tOfficial Russia Goes All Cold War Thread

[Turtleneck]

All things Russia and Ukraine here.

I am not sure what solves this crisis. Ukraine must initiate political reforms at home with a regionally balanced executive and maybe a well kept federal system. But such solutions might be too little too late. From outside the Ukraine, sanctions are probably not enough right now. At this point, it doesn't seem obvious what Putin wants and that makes a sound strategy difficult to develop.

[xsanguine]

I think you'll get more responses if you use words like "Demtards" and "Republimorons" and transparent, unashamed, straw man every single argument someone raises... at least that's how the drones interacted on the other board.

[bryanleeg]

The US should honor its treaties and promises to the people of Ukraine and have their back.

Obama sending kerry over there to shake a stick at Putin just makes us looks weak.

[Turtleneck]

The US should honor its treaties and promises to the people of Ukraine and have their back.

What does that entail?

[bryanleeg]

What does that entail?

I'm not saying send in troops, but not letting Putin run wild in Eastern Europe would be nice.

[Cameron]

I'm not saying send in troops, but not letting Putin run wild in Eastern Europe would be nice.

Not let Putin "run wild" by doing what, exactly?

[Turtleneck]

I'm not saying send in troops, but not letting Putin run wild in Eastern Europe would be nice.

I don't think anybody wants to see Putin run wild in Eastern Europe. With that said, in my opinion not knowing Putin's end game complicates the matter. If this is a traditional power grab, then there is room for greater concern about Putin's long-term intentions. If this is a defensive reaction to NATO expansion (or the general encroachment of the US and Western Europe), I think Putin wants to look strong but is not looking for a fight. If this is about domestic politics, Putin is trying to play the nationalism card to shore up legitimacy issues and this could mean moving into the Ukraine. However, domestic concerns do not seem like they would lead Putin to threaten the rest of Europe. To be honest, I am not sure what the US is supposed to do in this case without knowing what Putin wants from this situation. You are right, the US has not looked strong, but the rest of Europe has not helped our cause. Additional troops are in Poland for exercises, but I am not sure our own show of force helps de-escalate the situation. At the same time, the US is at a place where something other than sanctions need to be on the table. Rock and hard place stuff.

[xsanguine]

Putin's evil and we're the good guise!!!!

[Rocinante]

Putin is in a bad position right now. Even if all of Ukraine were to become part of Russia it's an economic liability not a boon. He's stacking up Brownie points at home while the economics of his country are in turmoil. He wants to puff up his chest? Let him. Economic sanctions are the way to go unless there's overt human rights abuses happening. Smoke and mirrors.

[xsanguine]

He'll be dead within 10 years... probably sooner.

[Turtleneck]

Putin is in a bad position right now. Even if all of Ukraine were to become part of Russia it's an economic liability not a boon. He's stacking up Brownie points at home while the economics of his country are in turmoil. He wants to puff up his chest? Let him. Economic sanctions are the way to go unless there's overt human rights abuses happening. Smoke and mirrors.

Do you think oil and natural gas exports can weather sanctions? Meaning Putin can insulate himself from the larger economy and persist given the windfall those exports bring. So far its seems that Europe has been reluctant to go all in because Russia can successfully leverage energy resources.

[Trapper Gus]

All things Russia and Ukraine here.

I am not sure what solves this crisis. Ukraine must initiate political reforms at home with a regionally balanced executive and maybe a well kept federal system. But such solutions might be too little too late. From outside the Ukraine, sanctions are probably not enough right now. At this point, it doesn't seem obvious what Putin wants and that makes a sound strategy difficult to develop.

Seriously there don't seem to be any "good guys" in this fight...

The people who took over Ukraine are said to be Neo-Nazis...

Putin is an Empire Builder who is trying to reclaim what was for even before the Revolution part of the Russian sphere of influence if not really considered part of Russia...

There are hold over Neo-Con factions within the US government who are using this thwart the President's polices...(Obama's "Hope & Change" plus Bush protecting political appointees by executive ordering them into the civil service - Obama should have cleaned house when he took over but was too inexperienced for the job but I lost that battle two boards ago)

So hopefully the US is following a game plan but with our internal fights it seems unlikely...

It is a big mess

[Cosmo_Kramer]

**** russia

[Turtleneck]

Gearing up in an attempt to deter Putin?

"A company of U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers is flying into Tallinn Monday, part of a deployment of 600 U.S. troops in Poland and the Baltic states. F-16s from Denmark are due Wednesday at an airfield newly designated as a NATO facility. In Brussels, NATO is debating whether to make the deployment of troops and planes to the region permanent, thereby scrapping a 1997 pledge to Russia not to station forces in the central and Eastern European countries that joined the alliance after the Soviet Union’s collapse."

washingtonpost.com/opinions/jackson-diehl-ukraines-wake-up-call-for-nato/2014/04/27/1cb65dbe-ce03-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html?wprss=rss_opinions

[Turtleneck]

The link below mentions that the Ukrainian government is stepping up action, and that, in the voice of the alien from Independence Day, Putin says no peace.

This is a nice downward spiral of sorts.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/02/gunfire-blasts-ukraine/8594579/

[Guest]

The link below mentions that the Ukrainian government is stepping up action, and that, in the voice of the alien from Independence Day, Putin says no peace.

This is a nice downward spiral of sorts.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/02/gunfire-blasts-ukraine/8594579/

It's getting crazy. 30 or so Russian separatists killed in a burning building in Odessa.

[Turtleneck]

On the brink of splitting into two states. Russia is getting their way at each step.

I think the day has come that the US can no loner manage international politics by itself.

[The_Dude]

Putin taking a page out of Lord Baelish's playbook. Keep your enemies guessing as to what you truly want.

[MasonGuy]

Putin taking a page out of Lord Baelish's playbook.  Keep your enemies guessing as to what you truly want.

...and always carry a big stick and never bring a knife to a gun fight. Might makes right and he will show us all that.

[Guest]

Putin's statements yesterday: Promising development or more snake oil?

[Turtleneck]

I don't see how he is trustworthy at this point. It could just be an attempt to give the appearance that Russia took steps to deescalate the situation, but when that does not happen he will have a stronger case for Russian intervention (to stabilize a neighboring state).

[Guest]

I don't see how he is trustworthy at this point. It could just be an attempt to give the appearance that Russia took steps to deescalate the situation, but when that does not happen he will have a stronger case for Russian intervention (to stabilize a neighboring state).

Reports I've seen show no sign that Russian troops have moved away from the border.

[Turtleneck]

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/16/5717674/obamas-plan-to-let-putin-hang-himself-is-working

Is Obama's Russian policy working? Maybe critics jumped the gun when labeling Obama weak and incapable of countering Russian aggression.

[Turtleneck]

Stephen Crowley @Stcrow
AWKWARD FAMILY PHOTO-Obama, Queen Elizabeth, Petro Poroshenko, President-Elect of Ukraine (left) and Putin on right.

[Turtleneck]

Putin says shut it down.

http://www.the-american-interest.com/blog/2014/06/16/gazprom-kills-gas-supply-to-ukraine/

[Hut1hut2]

...and always carry a big stick and never bring a knife to a gun fight. Might makes right and he will show us all that.

Plus Obama mom' jean wearing vag

[Hut1hut2]

Plus Obama is a mom' jean wearing vag

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