s totally not with Russia or anything. Hey, anybody around here seen any fascists?

Some of the men involved in these takeovers have openly admitted to journalists they are Russian soldiers, while others claim to be part of a Crimean militia. Meanwhile, properly uniformed Russian forces (described in different accounts as either marines or paratroopers) from the Black Sea fleet have surrounded the Ukrainian Coast Guard base in Sevastopol, where the Russian fleet is based. These troops – whose movements the Russian government still officially denies – say they’re in position “to prevent any weapons at the base from being seized by extremists,” according to the Washington Post.

Russia kinda-sorta invades Ukraine | Human Events

*Sigh*

I hate to be THIS cynical but what is Obama's role in all of this?

The tactics will give Obabble an excuse to pause....he loves to pause.

 

[Meister]

Announcing a downsize and actual downsize are two different things. What also has to be assessed os the reason for the downsize. Putin is no fool Obama will be out Putin has to worry about the next president. I do not think this was much of a factor.

I think the reason for the downsize has been assessed, Connery.
What is going on now will be history by the time Obama leaves office.

 

[jon_berzerk]

Budapest Memorandum google it

 

[deltex1]

Obabble would prefer this to be a European problem also...

 

[Connery]

Announcing a downsize and actual downsize are two different things. What also has to be assessed os the reason for the downsize. Putin is no fool Obama will be out Putin has to worry about the next president. I do not think this was much of a factor.

I think the reason for the downsize has been assessed, Connery.
What is going on now will be history by the time Obama leaves office.

Putin does not strike me and a person who simply accepts today's possibilities as tomorrows realities. The military is evolving as technology evolves. I would not count the US out based on Obama.

 

[jon_berzerk]

the signing of the Budapest Memorandum

 

[jon_berzerk]

Announcing a downsize and actual downsize are two different things. What also has to be assessed os the reason for the downsize. Putin is no fool Obama will be out Putin has to worry about the next president. I do not think this was much of a factor.

I think the reason for the downsize has been assessed, Connery.
What is going on now will be history by the time Obama leaves office.

Putin does not strike me and a person who simply accepts today's possibilities as tomorrows realities. The military is evolving as technology evolves. I would not count the US out based on Obama.

the president may not have a choice n the matter

 

[M.D. Rawlings]

I knew this was coming. As for Obama, he has no understanding of geopolitics and, in any event, could care less. Obama or Putin, they're both statists working the same side of history.

 

[hjmick]

To his credit... Putin did wait until Obama's second term...







Yeah, I know, this isn't missile defense... But...

Bargaining chip?