Ukraine's European Revolution?

[Grey Fox]

State run MickeyDs.

[Razgovory]

Guardian:

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has repeated President Putin's claim that it is not Russian troops occupying military bases in Crimea. Speaking in Madrid in remarks shown on Russian television, he said "self-defence" forces who do not answer to Moscow were occupying the bases and so Russia could not order them to leave.

Shaun Walker: Continual denials mindblowing. Isn't Lavrov worried how these independent. self-defence brigades have stolen/acquired Russian mil vehicles?

AbdujalilA: Correction:License plates of military vehicles in Belbek show they r from zone 21 i.e North Caucasus #Crimea #Ukraine

Well, if they aren't Russian soliders they can't complain if they are killed in airstrikes.

[Caliga]

What a country!

[Malthus]

State run MickeyDs.

... after waiting in line 3 hours, you get - a bun.

And a toy based on last year's Disney cartoon.

[garbon]

Well, if they aren't Russian soliders they can't complain if they are killed in airstrikes.

Confusing use of pronouns. Obviously the "they" that aren't Russian soldiers can't complain if airstrikes kill them.

[DGuller]

Can we execute them under Geneva Conventions?

[Razgovory]

Can we execute them under Geneva Conventions?

I do not think so.  They clearly have uniforms and a command structure.

[DGuller]

 

[Jacob]

First off, stop ruling stuff out. Any statements made should include the phrase "all options are on the table". Create as much uncertainty as possible as to how far we are willing to so as to make Putin hesitate as to how to proceed.

Then, don't talk in a conciliatory manner.  Don't talk about the UN, or a fact finding mission, or negotiations, or settlements.  At this point any appeal to reason is seen simply as weakness. Talk about punitive actions, economic, political, and military.  If a reporter asks an outlandish question such as "will you consider a nuclear first strike", the response needs to be " at this point all options are on the table".  Of course we will not do a nuclear first strike, the point is to make it clear that we're angry and will punish Russia. Putin needs to think "fuck, this time I went too far", or the situation will just continue to deteriorate until things go too far.  At this point belligerence is the best way to prevent war.

I think this is one of the few Hans posts on which I unequivocally agree.

Yeah, I can't find much to argue with either.

[Viking]

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/722215

OSLO, March 5. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize.

Ok, someone's seriously trolling there ...

Not a joke.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/world/europe/group-nominates-putin-for-nobel-peace-prize.html?ref=world&_r=1&

nomination is from 2013 and is for his efforts to prevent a war in syria (because we all know that only US participation makes a war a war).

and

http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/nomination_committee/who-can-nominate/

the list of people who can nominate is, eh, generously liberal

According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, a nomination is considered valid if it is submitted by a person who falls within one of the following categories:

Members of national assemblies and governments of states

Members of international courts

University rectors; professors of social sciences, history, philosophy, law and theology; directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes

Persons who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Board members of organizations that have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Active and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; (proposals by members of the Committee to be submitted no later than at the first meeting of the Committee after February 1)

Former advisers to the Norwegian Nobel Committee

[Monoriu]

Given their track record, I think there is a non-zero chance that Putin will actually win 

[Valmy]

Not a joke.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/world/europe/group-nominates-putin-for-nobel-peace-prize.html?ref=world&_r=1&

nomination is from 2013 and is for his efforts to prevent a war in syria (because we all know that only US participation makes a war a war).

I knew that was what it was for.  Syrians are very fortunate they have been spared the horrors of war thanks to his efforts.

[Sheilbh]

Well last year he was nominated by Russia's International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation. Probably them again:
http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/10/nominated-vladimir-putin-nobel-peace-prize/

[Viking]

Can we execute them under Geneva Conventions?

No, unfortunately, that ended in 1949 when Germans kept getting off war crimes tribunals for masscring partisans. Franc Tireurs are now protected.

[Admiral Yi]

No, unfortunately, that ended in 1949 when Germans kept getting off war crimes tribunals for masscring partisans. Franc Tireurs are now protected.

I think the US never signed that annex.