Ukraine

The sad thing is I finally got around to reading Laumer's "Reteif!" that I had downloaded from the Baen free library. Back in December 2012 before it went somewhat away from agreement so they could sell on Amazon. As a result it is no longer there.

Looking back at the events leading to this whole thing. It is pretty disgusting to think that the US State department really hasn't changed that much from what he wrote back in the early '60's. Which made David Drake's revised forword particularly on point (it was written in 2006).

If you are another country seems like when someone (the US, EU or Russia) comes offering your government money so you can be your friend. The best answer seems to be run away, rapidly!

It is a very good book of stories with a wonderful hero and funny plots. Just when I compared it to the compared to the current world it became somewhat depressing.

Happy reading,
T2M

PS Dang I just looked it up isn't even available for purchase at Baen. Shucks.

It is odd everywhere Top Gear goes, they end up in a war or Revolution or new conflict.

Just waiting for the other shoe to fall in Burma / Thailand now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/world ... .html?_r=1


ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

Of course the Russian separatists have to reveal their true colors.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04 ... -register/

This is a contrast to Ukranians siding with Hitler during World War Ii.

Warming up for a reenactment of Kursk?

http://www.infowars.com/satellite-image ... slavyansk/

It appears that the pro-Russian faction of Eastern Ukraine are fans of the US national sport, LOL.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/29 ... -building/

phillies wrote:
I am reminded of exactly a century ago, and how World War 1 started. A runaway national security apparatus of Serbia provided adequate support to Gavril Princip and his fellows. And perhaps that is about to happen again.

My late Grandfather, who ended the war as an officer in the K.u.K. army, notes that people knew, as soon as the assassination occurred, that there would be a war.




namelessfly wrote:
Aside from ignoring the fact that it was Obama who initiated this conflict at the behest of the Eurpeans so as to secure access to Natural gas and oil at cheaper prices by inciting the coup, your daughter is not considering Putin's true motivations which are demographic and industrial.


Bill Woods wrote:
The idea that either Obama or the Europeans picked a fight with Russia is just bizarre. Obama wanted Russian support on several issues, including Syria and Iran. And to get cheaper prices for oil and gas? How was that supposed to work?


namelessfly wrote:
The fact that the US incited the conflict in Ukraine is not debatable. Tenshini who is no US conservative is the one who made me aware of the intercept of Victoria Nuland's cell phone call. Google this imbecile. She was absolutely unapologetic about her role in provoking this conflict.

Look at a map of existing and potential oil and gas pipelines along with potential fossil reserves in the various countries whose name ends with "Stan.". Given control of Ukraine, Russia controls European access to alternative supplies.

As for Obama wanting Russian cooperation Syria and Iran, this is an absolutely valid point. This is why it was absolutely insane for Obama to provoke this fecal storm.


This analogy to the Arch Duke Ferdinand assassination is very appropriate. WW-1 began because great powers chose to intervene in a situation that was not critical to their vital interests then allowed it to escalate out of control.

I recognize Putin for the authoritarian that he is. However; Putin is a nationalist not a communist with no political ideology that he wishes to impose on others. While Putin laments the demise of the Soviet empire, he is to pragmatic to attempt to reannex the former Socialist Republics. Putin has no desire to conquer neighboring territories to acquire natural resources or living room. Russia has a very low population density that is decreasing and vast natural resources. What Putin wants istosmall secure Russians as part of Russia to avoid or at least delay demographic oblivion. Given this rather pragmatic and limited motivation, the reflexive analogy to Hitler and the Sudatenland is invalid.

There are risks associated with not being assertive with Putin. However; that risk is massively outweighed by the risk of provoking a conflict that threatens Russia's vital interests for what are essentially trivial interests to the West. A US President who was not perceived as being castrated could credibly negotiate a peaceful resolution without encouraging further aggression. This is not an option for Obama. Obama will have to appease Putin to defuse a potentially nuclear conflict and hope that the next President will have the credibility to deter further aggression encouraged by his weakness.

The bottom line is that just as WW-1 was a pointless, stupid conflict provoked by trivialities, the idiotic plot to incite rebellion in Ukraine to bring what was an independantcountry into the NATO and EU sphere was a pointless, stupid provocation that could escalate.

Massmurder in Odessa...

Right Sector supporters shuts people in a house and sets fire to it, then stands outside cheering as around 30 people die inside or when jumping out of windows...

A historical note few will know about, as our dear beloved massmedia dont want to remind you about it, is that this was the favoured way of "execution" during the nazi occupation of large parts of USSR.

Lock people in a house then burn it down.

Interesting link I found on the limitations of power and influence in a situation like this:

http://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.nl/2014/03/the-limitations-of-power.html

It's UK-centric but can be applied to other countries.

Mike.