Meanwhile, back in Kiev....

[Warren Dew]

But the natural gas thing Seth mentioned is wishful thinking that ignores economic reality. Russian gas will always be cheaper than anything that needs to be transported by ship; Russia has got Europe hooked on gas, which gives it powerful leverage.

Alternative sources for gas would greatly reduce Russia's political leverage even if the alternative sources were more expensive.

[JimC]

But the natural gas thing Seth mentioned is wishful thinking that ignores economic reality. Russian gas will always be cheaper than anything that needs to be transported by ship; Russia has got Europe hooked on gas, which gives it powerful leverage.

Alternative sources for gas would greatly reduce Russia's political leverage even if the alternative sources were more expensive.

And be a nice little earner for the US, eh...

[mistermack]

This business of adding new members to NATO is incredibly dangerous.

NATO is immediately obliged to support the new member in any loony squabble it cares to pick.
It brings the threat of full-on nuclear war infinitely closer.
Just using NATO membership to ''surround'' Russia is doing exactly that, and the Russians have proved that they are perfectly capable of making the first move, if provoked.

This whole Ukraine business is the doing of the west, not Russia. They have just reacted to the machinations of the US and the EU.

If I was Putin, I would publicly declare that I don't recognise any new members of NATO, and let them sweat on that.

These mutual protection pacts are fine, till they go wrong. The last two world wars started because of them. They provide a path of natural escalation.

[pErvinalia]

The UK is one giant gas bubble. Frack the crap out of it!!

[pErvinalia]

I'm playing as Russia in Civ at the moment, and the Chinese fucken hate me. Just sayin'.

[JimC]

To fully surround Russia, China must be persuaded to become a member of NATO...

What could go wrong?

[Seth]

The UK is one giant gas bubble. Frack the crap out of it!!

Well, I'd agree that both Parliament and Rationalia are full of gasbags....

[pErvinalia]

The bloody Chinese declared war on me in Civ!! Bastids!

[JimC]

The bloody Chinese declared war on me in Civ!! Bastids!

Learn to use chopsticks, and get used to rice...

[pErvinalia]

I'm kicking their arses. Even though they are far more advanced and larger than me, I'm like North Korea in this game. Small, a bit backwards, but with a fucktonne of military hardware.

[Jason]

Meanwhile, the bullyboys have been unleashed by the Ukrainian 'government':

Ukrainian authorities plan to attract US private military company Greystone Limited to suppress protest moods of the mostly Russian-speaking population in the east of the country.
According to Ukrainian Security Service, mercenaries will be engaged in political search and protection of state security over inability of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to curb on leaders and activists of pro-Russian movement independently.

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/725211

Of course, there was never any threat to Crimea.

[Warren Dew]

Ukrainian authorities plan to attract US private military company Greystone Limited to suppress protest moods of the mostly Russian-speaking population in the east of the country.
According to Ukrainian Security Service, mercenaries will be engaged in political search and protection of state security over inability of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to curb on leaders and activists of pro-Russian movement independently.

Wow, bad idea.

Of course, there was never any threat to Crimea.

How so? Russia's execution of their threat to take over Crimea is exactly what's causing this kind of response on the part of Ukraine.

[Svartalf]

Where will they find the money? Obama's pockets?

[JimC]

Employing a US security firm, given their unsavoury reputation from other theatres, is playing perfectly into Putin's hands. He can make it spin as a western plot with the greatest of ease; one more pretext box ticked before the tanks roll...

Has the US government got a special department devoted to producing utterly fucked-up moves?

[klr]

It would indeed be a spectacularly bad move ... if it were true. It comes from ITAR-TASS, successor to TASS. It's not exactly known for being impartial. Quite the opposite in fact. It smells exactly like the sort of "news" that Russia would want to use as a reason for taking over Eastern Ukraine.

BTW, where on earth would the cash-strapped Ukrainian government get the hard cash to employ such a private army?