The US warns Russia? Self delusion at its finest.

"While Russia has pledged not to intervene in Ukraine's domestic affairs, it has issued a flurry of statements voicing concern about the situation of Russian speakers in Ukraine, including in the Crimea. Some Russian officials accuse the West of being behind the revolt against its fugitive president, Viktor Yanukovych, who fled the capital last week. U.S. and European officials have denied such allegations. In addition to Putin ordering the military exercises, Russia's defense ministry said it would take steps to strengthen security at facilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, where there have been clashes between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators. Pro-Russian protesters have spoken of secession, and a Russian lawmaker has stoked their passions by promising that Russia will protect them. Those steps have raised fears of possible Russian military intervention in Ukraine along the lines of its 2008 operation in Georgia, which led to the occupations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and was roundly condemned by the United States and its European allies."  Foxnews and the AP

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I did not hear a "pledge" in what Lavrov said about this.  What I heard was a statement of principle conditioned on a reasonable situation and behavior in Ukraine.  That is quite a different thing.  Western media, especially the carefully controlled US MSM are, of course, seeking to twist this to the policy needs of the Obama R2P government.  This is analogous to the manner of the present silence concerning the recent shipment of mustard gas  from Lattakia.

Today we learn that the deposed Ukrainian president has been given asylum in Moscow and that Russia considers him to be the legitimate president of the Ukraine.  The policy gambit available to Russia is obvious.

We also have Russia conducting readiness exercizes in the Western and Central military districts.  As TTG has commented such exercizes are necessary in order to "shake down" units which have been in garrison for a long time and to prepare them for action in the field.  One can be sure that there are also command post exercizes underway to ready the chain of command.  Is this a bluff?  It may be but as I have said elsewhere the element of uncertainty produced by this activity is a useful thing from the Russian point of view.

 

As OOFDA pointed out today, the Morning Joe pumpkin heads are reacting to all all this in a way typical of many US media and political creatures.  They seem unable to grasp the fact that the US does not rule the world and does not have infinite authority and power to move events far away.  Two failed wars have not reduced their hubris, a hubris perhaps inspired by a mysterious surgical process of brain removal that seems all too common in the US in the modern age.  It used to be a joke in the US Army that officers who were promoted to full colonel were automatically scheduled for such a procedure.  I missed my appointment.  I was also an SES and missed that operation as well.  In Kerry's case, he must have volunteered for it.

I would remind one and all that Russia still possesses around 500 ICBMS tipped with very large warheads.  If the old truths remain the same, their megatonnage is typically larger and heavier than ours because their missiles are less accurate.  Remember.  The Russian Strategic Missile Forces are a force in being, not some sort of reserve.  pl

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/27/kerry-says-us-planning-to-provide-ukraine/

Comments

[jonst]

Thank you oofda....I will review.

Honestly, I can't watch talks like that, especially if my wife is in the room. I go crazy....so much nonsense as you point out offda. but dangerous stuff...because among a lot of people, this ilk has credibility, right?

[greg0]

The same actors at Oregon Shakespeare Festival performed Animal Crackers two years ago. It was great! I have high hopes for another fantastic production.

[hans]

I can't shake the feeling that S. J. Perelman has returned and is scripting this whole thing. Casting is going to be a problem though. Suggestions anyone?

[harry]

Its an even better position than that. Any cash the west puts into Ukraine, the Russians can take back out. Either in the form of not rolling over loans, or allowing their banks to exit. Or in the form of higher gas prices. Ukraine pays below market rates for its gas. Let the West put together some package of assistance. The assistance will accrue to Russia in the end.

[harry]

Very little I would suggest. They base their fleet there and the fleet has a brigade of marines with it. It is a peninsular. Its going to be pretty easy to hold even without help from outside Crimea.

Eastern Ukraine is majority Russian. Coal miners and Steel workers who think of themselves as ethnically Russian and vote that way.

Im not sure the Ukrainian military could hold it against the local population.

[William R. Cumming]

Your thinking aligns closely with mine on this topic!

[Thomas]

LeaNder,

Curious friend from Cologne, your comments have been appreciated over the years you have been here.

The Petrograd Group is a wise azz comment for the people associated with Vladmir from St. Petersburg either growing up there, or going to school at the university. The point is to see the leadership as friends working together for the common interest instead of the Tyrant and his minions.

Unfortunately in contrast,our present situation could be seen as the Temporary Emperor and his Court where the courtiers in cutthroat career competition amongst policy factions would not care if their actions harmed the US as long as they screwed over their rival.

Which brings us to your question of a cold war revival, the policy faction that receives the bashing here would accept that as outcome if they can’t have their New World Empire, because they would insist on maintaining power arguing only they can prevent the Evil Hordes of Darkness devouring our poor innocent children.

To appreciate the current Chinese leaders, understand that they have scarred souls from the Cultural Revolution (which they will admit to).Their priority is stability above all else to never experience such a situation again and they emphasize dialogue and mutually beneficial relations with the outside world. If outsiders were to meddle in their internal affair, they would go to war, so they don’t meddle in other affairs.

The German Financiers is a reflection in how your country has been able to achieve prosperity and stability and emblematic of your future economic strength.

[Imagine]

Tactical nukes are so 20th century. Tactical thermobaric warheads give largely the same bang, while being cheaper; easily adjusted in scale; and not radioactive. They are less horrific, which I count as a detriment.

{I suggest our President could take leadership and phase out nuclear weapons [while quietly switching to thermobarics for defense]. We could go down to the level of China, say, maintaining only 100 warheads for the strategic value you note, and declare no first use of nuclears.}