Ukraine

[Theyer]

Well ,it looks like its set to be Cold War 2 .

I have been following the protests through the winter , was delighted with the piano mans bravery. he played to riot police lined up , tooled up , to show the demonstrations where peacefull, after that the piano turned up regularly at demo,s .

Now after the people where slayed by snipers , the president Has disappeared, his Palace the usual extreme bad taste corruption cess pit.

Putin,s making angry grunts , The EU are talking with the Politicians who want closer contact with Europe , any problems between the Russian community and Ukrainians will be manipulated by the powers that be .

Scary Scary Scary

[RobbyR]

The EU is a total joke & worthless, they're totally inept. I am still majorly pissed about Putin's anti-gay laws, (not to mention many here in the US too). I'm old enough to remember the actual Cold War & it was not something we want to repeat, but it looks more & more like we're headed down that road.

I try to look at things in realistic terms..The reality is that Putin crosses us at almost every turn, he has crushed opposition at home & made Russia a horrible police state, to rival that of the old USSR, & every time a small country on his border tries to break free of Moscow's influence, he does everything he can to prevent it. Remember 2008, when Putin invaded the small country of Georgia. Not sure if he'll invade Ukraine, but he won't stand by & let Ukraine fall into the West's lap.

Putin is an old KGB man, he's all about all or nothing, zero-sum, & seeing the world for what benefits Russia & nothing else. It's naive & stupid to think Putin has a good bone in his body or wouldn't stab us in the back every chance he gets.

Russia makes anti-gay bigotry a state religion essential, & this is all because of Putin's fascist ideology.

There aren't many good options from the US point of view, we have little if any leverage. And since Obama set fake red lines & didn't follow through with them on Syria, Putin & nobody else takes him seriously.

I hope Ukraine can escape Russia's influence, but I don't see them letting that happen. And we're basically broke & have too many problems here to do anything about it.

[tednlou2]

I saw a map of the Russian gas lines running through Ukraine to many parts of Europe.  It looked like arteries running throughout the heart. 

[Theyer]

BBC this am  quoting Putin as saying "It would be dangerous for the Ukraine to choose between Russia and Europe "

Putin has already closed the gas line to the Ukraine .

What does give a slither off hope is so far the demonstrators behaviour , no looting off the Presidential Palace , Peoples security established after the Police left the streets

[Theyer]

Putin wants/is cannot get it clear to send in 6000 Russian troops. I am not blind to the fact that the Ukraine has differant religious / national groups and that history has left awful memories for all to deal with but for Putin this is a Godsend for him to work on his Putin the Hard man act, sadly so attractive to a percentage off the voting Russians . Cult off Personality fucking rides again , its bloody tailor made for him .

Europe has got some work to do and must not forget the Ukraine is in the continent off Europe .

[Theyer]

Are the pro Russian activities in the Ukraine being reported on US national news?
Today another Judicial building was fought over and this is getting uglier every day ,Putin seems immune to everything so Far. Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear defence with the promise off protection from NATO if they where attacked, so we either show the world our promises mean the opposite or further , tougher action is required.