Ukraine's European Revolution?

[Tamas]

That makes no sense...they have a perfectly fine base they could have troops defending their Black Sea Fleet with.  Probably setting up to seize the province if it comes to that, the airport would be an important piece of infrastructure to control in that context.

Of course its just a BS excuse. They have their troops at the airport, the TV/radio tower, and IIRC at the northern "tight" entrance of the peninsula as well. Already you cannot do shit with the Crimea without fighting through Russian troops. The annexation is as good as done.

But Merkel, Cameron, and some main EU guy was on the phone with Putin and they "agreed to coordinate on the matter" If this goes like this Putin will walk away again as the winner, and grass-brassed bear-tackling hero for his people.

[Malthus]

The West is going to have to make a decision about this fairly quickly I would think

My prediction is for them dithering and doing nothing.

[Razgovory]

Well what the hell do we do?

[Syt]

The West is going to have to make a decision about this fairly quickly I would think

My prediction is for them dithering and doing nothing.

Yeah, there'll be a conference call, someone will ask, "Is it worth it?", the others will go, "meh", and they will write a stern letter, and maybe put some meaningless travel restrictions on a handful of people.

[Iormlund]

So Ukraine was dumb for giving up its huge nuke arsenal in exchange for the guarantee? 

Pretty much.

[Tamas]

Well yeah the problem is with calling Putin's bluff is that if it is not a bluff, it can go out of hand faster than you could say "nuclear shelter"

[Caliga]

Will we then declare: PEACE IN OUR TIME 

[crazy canuck]

Well yeah the problem is with calling Putin's bluff is that if it is not a bluff, it can go out of hand faster than you could say "nuclear shelter"

Yeah, the analysis I am hearing is that it isnt a bluff at all but that Putin's hand is forced by the fact he cant give any hope to others that might want greater autonomy within Russia.

If anyone is bluffing it is and will be the West.

[Tamas]

Will we then declare: PEACE IN OUR TIME 

Putin has no other demands in Europe, I am sure.

[Valmy]

Well what the hell do we do?

We have options,  it just depends on what we have the will to do. 

[Queequeg]

This is terrifying. 

[Tamas]

Well what the hell do we do?

We have options,  it just depends on what we have the will to do.

What will become certain, however, which should have been certain for quite a while now, is that Russia is still the same aggressively expanding power it has ever been since Muscovy started growing.

What I hope the West will walk away from this pending disaster is the determination to curb Russian interest in any way possible, including decreasing European reliance on Russian gas.

[Tamas]

This is terrifying.

Well you are the Russia fanboi. Enjoy it

[Syt]

Looking at Putin, I would think he has a plan in place that will let him come out as savior of the peace/day/Russia without too much real effort, kind of like he orchestrated it with Syria's chemical weapons.

EDIT: the way to do it is to put the West in a position where they will look bad if they step in, so he has to discredit the new government and make them the bad guys in some way or other.

[crazy canuck]

This is terrifying.

Well you are the Russia fanboi. Enjoy it

The thing that terrified him was Valmy's comment that the West has options