Meanwhile, back in Kiev....

[mistermack]

They are in shit street.

There doesn't seem to be much brain-power in operation on either side.
And the US and Europe seem to be just as dumb.

The US and Europe has been pushing for this situation, with overt and covert encouragement of a revolution. Now they've got it, they really don't like it.

They seem to have believed that Putin was bluffing. Why on earth would they have thought that?

While the Sochi Olympics was on, it was pretty obvious that Putin would do nothing. Now it's over, it's back to business.

Split the fuckin place. It's already partly split. The Crimea is gone, and will never be back. I say, split the rest, and pass extremely harsh anti-discrimination laws on BOTH sides of the new border, to ensure that there is no possibility of ethnic cleansing.
That's what should happen.
Fuck knows what will actually happen.

[cronus]

Big League World War Re-enactment Society working behind the scenes here?

[MiM]

This is really no laughing matter, when you live in a country with a 1000 km long land border to Russia.

If Putin succeeds in his bully game with Ukraine, without any strong repercussions, that would be very bad news indeed, and not only for his immediate neighbours.

[cronus]

I'm with the Russians on this. It's a fascist mutiny and hardly a democratic uprising. The young militant Ukrainians want to sell their grain to the West to get the best price, probably spend the proceeds on military kit with the US/UK military complex being out of US/UK customers, and still expect Russia to do nothing.

[Tero]

This is really no laughing matter, when you live in a country with a 1000 km long land border to Russia.

If Putin succeeds in his bully game with Ukraine, without any strong repercussions, that would be very bad news indeed, and not only for his immediate neighbours.

Thanks to Princess Di, no more land mines to keep them back!

But never fear, there is DEEP CONCERN!

United Kingdom — The Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "deeply concerned" at the escalation of tensions and the decision of the Russian parliament to authorise military action. He also said "This action is a potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine".

[cronus]

Minimise loss of life by a swift invasion Tero. Could save on my gas bill if they annexe the gas fields.

[FBM]

I'm trying to imagine what the US's reaction would be if it were in the same situation as Russia is in now. I'm willing to bet that the military would be involved, regardless of world opinion.

[cronus]

I'm trying to imagine what the US's reaction would be if it were in the same situation as Russia is in now. I'm willing to bet that the military would be involved, regardless of world opinion.

Ukraine is a wee bit Chile this time of year.

[FBM]

I'm trying to imagine what the US's reaction would be if it were in the same situation as Russia is in now. I'm willing to bet that the military would be involved, regardless of world opinion.

Ukraine is a wee bit Chile this time of year.

[cronus]

I'm trying to imagine what the US's reaction would be if it were in the same situation as Russia is in now. I'm willing to bet that the military would be involved, regardless of world opinion.

Ukraine is a wee bit Chile this time of year.

http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO309A.html

Not a exact reflection of circumstance but close enough...

[Audley Strange]

How much trouble should we tolerate from a region before we wash our hands of it?

[Strontium Dog]

How much trouble should we tolerate from a region before we wash our hands of it?

We've put up with Russia for this long, a little while longer won't matter.

[mistermack]

I'm not bovvered if Russia gets some of Ukraine.

At the moment, Ukraine is run by bandits who burnt tyres in the capital.
There isn't much to lose in the place.

What I like about Russia, is that when I turn a knob on my cooker, gas comes out.
And when I squeeze the trigger on the petrol pump, petrol comes out.
I like that.

Who runs Ukraine doesn't have much effect on that. Except negatively, if they provoke Russia into turning off the gas.

So on a scale of one to ten, I like Russia 8, and Ukraine 2.

[cronus]

Not the only one.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26410431

New Ukraine navy chief 'defects'

[laklak]

Apparently O'Bammy isn't happy with the situation and has given Vlad a stern talking to. I expect Putin will pull back the troops and apologize, before going to the naughty corner to think about what he's done.