Massive Russian Military Movement

[asianobserve]

Or so you thought...and when he fired an ICBM you started beating your chests again..ha ha ha.

Test firing an ICBM is a tired parting shots by losers. Nobody is going to use nukes in Ukraine. This is just an infantile act by loser Putin. By doing it he made himself look like the Kims of NOKOR...

 

[Known_Unknown]

@asianobserve Regardless of the merits of the case (and most cases can be argued from both sides anyway), in a conflict involving the West and Russia, you will see Indians naturally sympathize with the Bear. Despite all the assertions of new-found love with the Americans, the Russians share with us a time tested friendship and are India's closest allies. Hence all throughout this "crisis", the GoI has not uttered a word.

 

[happy]

Firing an ICBM is a tired parting shots by losers. Think of the Kims in NOKOR...

So much for parting shots...ahem.

Russia reports missile test-fire as Ukraine tensions rise - European News | Latest News from Across Europe | The Irish Times - Tue, Mar 04, 2014

Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine - CBS News

UPDATE 3-Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine | Reuters

Poland's fear of 'the Russian Bear' | Europe | DW.DE | 04.03.2014

News in 90 Seconds - ABC Grandstand Sport (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Europe - Russia tests ballistic missile amid tension over Ukraine - France 24

U.S. official: United States was notified of ICBM test [UPDATE] - UPI.com

 

[cobra commando]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TNKsLlK52ss
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y57vy4vWb-E

 

[pmaitra]

Russia has nothing to lose here. What does Russia need from the US? Nothing at all.

Russian currency is backed by its resources. The Dollar and Euro are backed by thin air. The US GDP, despite being high, is used up in paying for its interest on its high debt, and in paying off its bills, and it has to keep borrowing money to keep the Dollar viable, and it has to keep paying more interest. Now, the question, who loans money to the US? Apart from PRC, it is Russia.

So, what does one make of "economic sanctions" that the US threatened? Nothing really. It is all empty threat. An aide to Mr. Putin has said that Russia would stop loaning money to US banks in retaliation, if the US tries to play tricks. Meanwhile, UK has decided it will not impose sanctions, because it needs Russian investment to prevent its economy from collapsing. There is a rift between the US and EU, and EU wants to go soft on Russia.

One must keep in mind that many countries in the world are expecting a collapse of the Dollar. India recently bought 200 metric tons of gold, because it is losing faith in the Dollar. PRC is importing gold so that it can set up its Renminbi as an alternative gold backed currency. Germany, recently, wanted to see its gold with the US Fed, only to discover that it is not there. Under such circumstances, the US' best bet is to sit it out, to avoid further embarrassing itself.

 

[Razor]

Russia allowed to have 25,000 troops in Crimea since 1999...and other facts you didn't know

Ukraine's statement at the UN that 16,000 Russian soldiers have been deployed to Crimea has caused a frenzy among Western media which chooses to ignore that those troops have been there since the late 1990s in accordance with a Kiev-Moscow agreement.

Western media describes the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea as if a full-scale Russian invasion were under way, with headlines like: "Ukraine says Russia sent 16,000 troops to Crimea" and "Ukraine crisis deepens as Russia sends more troops into Crimea," as well as "What can Obama do about Russia's invasion of Crimea?"

It seems they have chosen to simply ignore the fact that those Russian troops have been stationed in Crimea for over a decade.

Russia's representative to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, reminded on Tuesday that the deal surrounding the Black Sea Fleet allows Russia to station a contingent of up to 25,000 troops in Ukraine. However, US and British media have mostly chosen to turn a deaf ear.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underlined that the country's military "strictly executes the agreements which stipulate the Russian fleet's presence in Ukraine, and follows the stance and claims coming from the legitimate authority in Ukraine and in this case the legitimate authority of the Autonomous Republic Crimea as well."

So here are the facts, numbers, and details of this long-standing (but rarely cited) deal:

1) The Black Sea Fleet has been disputed between Russia and Ukraine since the collapse of the Soviet Union back in 1991.

2) In 1997, the sides finally managed to find common ground and signed three agreements determining the fate of the military bases and vessels in Crimea. Two years later, in 1999, the Russian and Ukrainian parliaments ratified them. Russia has received 81.7 percent of the fleet's ships after paying the Ukrainian government a compensation of US$526.5 million.

3) Moscow also annually writes off $97.75 million of Kiev's debt for the right to use Ukrainian waters and radio frequency resources, and for the environmental impact caused by the Black Sea Fleet's operations. [Inspite of this Ukr still owes Russia billions]

4) According to the initial agreement, the Russian Black Sea Fleet was to stay in Crimea until 2017, but the deal was later prolonged for another 25 years.

5) The 1997 deal allows the Russian navy to have up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery systems with a caliber smaller than 100 mm, 132 armored vehicles, and 22 military planes on Ukrainian territory.

6) In compliance with those accords, there are currently five Russian naval units stationed in the port city of Sevastopol in the Crimean peninsula:

- The 30th Surface Ship Division formed by the 11th Antisubmarine Ship Brigade, which includes the Black Sea Fleet's flagship guard missile cruiser Moskva as well as Kerch, Ochakov, Smetlivy, Ladny, and Pytlivy vessels, and the 197th Landing Ship Brigade, consisting of seven large amphibious vessels;

- The 41st Missile Boat Brigade, which includes the 166th Fast Attack Craft Division, consisting of Bora and Samum hovercrafts as well as small missile ships Mirazh and Shtil, and 295th missile Boat Division;

- The 247th Separate Submarine Division, consisting of two diesel submarines – B-871 Alrosa and B-380 Svyatoy Knyaz Georgy;

- The 68th Harbor Defense Ship Brigade formed by the 400th Antisubmarine Ship Battalion of four vessels and 418 Mine Hunting Ship Division, which consist of four ships as well;

- The 422nd Separate Hydrographic Ship Division, which includes Cheleken, Stvor, Donuzlav and GS-402 survey vessels as well as a group of hydrographic boats.

7) Besides the naval units, Moscow also has two airbases in Crimea, which are situated in the towns of Kacha and Gvardeysky. When Russian planes landed in Gvardeysky last week, W. media was jumping up and down.

8) The Russian coastal forces in Ukraine consist of the 1096th Separate Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in Sevastopol and the 810th Marine Brigade, which hosts around 2,000 marines. (Several other coastal units of the Black Sea Fleet are located in Russia's Krasnodar Region, including the 11th Separate Coastal Missile Brigade in Anapa, the 382th Separate Marine Battalion, and a naval reconnaissance station in Temryuk).

Last week, Russia's Federation Council unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin's request to send the country's military forces to Ukraine to ensure peace and order in the region "until the socio-political situation in the country is stabilized."

However, the final say about deploying troops lies with Putin, who hasn't yet made such a decision, stressing that deploying military force would be a last resort.

Authorities in the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea – where more than half the population is Russian – requested Moscow's assistance after the self-proclaimed government in Kiev introduced a law abolishing the use of languages other than Ukrainian in official circumstances.

http://rt.com/news/russian-troops-crimea-ukraine-816/

 

[Sridhar]

Putin Says Those Aren't Russian Forces In Crimea

(We updated this post at 11:55 a.m. ET.)

Russian President Vladimir Putin during his news conference Tuesday.

Russian soldiers have not occupied government buildings and surrounded Ukrainian military bases on the Crimean Peninsula, Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Tuesday during a news conference near Moscow at which he gave an account of recent events that contradicts reports from the ground.

Instead, he told reporters that the heavily armed men are "local self-defense forces."

What's more, anything Russia has done, Putin said without offering specifics, has been part of a "humanitarian mission" to protect ethnic Russians in Crimea.

But even as he said no Russian troops have been involved in the latest events in Crimea, Putin drew comparisons that would seem to indicate they had been. "Our actions are often described by the West as not legitimate, but look at U.S. operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya," he said, according to a BBC translation of his comments. "Our actions are legitimate from the point of view of international law, because Ukraine's legitimate president asked us for help. ... Defending these people is in our interests. ... We do not want to 'enslave' anyone."

Putin made the claims about a lack of involvement by Russian forces even though Russian military helicopters have been seen in the skies over Crimea, Russian trucks have been seen moving the armed men to key locations, and the soldiers in unmarked uniforms speak Russian and in some cases have told reporters and local residents that they are members of the Russian military.

, and live-blogged as Putin spoke. Among the highlights:

— Is Putin concerned about a war breaking out? "No, because we will not go to war with the Ukrainian people." (The Guardian)

— Does he think ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia last week, has a political future? No, "and I have told this to him. ... He would have been killed in Ukraine had we not helped him." (BBC News)

— Sanctions against Russia would make matters worse. "All threats against Russia are counterproductive and harmful," Putin said, while adding that Russia is ready to host the G-8 summit in June — but if Western leaders do not want to come, "they don't need to." (Reuters)

— Russia is not going to try to annex Crimea, Putin said. (BBC News)

On 'Morning Edition': NPR's David Greene speaks with 'New York Times' Moscow correspondent Steven Lee Myers

The Russian leader's news conference followed word from Moscow that "tens of thousands of Russian troops participating in military exercises near Ukraine's border" .

That's being taken "generally as a good sign," NPR's Peter Kenyon, who is in Crimea, .

There was also no "military storm" — — Tuesday morning.

But the rumors about a possible Russian attack had been debunked earlier. As for the order for troops taking part in exercises on the Russian side of the border with Ukraine to return to their bases, New York Times correspondent Steven Lee Myers that those exercises had already been scheduled to end today.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Kiev today for talks with officials from the interim government that replaced the Yanukovych regime. He arrives, the White House says in a statement released early Tuesday, with the news that the Obama administration "is working with Congress and the government of Ukraine to provide $1 billion in loan guarantees aimed at helping insulate vulnerable Ukrainians from the effects of reduced energy subsidies."

After landing in Kiev Tuesday, Kerry brought flowers to a shrine to those killed in recent weeks and reiterated that the U.S. stands with Ukraine "for self-determination."

Incredibly moving visit to Shrine of the Fallen.Courageous,proud people.We stand w/ Ukrainians for self-determination
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry)

Update at 11:55 a.m. ET: Kerry And Obama Discuss Ukraine Crisis

Saying that people had "put themselves on the line" for Ukraine's future, Kerry said at a news conference from Kiev that Ukrainians who had asked for their rights and for democracy had instead been met with snipers' bullets. He also said he spoke to several people who pleaded for help.

Of the military tensions in Crimea, Kerry said, "we are in a new phase" of the confrontation.

"We condemn the Russian Federation's act of aggression," he said. And he praised "the restraint that the transitional government has shown" despite what he called an invasion. (You can read our full post on Kerry's and Obama's remarks .)

Kerry spoke around the same time that President Obama unveiled his 2015 budget blueprint today; he was asked about the situation in Ukraine and what Russia has been doing.

"There have been some reports that President Putin is pausing for a moment and reflecting on what's happened," Obama said.

Then he added that "there is a strong belief that Russia action is violating international law. ... President Putin seems to have a different set of lawyers doing a different set of interpretations. ... I don't think that's fooling anybody."

In Kiev, Kerry seemed surprised by a reporter's question about Putin's remarks earlier Tuesday.

"He really denied there are troops in Crimea?" he asked, interrupting the question.

Our original post continues:

Although the situation in Crimea has been tense since the armed men showed up Friday to surround military bases and take over some strategic locations, there has been no serious violence. Ukrainian forces have stayed in their barracks. The only confrontation reported so far came Tuesday, when some of the armed men fired warning shots in the air after Ukrainian military personnel — who weren't armed — tried to enter an airfield that has been taken over.

We've previously summed up what sparked last month:

"The protests were sparked in part by the president's rejection of a pending trade treaty with the European Union and his embrace of more aid from Russia. Protesters were also drawn into the streets to demonstrate against government corruption."
Putin Says Those Aren't Russian Forces In Crimea : The Two-Way : NPR

 

[Razor]

Ukro-Nazis, the new friends of US and EU

What is Ukraine? Literally, it means the borderlands. It comes from the word "Krai," like Krasnoyarsk Krai or Altai Krai. Yes, it is a Russian word. One may call Ukrainian a language, or a dialect of Russian, just like Dutch could be called a dialect of German.

Anyway, is Ukraine really the borderlands?

Here is the proof (from Telegraph, UK):

Most of the territory annexed and joined to the original puny Ukraine was done by the Russians, and they have a legitimate claim to it.

Now, the Ukrainian nationalists, unhappy with a democratically elected President, decides to take money ($5 billion, that came from the US), to toss Molotov cocktails and use violence to grab power.

Once in power, what is the first thing they do? They ban Russian language, the language spoken by half the country. This isn't the first time these Ukro-Nazis have done this.

Have a look at this picture (from BBC):

So, these Ukro-Nazis have become the latest darlings of the US and the EU.

So, who are these thugs?

Well, these are the western Ukrainians, from the poor and less industrialized regions, living off the back of the industrialized and predominantly Russian and productive west.

Now, lets come back to the drama queen, John Kerry. What is he doing in Ukraine? Laying flowers to a bunch of gangsters who were busy setting fire to government buildings in Kiev.

Here is the drama queen Kerry, with an expressionless face.

If a man were to throw a Molotov cocktail on a federal building in Washington DC, he would be shot and killed in less than 300 seconds. How would Kerry treat that man's grave? Or better still, why doesn't he go and lay a wreath on the grave of Timothy McVeigh? McVeigh did almost exactly the same thing as those killed in Kiev (except the martyred cops)!

Finally, for some laughs, that Al-Qaida sympathizer John McCain, has been busy flapping his gums, ever since this crisis started.

McCain, disappointed with Obama's lack of desire to pick a fight with Putin, volunteers to be the Light Brigand and make a solitary bayonet charge against the Russians in Crimea. (Of course, this is a joke. I don't know what he is saying, and nor do I care.)

Just wait till this cools down. The propaganda machine will start full swing with eveel Putin being labelled Hitler-like (how ironic), anti- christ and how western leaders supported freedom and stood for the noble ideas of democracy and free and fair elections blah blah blah

 

[happy]

Seems like the time is coming near when the United States is going to have its USSR moment

 

[asianobserve]

@asianobserve Regardless of the merits of the case (and most cases can be argued from both sides anyway), in a conflict involving the West and Russia, you will see Indians naturally sympathize with the Bear. Despite all the assertions of new-found love with the Americans, the Russians share with us a time tested friendship and are India's closest allies. Hence all throughout this "crisis", the GoI has not uttered a word.

I doubt on the friendship thing, maybe the Indian political elites have an old tryst with the USSR. As far as I know flocks of ordinary Indians are trooping the US Embassy everyday trying to get to the US and live there. I don't hear that happening in the Russian embassy in Delhi.

Anyway, regarding India's non-involvement in this issue, I think what GOI is doing is right. Ukraine has no direct consequence to Indian interests.

 

[asianobserve]

Russia allowed to have 25,000 troops in Crimea since 1999...and other facts you didn't knowhttp://rt.com/news/russian-troops-crimea-ukraine-816/

Putin Says Those Aren't Russian Forces In Crimea
Putin Says Those Aren't Russian Forces In Crimea : The Two-Way : NPR

The Russians can't even put up a straight tale on their invasion... So what is it really, are those troops that have surrounded Ukrainian military facilities and controlled airports in Crimea Russian militarymen or not? This confused narrative from Kremlin only goes to show that just like the West Russia has been caught unprepared in Ukraine. Russia clearly was not able to prepare and train Crimean separatists in Crimea before the flare-up hence it is forced to send in regular Russian troops that Putin and his deputies are struggling to explain.

 

[Razor]

The Russians can't even put up a straight tale on their invasion... So what is it really, are those troops that have surrounded Ukrainian military facilities and controlled airports in Crimea Russian militarymen or not? This confused narrative from Kremlin only goes to show that just like the West Russia has been caught unprepared in Ukraine. Russia clearly was not able to prepare and train Crimean separatists in Crimea before the flare-up hence it is forced to send in regular Russian troops that Putin and his deputies are struggling to explain.

You seem to have comprehension problems.

Russia is allowed to have up to 25k troops in Crimea in the various bases that Russia possesses in Crimea.
What Putin says is that the troops outside of the bases are (peaceful) Crimean self defense forces just like the peaceful protesters in Kiev.

 

[happy]

North Atlantic Council Meeting: NATO Folds Ranks Against Russia

Statement by the North Atlantic Council following meeting under article 4 of the Washington Treaty:

The North Atlantic Council has met at Poland's request to hold consultations within the framework of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which states that "the parties will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the parties is threatened."

Despite repeated calls by the international community, Russia continues to violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to violate its international commitments.

These developments present serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro"‘Atlantic area.

Allies stand together in the spirit of strong solidarity in this grave crisis.

We undertake to pursue and intensify our rigorous and on-going assessment of the implications of this crisis for Alliance security, in close coordination and consultation.

We continue to support all constructive efforts for a peaceful solution to the current crisis in accordance with international law. We welcome the ongoing efforts undertaken by the United Nations, the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

We will continue to consult with Ukraine within the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

We will engage with Russia in the NATO-Russia Council. We will hold a meeting tomorrow.

North Atlantic Council Meeting: NATO Folds Ranks Against Russia | Stop NATO...Opposition to global militarism

******************************

What complete BS and hypocrisy. Why is Poland so concerned ? What interest does NATO have in a Non-NATO country.

 

[Srinivas_K]

No Easy Way Out of Ukraine Crisis

WASHINGTON — For all his bluster and bravado, President Vladimir V. Putin's assurance on Tuesday that Russia does not plan, at least for now, to seize eastern Ukraine suggested a possible path forward in the geopolitical crisis that has captivated the world. Global markets reacted with relief, and the White House with cautious optimism.

But the development presented a tricky conundrum for President Obama and his European allies. Even if Russia does leave eastern Ukraine alone and avoids escalating its military intervention, can it effectively freeze in place its occupation of the Crimean Peninsula? Would the United States and Europe be forced to tacitly accept that or could they find a way to roll it back — and, if so, at what price?

Ever since Russian forces took control of Crimea, Mr. Obama's aides have privately conceded that reversing the occupation would be difficult, if not impossible, in the short run and focused on drawing a line to prevent Mr. Putin from going further.

If Crimea in coming weeks remains cordoned off, it will then require a concerted effort to force Russia to pull back troops, an effort that could divide the United States from European allies who may be more willing to live with the new status quo.

For the moment, the White House was focused on preventing the confrontation from escalating. While dismayed if not surprised by Mr. Putin's bellicosity and justification of his actions, American officials took some solace that he said he saw no need at this point for intervention in Russian-speaking areas of eastern Ukraine. They were also encouraged by his seeming acceptance of elections in May as a way to legitimize a new Ukrainian government and by his decision to cancel a military exercise near the border. And they detected no new influx of troops into Crimea.

While Secretary of State John Kerry visited Kiev on Tuesday to show support for its beleaguered pro-Western government, Mr. Obama consulted with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany by telephone about finding a face-saving way for Mr. Putin to withdraw in favor of international monitors.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Obama said some had interpreted Mr. Putin's remarks earlier in the day to mean he "is pausing for a moment and reflecting on what's happened."

Others cautioned against reading too much into Mr. Putin's statements. "It would be a mistake on our part to look at what he's saying and think this crisis is almost over: 'O.K., we've lost Crimea, but the rest of the country is with us,' " said Ivo Daalder, Mr. Obama's first ambassador to NATO and now president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

He said Crimea would become a precedent: "Crimea is a big deal. It means a country can be invaded, and a big piece of it can be taken away with no price. But two, this isn't just about Crimea. This is about who is ultimately in control of Ukraine."

The situation remained tense, as Obama administration officials moved forward with plans for sanctions that could be imposed by the United States and, they hoped, in conjunction with European allies. The administration is developing plans for actions that would escalate over time if Russia continued to leave forces in place in Crimea, an autonomous region of Ukraine.

Mr. Obama has authority to take several steps without new legislation from Congress. For starters, under a law called the Magnitsky Act, the State Department has already drafted a list of Russians tied to human rights abuses. The administration could promptly bar them from traveling to the United States, freeze any assets here and cut off their access to American banks.

The president also has the power under existing Syria sanctions to go after Russian individuals and institutions involved in sending arms to help President Bashar al-Assad crush the rebellion there. The administration had held back on such actions while trying to work with Russia to resolve Syria's civil war, but if applied they could cut off certain Russian banks from the international financial system.

Mr. Obama could also sign an executive order creating another set of sanctions specifically against Russian officials and organizations blamed for creating instability in Ukraine and violating its sovereignty. In theory, that could include everyone up to Mr. Putin, but officials indicated that they would instead work their way up the chain of command.

Leaders in Europe, a region dependent on Russian natural gas and with far deeper economic ties to Russia, have expressed reluctance to go along with the toughest sanctions.

But an American order declaring a Russian bank in violation would be sent to banks around the world, forcing them to cut ties with that Russian institution or risk being barred from doing business with the American financial sector.

"My view is that Russia can be forced out of Crimea with the combination of financial sanctions plus straightforward hard diplomacy," said Anders Aslund, a longtime specialist on Russia and Ukraine at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington.

Still, others are more dubious, noting that Mr. Obama may not be willing to go as far as necessary without the support of allies, particularly given that it would presumably jeopardize Russian cooperation on a range of issues, including Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Middle East peace.

The precedent may be Abkhazia and South Ossetia, pro-Moscow regions that broke away from the former Soviet republic of Georgia. After Russia's war with Georgia in 2008, the Kremlin defied the United States and the rest of the world by recognizing their independence and left troops in place to guarantee it. The United States and Europe ultimately resumed doing business as usual with Russia.

Mr. Obama's aides said that Ukraine was different and that they had a hard time imagining going back to a normal relationship as long as Russian troops occupied Crimea. Their first priority is preventing Russia from annexing the peninsula outright, but even leaving it as an enclave under Moscow's control would not be acceptable, they said.

White House officials said they saw three possibilities. The first would be a Russian escalation into eastern Ukraine, one they hope Mr. Putin was signaling he would not pursue. The second would be Russia deciding to stay put in Crimea, either through annexation or through de facto rule. The third would be Russia taking what American officials call an offramp, agreeing to let international monitors replace Russian troops in the streets to guard against any attacks on Russian speakers and accepting the Ukrainian government that emerges from the May elections.

Mr. Obama said Tuesday that he recognized that Russia had natural interests in its neighbor. But he said he would not accept what he called a violation of international law.

"I know President Putin seems to have a different set of lawyers making a different set of interpretations," he said, "but I don't think that's fooling anybody."

Mr. Obama added that Ukrainians should have the right to determine their own fate. "Mr. Putin can throw a lot of words out there, but the facts on the ground indicate that right now he's not abiding by that principle," he said. "There is still the opportunity for Russia to do so, working with the international community to help stabilize the situation."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/world/europe/no-easy-way-out.html?_r=0

 

[alphacentury]

Thanks to USA, the Russian invasion is justified.There was no reason for ousting the president ,when he agreed for early elections.They just gave Russia a very good reason to use their forces.

I think, Not a single body, including Ukraine have been responsible and thoughtful in this very crisis .when you go to protest with a gun in your hand ,that speaks against your said agenda of democracy and blah..blah. And the USA(of course are irresponsible and thoughtless abot ukraine ) ,with their agenda to make Russia look evil and bad have been successfull i must say, and sadly everybody including ukrainians are buying it.

And about Russia ,i dont think Putin was left with a choice .and to ukranians, your new president (if remains in power) will do wonders for you. wait and see. Aur aapko apki naye dost ,nayi baap mubarak ho.

 

[asianobserve]

You seem to have comprehension problems.

Russia is allowed to have up to 25k troops in Crimea in the various bases that Russia possesses in Crimea.
What Putin says is that the troops outside of the bases are (peaceful) Crimean self defense forces just like the peaceful protesters in Kiev.

Just so you can protect your hero Putin, you will ignore reason.

Russian forces in Crimea are there as part of their basing agreement. These Russian forces are not there to roam around Crimea freely since Crimea is Ukrainian territory. Don't tell me it is part of the basing agreement of Russia in Crimea to ask the Ukrainian Navy to hand over their bases and ships to the Russians?

The Russian basing Agreement in Crimea is like US basing agreements with the Japanese, which if we follow your logic will allow the Americans to send in their troops to take Okinawa airports, sea ports, communication facilities, government buildings, Police stations and JSDF bases?

 

[happy]

@Damian, @militarysta, @asianobserve, @W.G.Ewald

You guys have vociferously condemned and villianised me to the extent of claiming that I am a Chinese (which I am not) and a false flagger whe I repeatedly said that this was a coup d'etat lead and organized by the West. Now your own citizens are making the same claims. Read on...

A couple of people have wondered if I exaggerated the possibility of war with Russia over Ukraine. I don't think so – in fact I would suggest that the proxy war is already underway.

Two of the first things that happened following the US led coup d'etat in Ukraine was the "new government" declaring that the Russian language would be outlawed in the country (which has millions of Russians in it) and that the ban on Nazi symbols and ideology would be lifted. It cannot be said often enough that many of the violent agitators in Kiev were in fact the ultra-nationalist descendants of those Ukrainian Nazi sympathizers who supported Hitler's invasion of the former Soviet Union during WW II.

But there is even more. NSNBC International reports the following:

Being one of the most reliable sources of information about the activities of Turkey's intelligence service MIT and Turkey's armed forces, Aydinlik Daily quotes a "source that has spoken with the newspaper", alleging, that an intelligence unit linked to Turkey's intelligence service MIT has headed to the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic Crimea to provoke Crimean Turks to act against the ethnic Russian majority and Russian interests in the autonomous republic. The source reported that the deployment of the Turkish unit has been coordinated with both the USA and EU.

Translated this essentially means that for all the moralistic talk coming from the Obama administration about how Russia should not be intervening in Crimea, the US-NATO are, and have been, deeply embedded in the drive to take over Ukraine.

Russian intelligence obviously is aware that this "low intensity" warfare is now being directed by US-NATO. That is why Putin asked his governing body for permission to move Russian forces into the Crimea to stabilize the situation.

I am indeed a lifelong peace activist. I don't support war. But I also have always believed that someone under attack has the right to defend himself or herself. Whether they were the Native Americans; people in Nicaragua being attacked by the US funded and trained Contras; the Syrian government now under attack by a CIA and Saudi Arabian funded and trained Al Qaeda forces; or anywhere else – they have a right to defend their lands.

This morning I watched a bit of mainstream TV news just to get a feel for what the talking heads were saying. Here are some of the things I heard:

1.We must put economic sanctions on Russia
2.Putin does "not care" what the US thinks
3.We must "roll back this Russian invasion"
4.Putin is not in touch with reality
5.It's almost like we are dealing with North Korea
6.Putin is "unstable"
7.There is "confusion in Moscow"
8.Putin is clumsy
9.There could be a military collision
10.US should help bail out Ukraine

The video of Victoria Nuland speaking last December, on a stage decorated with the logos of ExxonMobil and Chevron, is particularly important as she reveals that the US "invested" $5 billion in this coup d'etat. There can be no doubt that the US-NATO have pulled this stunt and is that not a violation of international law to destabilize and overthrow an elected government? (Even if you don't approve of it?) Is that not an act of war toward neighboring Russia and would not Russia have the right to take measures to stabilize the situation?

Yesterday I watched a video from a news conference where Ukrainian Navy Rear Admiral Berezovsky (who had just been appointed to that post by the "new revolutionary government" in Kiev) had come to Crimea and announced that he was not going to support the coup d'etat and instead pledged himself to the Crimean government, which is allied to Russia. The mainstream American media this morning was spinning that story by saying Berozovsky had "surrendered" to Russia.

As you can see on the map above this whole situation is about natural gas and oil. Russia's huge supplies of natural gas are shipped to Europe and other locations by pipelines that run throughout Ukraine. ExxonMobil, Chevron and other western oil majors want control of these resources. Like we've seen in Iraq, Libya, Venezuela and other places that have natural resources, Mr. Big is quite willing to destabilize and go to war if necessary to grab these resources. This is a long-term project by the US-NATO and they are just getting started.

Mr. Big is a bully and when anyone stands up to the bully they will be demonized.

Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
[email protected]
Global Network - Keep Space for Peace!
Organizing Notes (blog)

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. ~Henry David Thoreau

Lighting the Fires for Chaos in Ukraine | Stop NATO...Opposition to global militarism
@pmaitra @Razor good read.

 

[Razor]

Just so you can protect your hero Putin, you will ignore reason.

my hero is the great freedom fighter, defender of democracy, dispenser of justice, protector and patron saint of Ukrainians St.Asianobserve.

Russian forces in Crimea are there as part of their basing agreement. These Russian forces are not there to roam around Crimea freely since Crimea is Ukrainian territory. It is like US basing agreements with the Japanese and South Koreans in Asia. And most certainly they are not there in Crimea to take over civil Ukrainian airports and surround Ukrainian military bases. Don't tell me it is part of the basing agreement of Russia in Crimea to ask the Ukrainian Navy to hand over their bases and ships to the Russians?

The "forces" "roaming" around Crimea are Crimean self Defence forces who are defending their land and preventing lawlessness. They don't have any identification marks to show they are Russian soldiers. So how can I believe that they are Russian soldiers. :herp:

Also Ukrainian Navy Rear Admiral Denis someRussianLastname himself switched sides to the Crimea along with several other high officials in Ukrainian military. :thumb:

 

[happy]

North Atlantic Council Meeting: NATO Folds Ranks Against Russia


North Atlantic Council Meeting: NATO Folds Ranks Against Russia | Stop NATO...Opposition to global militarism

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What complete BS and hypocrisy. Why is Poland so concerned ? What interest does NATO have in a Non-NATO country.

This is best explained by my above post.

And on top of that villifying and what not.

 

[alphacentury]

And some people are saying USA doing humanitarian work in invaded countries and making their lives better. wow ,just wow . I can understand it coming from an American .But, others ,really. . .