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http://www.nbcnews.com/#/storyline/ukrai...te-n102271

I guess you Cold War Warriors finally get what you want.

Depends on which way this ends up. Does Russia follow it's pattern of using unrest in former client states to claim a threat to those of Russian heritage and move in militarily? Is it fomenting the unrest so it can do just that? And if that comes does the US and Europe come in from the other side to defend the Ukraine? Many European countries are dependant on Russian gas for their energy, are they willing to bite the hand that feeds them and get that flow shut off, and how quickly can other sources come up to fill the void? If Russia cuts off gas supplies to Europe what effect does that have on the Russian economy, is there enough infrastructure to divert the supply to other destinations and keep the money coming in?

Does (can) Kiev work out a deal to allow some regional autonomy in order to keep these regions in the fold? How much authority would they need to give up to do so? The question on the referendum is asking for independence, but once gained will that be maintained or surrendered back to Russia?

Ukraine is a long story.

Google Ukraine Lenin Stalin to learn what happened to the Ukraine when they became independent in 1917 after 200 years of Czarist rule. Investigate the Ukraine Famine to learn how 7,000,000 Ukrainians starved to death in the most fertile agricultural area of Europe.

Russia has never been a friend of the Ukraine.

If I understand the basics of the current situation, Ukraine has been ruled recently by a group of 8 billionaire oligarchs friendly to Russia and profiting from transshipment of Russian oil to Europe, among other things. They were recently overthrown by radicals more friendly to the West. But a new functioning government has not really been formed yet. So there is a state of flux and a power vacumn, and lurking in the background the billionaire oligarchies still have an interest and influence.

Be interesting to see it play out. For sure I do not want to see US boots on the ground, and we don't really know that much about the new radicals, so it is hard to just throw weapons into their hands before we know if we can trust them. The 8 oligarchs at least you know where you stand with them and you know they will play ball to deliver oil to Europe.

Obama is apparently trying for an economic/political solutionthat will reduce bad outcomes for NATO allied Europe. But ultimately it is for the locals to sort out.

(05-11-2014 02:52 PM)bronco47 Wrote:  If I understand the basics of the current situation, Ukraine has been ruled recently by a group of 8 billionaire oligarchs friendly to Russia and profiting from transshipment of Russian oil to Europe, among other things. They were recently overthrown by radicals more friendly to the West. But a new functioning government has not really been formed yet. So there is a state of flux and a power vacumn, and lurking in the background the billionaire oligarchies still have an interest and influence.

But it was a democratically elected government. I have some good friends and the wife is from the Ukraine. Her mom and brothers still live there. What I hear from them is anger that the west supported a coup that ousted the elected government. The family really does not care if Ukraine is independent or a part of Russia. They are worried about the rampant inflation that has sky rocketed since all the unrest began.

Interesting take in comparison to what we read in the press.