Merkel defends Ukraine arms stance in face of U.S. criticism

[Manifest Destiny]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Germany's Angela Merkel said on Saturday that sending arms to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian separatists would not solve the crisis there, drawing sharp rebukes from U.S. politicians who accused Berlin of turning its back on an ally in distress.

The heated exchanges at a security conference in Munich pointed to cracks in the transatlantic consensus on how to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin over a deepening conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 5,000.

Ukraine's military said on Saturday that pro-Russian separatists had stepped up shelling of government forces and appeared to be amassing troops for new offensives on the key railway town of Debaltseve and the coastal city of Mariupol.

The rebel offensive has triggered a flurry of shuttle diplomacy, with Merkel and French President Francois Hollande jetting to Moscow on Friday to try to convince Putin to do a peace deal.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/07/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSKBN0LB0IA20150207

[Purveyor]

1. Thanks the gods that we have at least a couple of grownups on the world stage. eom

[MattSh]

2. Yep, Berlin of turning its back on an ally in distress.

America's Military-Industrial Complex.

[another_liberal]

4. And a damn smart move it certainly is . . .

Good for them!

[Lionel Mandrake]

7. Angela Merkel is a very smart lady.

She's smart enough to know that Russia will prevail if the conflict is primarily a military one.

[another_liberal]

3. The Germans have seen what American militarism has done to other regions of the World . . .

The last thing they want is to see us working our deadly and destructive magic right next to their eastern frontier.

[Purveyor]

5. Oh come on now. The middle-east is now a land of 'milk & honey' don't ya know since the

great judeo-christian crusade that started with Iraq...

I'm sure we can again work our 'magic' on Ukraine.

[another_liberal]

6. Our military really wants the Crimean bases of Russia's Black Sea Fleet . . .

If we had those bases for our own Navy's use, Iran would be seriously screwed and Russia would be little more than an Asian power.

[Purveyor]

8. It is just a matter of time before Russia and Iran enter into a NATO-like security

pact. Most likely will happen shortly after the nuclear talks with Iran result in an outcome that isn't to israels liking.

[EX500rider]

9. "If we had those bases for our own Navy's use, Iran would be seriously screwed"

Why? Iran has no access to the Black Sea and we can sit right off her coast in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
And if we wanted basing rights in the Black Sea we could go thru Turkey, Romania or Bulgaria.