U.S. intel assessement: greater likelihood Russia will enter eastern Ukraine

[happyslug]

21. Yes, but if Putin is smart, and I think he is, that is like putting a fix in the henhouse.

I can see Putin making every effort to get a pro-Russian government in Charge of the Ukraine, and then tell that government to accept the "Bribes" to stay in NATO, and then have that Government appoint Russian officers as the Ukrainian representatives to NATO meetings.

NATO already has two suspect members, Slovakia and Bulgaria, both have been loyal not only to the Former Soviet Union (Above being members of the Warsaw Pact), but had strong connections with Imperial Russia in the 1800s. Slovakia was technically independent during WWII (it had been part of pre war Czechoslovakia but when Hitler took over Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1939, it was declared independent but was a German Puppet state).

Please Slovakia and Bulgaria only joined NATO after what they saw NATO did to the third traditional Russia Ally in the Balkans, Serbia (and after how Russia could NOT support the Serbs) They were also needed to support NATO troops going to Afghanistan, so they obtain a good deal in 2004 when they were admitted into NATO. How loyal they are to NATO, I have no idea, but that is one of the prices you pay if you extend any alliance to far.