Quote:Armed men have seized the government buildings in the capital of the Ukraine’s Crimea region and hoisted a Russian flag over a barricade.

The men occupying the parliament building in the regional capital, Simferopol, early on Thursday did not come out to voice any demands. They wore black and orange ribbons, a Russian symbol of the victory in World War II. The men also put up a sign saying “Crimea is Russia.”

They threw a flash grenade in response to a journalist’s questions. Phone calls to region’s legislature rang unanswered, and its website was down.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/fe...nt-reports

Have to give Putin some credit for making the most out of the Olympic games.

Dang, if I had read this yesterday, I would have gotten one more trivia question right last nite.

There’s a reason that Simferopol is an anagram for Me For Spoil.

The Russian's naval fleet has a base nearby. Crimea is defintiely historically Russianso if any split occurs that part of the Ukraine will go to Russia.

This is getting good now.

What was it the kaiser said would set off a war, "Some damn fool thing in the Balkans"?

(02-27-2014 09:47 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  This is getting good now.

It'll be interesting. Pretty sure the US and Europe will flood money into Ukraine and so will Russia. A split will probably occur eventually, hopefully without bloodshed.

Remember Russia tried to get control of a warm weather port for years.
So do not buy that it is historically Russian.

(02-27-2014 09:49 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 09:47 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  This is getting good now.

It'll be interesting. Pretty sure the US and Europe will flood money into Ukraine and so will Russia. A split will probably occur eventually, hopefully without bloodshed.

I wouldn't be surprised.

The ethnic divide is almost insurmountable. A nice split would be preferable.

Anybody else feel like this is more politics of the 19th century going on here?

(02-27-2014 09:51 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Remember Russia tried to get control of a warm weather port for years.
So do not buy that it is historically Russian.

The main language spoken in Crimea is Russian and Russia's had a naval port in Sevastopal for years. It's the main base for Russia's Black Sea fleet. Remember, Russia had to stop using its base in Syria due to that country's civil war. That makes Sevastopal even more important for the Russians. The only other option is the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk but that port isn't as consdusive to Russia's needs evidently.

(02-27-2014 10:00 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 09:51 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Remember Russia tried to get control of a warm weather port for years.
So do not buy that it is historically Russian.

The main language spoken in Crimea is Russian and Russia's had a naval port in Sevastopal for years. It's the main base for Russia's Black Sea fleet. Remember, Russia had to stop using its base in Syria due to that country's civil war. That makes Sevastopal even more important for the Russians. The only other option is the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk but that port isn't as consdusive to Russia's needs evidently.

Yup.

Russia has always struggled for lack of access to the world's oceans. Even getting the Crimea back will do little to alleviate that issue.

Am expecting Russia to take it over completely.
No one in the world to do anything about it other than talk.

(02-27-2014 10:52 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Am expecting Russia to take it over completely.
No one in the world to do anything about it other than talk.

Obama will tell the Russians that there will be consequences if they try and take over the Ukraine and they will stay at the border because Obama strikes fear into foreign heads of state......................oh wait

(02-27-2014 11:29 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 10:52 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Am expecting Russia to take it over completely.
No one in the world to do anything about it other than talk.

Obama will tell the Russians that there will be consequences if they try and take over the Ukraine and they will stay at the border because Obama strikes fear into foreign heads of state......................oh wait

Don't forget the red line. Obama is bound to draw another imaginary line again. That'll keep the Russian's out.

(02-27-2014 11:38 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 11:29 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 10:52 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Am expecting Russia to take it over completely.
No one in the world to do anything about it other than talk.

Obama will tell the Russians that there will be consequences if they try and take over the Ukraine and they will stay at the border because Obama strikes fear into foreign heads of state......................oh wait

Don't forget the red line. Obama is bound to draw another imaginary line again. That'll keep the Russian's out.

Will he move the Red Line each time the Russians cross it, then issue another ultimatum?

(02-27-2014 09:49 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 09:47 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  This is getting good now.

It'll be interesting. Pretty sure the US and Europe will flood money into Ukraine and so will Russia. A split will probably occur eventually, hopefully without bloodshed.

The first chapter of the Ukrainian Constitution says that the country cannot be split up. I spoke to a Ukrainian friend about this and she was adamant that this is the case and would never be ignored. She could be wrong of course, but I see the idea of division thrown about a lot and thought I should put this little titbit there.

(02-27-2014 11:44 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 11:38 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 11:29 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 10:52 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Am expecting Russia to take it over completely.
No one in the world to do anything about it other than talk.

Obama will tell the Russians that there will be consequences if they try and take over the Ukraine and they will stay at the border because Obama strikes fear into foreign heads of state......................oh wait

Don't forget the red line. Obama is bound to draw another imaginary line again. That'll keep the Russian's out.

Will he move the Red Line each time the Russians cross it, then issue another ultimatum?

No, Obama will say that HE didn't draw the line, the "world" drew the line. As if this would stop everybody from laughing at him.

She seems to be right.

Article 2 of the General Principles Clause.


The territory of Ukraine within its present border is indivisible and inviolable.

For one more parallel to WWI, I've heard more than once Obama compared to Wilson, an academic and a dilettante.

(02-27-2014 11:49 AM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 11:44 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 11:38 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 11:29 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 10:52 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Am expecting Russia to take it over completely.
No one in the world to do anything about it other than talk.

Obama will tell the Russians that there will be consequences if they try and take over the Ukraine and they will stay at the border because Obama strikes fear into foreign heads of state......................oh wait

Don't forget the red line. Obama is bound to draw another imaginary line again. That'll keep the Russian's out.

Will he move the Red Line each time the Russians cross it, then issue another ultimatum?

No, Obama will say that HE didn't draw the line, the "world" drew the line. As if this would stop everybody from laughing at him.

He'll say he just learned about the red line this morning and follow up by saying if you like your parliament building you can keep your parliament building .