General Discussion

The Magistrate

(96,043 posts)

51. I Agree One Hundred Percent, Sir

Wed Mar 5, 2014, 09:19 PM

Mar 2014

There is no military option against Russia in the region, and not much room for economic measures, unless matters get much more intense than they look like getting at present.

Russia probably is going to emerge from this with the Crimea; it is very important to them militarily. They have no right to it but might, mind, but might they have.

What is important is to ward off Russian incursions in Ukraine proper, and slicing off a portion of its eastern territory.

I am largely untroubled by who at present seems in charge at Kiev: the Ukraine deserves independence from Russia, given the ghastly history there under the Soviets well within living memory, and when matters come to violence, hard men tend to rise. They do not have much staying power, though, particularly the bad hats among them, unless the society around them has been badly injured, which does not seem the case here.

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The United States will not have a military response to what is [View all] MineralMan Mar 2014 OP

K&R Fumesucker Mar 2014 #1

I wouldn't go that far. NATO has a stake in protecting its members from TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #2

Ukraine is not a member of NATO. LisaL Mar 2014 #4

No (and in fact one of Russia's fears is that it WILL be)--but Poland is. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #6

But, what military resources do Latvia and Lithuania bring to MineralMan Mar 2014 #12

You got me. But apparently they are in NATO, so they get protection TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #15

Yes, but they're not being threatened with anything. MineralMan Mar 2014 #21

Poland also doesn't want instability in Ukraine. And Poland is a NATO member. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #23

Poland may have facilities on its soil, but MineralMan Mar 2014 #25

Russia is going in to PROVOKE violence and instability, provoke civil unrest, gin up TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #27

Bulgaria & Romania will be the places to watch bigbrother05 Mar 2014 #45

We are now relying on Romania as a transit base to and from Afghanistan, TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #46

"One of Russia's fears is that it WILL be" +10 (nt) PosterChild Mar 2014 #42

NATO's not going to mobilize anything more than MineralMan Mar 2014 #9

I don't think it will come to that. If Ukraine WAS a member of NATO we wouldn't TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #13

It's doubtful that Ukraine will turn into MineralMan Mar 2014 #26

Right now it's a carefully choreographed dance, with backchannel TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #28

You and I apparently look at this differently. MineralMan Mar 2014 #33

Here's a view on NATO involvement: TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #35

Are you an expert in this field? Mojorabbit Mar 2014 #40

Nope. I'm just an observer who has been interested MineralMan Mar 2014 #48

k&R nt Bonobo Mar 2014 #3

Some interesting background history agent46 Mar 2014 #5

Also: Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #8

Thank you for this recommendation, Democracyinkind. Heidi Mar 2014 #18

You're welcome! Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #20

Of coarse we won't respond militarily bigdarryl Mar 2014 #7

The economic factors are far more important than MineralMan Mar 2014 #10

Ukraine is ecnomically important to Russia because of natural gas transit to Europe Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #30

Yes, exactly. Russia has important economic MineralMan Mar 2014 #34

The war machine benefits n2doc Mar 2014 #32

Absolutely, this talk about military response is turning the clock back to the good old cold war lostincalifornia Mar 2014 #11

Truly, we have learned something from the cold war. MineralMan Mar 2014 #16

So far, I only see one person suggesting a military response and they were roundly criticized. stevenleser Mar 2014 #14

It's more the worry about any possible military response that I'm MineralMan Mar 2014 #17

The US won't even have an economic response. Russia's main exports are oil & gas. reformist2 Mar 2014 #19

That's pretty much the case. MineralMan Mar 2014 #22

Why Ukraine and that region is of interest to me. MineralMan Mar 2014 #24

Ah, a former Cold Warrior. I suspected you aristocles Mar 2014 #29

Ah...... GP6971 Mar 2014 #54

Bravo! Vinnie From Indy Mar 2014 #31

I also believe there will be lots of sabre rattling but the U.S. is not going to take on Russia. OregonBlue Mar 2014 #36

Agreed.... paleotn Mar 2014 #37

I see no mention in this thread about the people who orchestrated the coup watoos Mar 2014 #38

I don't believe that's true Gman Mar 2014 #39

Propaganda effort: TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #44

Oh, man, more of this. It's everywhere, all saying the same things. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #43

Aside from the agit-prop, of course Demeter Mar 2014 #41

Thanks for posting this rational op. 2banon Mar 2014 #47

Have read all the comments with great care; thanks, MM, for a very helpful OP. IrishAyes Mar 2014 #49

We don't fight countries who have nukes. B Calm Mar 2014 #50

I Agree One Hundred Percent, Sir The Magistrate Mar 2014 #51

i agree. nt DesertFlower Mar 2014 #52

The war thing is a straw man for the Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #53

That's the truth. Russia is still a nuclear power. backscatter712 Mar 2014 #55