Russian invasion of Crimea

[Bypah]

I don't understand, where are you getting your information that isn't on the internet or TV? Do you live anywhere near Russia or eastern Europe? You act as if you have some insider information, but in fact all you're doing is taking the side of the Russians and demonizing the protester movement.

Well my friend simple...I have a degree in European History specializing in what they used to call 20 + years ago " sovietology".This before the internet so I had to read and do a lot of research. Plus add close to 19 years teaching about it.
As I mentioned before , once you know the history of the geopolitics of the region as well as I know for so many years I can say I almost have an "insider look" as you said.
Plus as I mentioned whatever you see, read or hear on the TV or the web is not neutral or objective. Olli mentioned the example, back in the 60's when the USSR tried to put the missiles in Cuba the US went ballistic and almost brought WWIII. ,why? Simple, they felt threatened byt the other big dog in their own back yard.
Ever since the USSR disbanded and everybody in the west said "WE WON" the cold war, they have been trying to dismantle, pressure and underestimate the Russians in any way, shape and form possible. Hey, there is proof that the CIA pumped millions of $$$ to help the alcoholic of Yeltsin in order to weaken Russia. , Adrian said it perfectly "Putin wants to avenge the cluster f*ck Yeltsin left behind.
Russia never "lost" the Cold War , they simply called quits and withdrew temporarily. The Russian bear everyone thought was declawed and weak showed them other wise.
Now, comparing this to the division of Germany by the allies and soviets, or the case of Mexico and "Atzlán" is way too simplistic and the two can't compare with the conditions of the Crimean peninsula, Russian and the Ukraine. IF you want to understand more go an look for information of that region in the XIX century when the Ottomans ruled the area and both the west and Russia tried to control the zone. , then if still interested read about the beginning of the XX century until 1954 when the URSS gave Crimea as a good will goft to the Ukranian SSR.
Also goggle or read about how Russia since imperial times wanted to have a warm water port in the Black Sea or go further back in time to the Kievan Rus and Alexander Nievsky, the founder of the Russian state to understand why Russia if pushed would try to take back Kiev and eventually Ukraine.

Peace!

[ak70g2]

A very pertinent opinion. Bypah, if you ever think of it, you're welcome in the Eastern Europe/Balkans. I think we'll find you a teaching position in an Romanian College as invited professor. As host, I'd like to present you some things about "old" Eastern Europe, like these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernacular ... arpathians

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpathian_Wooden_Churches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mostar_Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarajevo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danube_delta

Hope you'll find those things interesting.

[Fusilier]

Watch closely - this weekend and next week could bring a new war If Russia is going to attack Ukraine it's going to be in a very near future and this is why:
1. Russia now has now gathered no less than 30 000 troops near Ukrainian border in Kursk, Voronezh and Rostov. These are battle ready troops from best divisions witch are ready to move in eastern Ukraine. They are on high alert level. The second line of Russian troops consists of ~ 100 000 troops. Whoever served in military knows that such massive dislocation of army means no exercises. Also Russians have gathered great number of troops in Crimea and Transnistria.
2. Although Ukraine managed to gather their Army troops and deploy them in eastern regions, but their capabilities are very low also inner political crisis is not healthy for combat spirit. There could be united exercises on the end of April - May with US troops, so Russia would strike while where are no American soldiers on Ukrainian soil and NATO support is still weak.
3. There is new military draft in Russia next week, that means experienced soldiers could go home.
4. The weather is very good for Russian vehicles.

I only hope that Putin still have some sense in him...

[Bypah]

Found this picture from "Der Spiegel" and is very interesting. It explains what is going on from the Russian perspective.

The US did the same thing during the 20th century in the Americas, which they consider "their backyard" or sphere of influence. This concept began in the 19th century with the "Manifest Destiny" and "America for the Americans"...Remember?
1.the Missile Crisis in Cuba in the 60's which they almost brought the world to WWIII.
2. the Sandinistas won in Nicaragua and took out the US backed dictator of Somoza in 1979, they then financed the Contras guerrilla warfare against them for many years untl they put a "democratically" elected puppet , Violeta Chamorro in the 90's.
3. "Operation Urgent Fury" in 1983 when they invaded The Caribbean island of Grenada and took out the democratically elected government because they "leaned to the left" The excuse? To "protect" American citizens, a bunch of med school rejects.

And plenty of other interventions in the different countries in the area. The most recent one is the financing of the "opposition" in Venezuela, a group of rich people and oligarchs that have been destabilizing Caracas in recent months.

The issue is neither being anti "west/ American " or "pro Russian/soviet". Is simple perspective. IF you have a "glass ceiling don't throw stones to the neighbor's..."
Is easy to see the double standard. BOTH nations have done the same thing.

[rik_uk3]

Old Vladimir has his eye on Finland too
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 24273.html

Doubt that would be a walkover for any Russian forces trying to take it though.

[housil]

Too bad Finland (and Sweden either) never joined a(ny) military alliance. They felt "save" as long as they are neutral...

[dirtbag]

Perhaps Russian tanks will finally roll thru the Fulda Gap, with Vlad riding the first tank, with his shirt off...

BAD case of small man syndrome!

If it wasn't for all the nukes, Russia is very much a third world country, nekulturny too...

[rik_uk3]

Russia these last few years has being quietly playing a game of 'gently, gently catcha monkey' and started improving their military infrastructure and hardware. They've moved on a lot in terms of technology too plus they are close to Finland, they could get an awful lot of feet in the field fast. I doubt they will try and go into Finland yet...a few years down the line though who knows.

[fdsman]

Russia these last few years has being quietly playing a game of 'gently, gently catcha monkey' and started improving their military infrastructure and hardware. They've moved on a lot in terms of technology too plus they are close to Finland, they could get an awful lot of feet in the field fast. I doubt they will try and go into Finland yet...a few years down the line though who knows.

What ever will happen, is going to take place in these next two years. Putin knows what kind of president we have, and is going to take full advantage of his weak position on the invasion of Crimea, as an indicator of how he will act in future invasions. Having Russian political officials laugh at your sanctions and asset freezings is a pretty tell-tale sign they give zero concern to your opposition to their actions.

[prado67]

Crimean occupation resembles me German occupation of Czechoslovakia: Hitler, like Putin, also wanted to defend German speakin population Sudeten. Everybody speaks about 58.5% Russian population, but nobody mentions how Russians became majority in this peninsula. The answer is off course brutal cleasings. Crimea untill XX c. was mostly in inhabited by native Tatars, but Stalin deported them denying their right to come back (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportatio ... ean_Tatars) and inhabiting there russians, making military bases etc. That's how You make an Enclave. Soviets made many such eclaves in the buffer zone near the Iron curtain to inflict possible future conflicts (Konigsberk - Kaliningrad, Transnistria, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Nagorno-Karabakh and others).
Now the etchnic questions are always loudly disputed, but Crimean occupation is an international law question as Russia clearly broke Budapest agreement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_M ... Assurances). In conclution I hope that Crimean occupation will show to those western countries who still think that You can communicate with Russia as it was normal state that You just can't negotiate with a drunk bear.

I want to learn from Fusilier-and why the countries of NATO place the military bases round Russia, from all directions? ? ? Likely for defense, huh?? ? And most likely from Iran as NATO politicians say lies. And can be then from penguins? It sounds more plausibly. Abroad there are more than 860 bases, most of all in Germany (305), Japan (158) and South Korea.
The Soviet Union did the military bases only for the protection against military bases of the countries of NATO which are located round it.
It is surprising to hear from the person living it seems as in Europe (though Baltic-what it is Europe? Misunderstanding any, instead of Europe) complete ignorance of history. Nagorno-Karabakh resulted from the conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanians, Russia there is nothing. Abkhazia arose as a result Georgians fired from rocket launchers at the city of Tskhinvali with peace people who after that naturally didn't want to live with Georgians in one state at night and separated. The Crimea itself separated from Ukraine! ! ! ! Only after its office the population of the Crimea wanted to be a part of Russia. Also held a referendum on which 96 percent of the population wanted to enter structure of Russia.
It would be desirable to ask the person living on boondocks of Europe - and why in your Latvia there are citizens, and there are not citizens which on anything have no right! Such even Hitler didn't do! Where your European democracy? Though Latvians were together with Hitler and in the cruelty surpassed fascists. Wikipedia too very well remembers it! ! ! ! ! The Russian people well remember it
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9B%D0% ... 0%A1%D0%A1