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truebrit71

(20,805 posts) Thu Feb 20, 2014, 01:14 PM Feb 2014

Riots in Ukraine - What is really going on? [View all]

I heard an interesting conversation on the Thom Hartmann programme yesterday with Stephen Cohen that suggested that we in the west were being deliberately mis-led about the Kiev protests, and that we were being manipulated into coming down on the side of the rioters when in fact, the Leader of Ukraine may very well have been doing what was ultimately better for that country, based on the actual long-term goals of the EU/NATO alliance that gave them the ultimatum in the first place.

Obama is rumoured to be readying sanctions against Ukraine, I assume in a threat to try and get them back to the table to try and talk them out of siding with Putin, and the media here in the US is certainly banging the anti-Putin drum hard and loud...so what is ACTUALLY going on over there, and what is it all REALLY about?

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Riots in Ukraine - What is really going on? [View all] truebrit71 Feb 2014 OP

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh! malaise Feb 2014 #1

Like any of us can really know Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #2

And anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together knows that the US's want influence ChisolmTrailDem Feb 2014 #34

why do you completely leave EU out of that power dynamic? You know...the main protagonist Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #35

Yesm Ukraine is in Europe. We are not, but you can bet the goal is about resources for Western ChisolmTrailDem Feb 2014 #37

apparently some here do need the lesson Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #38

What's going on is that Ukrainians are fed up with the corruption of their government. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2014 #3

All of them, or just the pro-euro Ukranians? truebrit71 Feb 2014 #6

There are more government backers especially in areas closer to Russia. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #9

It's less of a pro-Euro thing than it is an anti-Russia thing. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2014 #10

You're right...nt joeybee12 Feb 2014 #20

It is so much more complicated. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #4

That's not a surprise. The Russian state owned network gives the Russian point of view. stevenleser Feb 2014 #5

The U.S. has had similiar impulses in our perceived "sphere of influence". Tom Rinaldo Feb 2014 #33

Thom is an employee of RT ChangeUp106 Feb 2014 #7

I believe he is self-employed. One of his shows airs on RT though... truebrit71 Feb 2014 #11

Thom makes money from RT. Pretty basic transaction. Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #30

Thom was interviewing Steve Cohen about rusty fender Feb 2014 #36

^^This^^ truebrit71 Feb 2014 #44

don't know, and don't care quinnox Feb 2014 #8

And then there's this... truebrit71 Feb 2014 #12

Here is another view: Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #13

You can safely say that there are "very unsavory characters" on both sides. Here's one very 'savory' pampango Feb 2014 #14

Yes, I can say that. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #15

I can't blame the communists in TBF Feb 2014 #16

That's exactly what I've heard from local Ukrainians laundry_queen Feb 2014 #19

I think the opposition is a mishmash of groups d_r Feb 2014 #17

I don't like toppling democratic governments over political disagreements. Xithras Feb 2014 #18

Yanukovich passed very restrictive laws. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #21

The Ukrainian parliament wrote and passed the laws. Xithras Feb 2014 #24

Oh yes those laws did spark protests. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #27

That sounds about right seveneyes Feb 2014 #23

Well, you can't take it to a table when there isn't one. nt Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #29

A Democracy? BAHAHAHAH! Easy to win when you throw your political rivals in prison Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #31

Who claimed to be an expert? Xithras Feb 2014 #39

right. uh-huh. Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #41

+1 JVS Feb 2014 #45

They're shooting people who aren't even armed Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2014 #22

Some of those people are armed. Xithras Feb 2014 #25

I am glad they are not peaceful. Ukrainians don't fuck around Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #26

These are not peaceful demonstrators. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #42

Guns vs bricks, swords, catapults, etc. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #28

I think... Xithras Feb 2014 #32

Let me guesss, they're also armed with a sidewalk. nt Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2014 #40

They didn't kill those cops with flowers. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #43