More news here,

http://www.news.com.au/world/russia-sends-military-troops-to-ukraine-barack-obama-tells-vladimir-putin-to-withdraw-them/story-fndir2ev-1226842610980

THE United States has demanded an end to Russian intervention in Ukraine after President Barack Obama told President Putin he had violated international law.

In a 90-minute phone call, he also told him to withdraw forces to bases in Crimea or face political and economic isolation.

The US also wants international monitors deployed immediately after an emergency UN Security Council session today.

The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the decision by Russian lawmakers to endorse military action in Ukraine was “as dangerous as it is destabilising.”

I see, from you past posts, an evolution from Putin will do nothing military, to the present 'Invasion of Crimea Understandable'. RE: "protecting its assists".

Since you were incorrect regarding Putin's actions in the past: Why wouldn't Putin use the Military to (in Putin's terms) 'Protect Russian Nationals enslaved by those Horrible Ukraine's'?

Because he also didn't conquer all of Georgia nor did he occupy it afterwards. And Georgia is smaller, weaker and is of far less value to the West. He might wage a war if the Ukrainians provoke him by attacking Russian forces, but otherwise he is just going to wage a very expensive war. And not just expensive in economic terms, but also in political terms. He risks seriously pissing off a number of important countries if he pushes it to far. I think he is trying to split the country, annexing the parts with a lot of Russians, and leaving the area's that are more western orientated alone.

From what I am reading from the BBC newsite, I belive that is what he has in mind.
I havent read the latest reports but it seems those supposed militia troops and the Russian troops are so far in the Crimean area of the Ukraine.
I dont see much hope in a peacefull solution. Russia will demand that the fromer leader of the Ukraine be reinstalled, Or that the lands of the Russian speaking Ukraineians be ceded over to Russia. The first wont happen, And I doubt the second will either. Not without a knock down drag out fight.
This is a scenario that reminds me of Neville Chamberlain, peace in our time.
Lets hope this one turns out a lot better.

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Old James

160 000 soldiers involved biggest Russian war training from July 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrNa7wqCiRs also 5000 tanks, 130 airplanes, 70 navy ships involved.

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Mandtugai!

We didn't do anything, in Hungary. Times have changed, but the spheres of
influence remain, basically, the same. It remains to be seen if Putin/his
successor(s) try to reform the Soviet Union -- over time, of course.

If Russian forces overran the Ukraine, that might give us a freer hand in
doing the same (foolish, of course), in Syria (Again, Putin pbly. figures
that Obama wouldn't follow-up, there.).

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I would expect that the generals in the Ukraine have silently mobilized the troops and air forces.

I think Putin should have waited until next winter before he shuts off the gas to Europe. More leverage that way.

Another no win for all involved.

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[/quote]

Old James

Ukraine's radar surveilance capability is 300-500km beyond their border into outside for both land and air targets, if satellite surveilance is not available to them. But both sides have very similar equipments on this.

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Mandtugai!

So I would guess they have the same doctrine in its use. If worse comes to worse its down to a slug fest. Which side can out atrittion the other. Or survive the politcal fallout on the home front.

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[/quote]

Old James

In Kharkov, yesterday, rout administration made ​​group of strangers from Russia ... who arrived in several buses from neighboring regions of Russia, Belgorod and other... Now they will have occasion to say to the world that it is Russian-speaking residents of the cities of South-East of Ukraine...
Video http://glavnoe.ua/news/n167637
Also identified the man who raised Russian flag on the building! This resident of Moscow - Mika Ronkaynen, adorer of uniforms German Wehrmacht ...
See http://www.charter97.org/ru/news/2014/3/2/88783/
Europe (including Ukraine) as well as the rest of the world slept through something... They are already on our doorstep!
We'll be the first in an attempt to stop their march through Europe!

Now the best option is EU need to stop buying Russian gas & oil and quickly tap into middle eastern and north american sources.

Cutting their daily billion dollar income source is only option for EU manage to do. Which means hungry angry Russians quickly go crazy and bring down their lunatic kgb officer who acts as peoples man.

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Mandtugai!

May GOD be with you.

If you have a family, please take care of them.

Thanks, CLYDE !
I am a senior reserve officer Ukrainian Army ... More twenty-five years was a commander in the Army! Now waiting for my turn mobilize! Has already collected their military ammunition, which lies near exit! When I will not write messages - then I went!
I do not know, have time to say to all a good word at parting.... How everything was nice and peaceful! Do not throw SETI.... :) :) :)

Alex

Thanks, CLYDE !
I am a senior reserve officer Ukrainian Army ... More twenty-five years was a commander in the Army! Now waiting for my turn mobilize! Has already collected their military ammunition, which lies near exit! When I will not write messages - then I went!
I do not know, have time to say to all a good word at parting.... How everything was nice and peaceful! Do not throw SETI.... :) :) :)

Alex

Lets just hope you don't end up needing that ammunition. If you do, best of luck and come back safe.

Now the best option is EU need to stop buying Russian gas & oil and quickly tap into middle eastern and north american sources.

Cutting their daily billion dollar income source is only option for EU manage to do.

What is really in Russia's best interest, and what Russia believes its best interest are, may be different.

This is truly dangerous.

It would destabilize the Russian economy and that would result in Putins position within Russia weakening significantly. The question is more whether the EU can switch from Russian gas to other gas sources quickly enough, and is the EU willing to risk souring its relations with Russia over Ukraine.

Now the best option is EU need to stop buying Russian gas & oil and quickly tap into middle eastern and north american sources.

Cutting their daily billion dollar income source is only option for EU manage to do.

What is really in Russia's best interest, and what Russia believes its best interest are, may be different.

This is truly dangerous.

It would destabilize the Russian economy and that would result in Putins position within Russia weakening significantly. The question is more whether the EU can switch from Russian gas to other gas sources quickly enough, and is the EU willing to risk souring its relations with Russia over Ukraine.

If west act quickly and in more organized ways meaning to combine their financial markets with energy markets to divert from the eastern purchasing they can quickly bring down Russian lunacy into normalcy.

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Mandtugai!

If west act quickly and in more organized ways meaning to combine their financial markets with energy markets to divert from the eastern purchasing they can quickly bring down Russian lunacy into normalcy.

Yeah thats problematic. Getting things done quickly when 28 countries have to come together is pretty difficult.

Villie Vague gets in on the act

Well diplomacy is only acts of butt kissing. The problem is what happens when the butt being kissed doesn't want to be kissed anymore?

"But beyond strong words of condemnation, real pressure on Moscow appears muted.

It looks doubtful there are any more forceful options which the West would be prepared to use to loosen Russia's hold on Crimea. NATO has no legally binding alliance with Ukraine."

Wonder what Obama's next move will be on hearing that as the EU and NATO say this......

"So even though its secretary general said today that Russia's actions were threatening peace and security in Europe, military intervention is not on the cards"

Putin's next stop maybe.....

"The Fulda Gap"

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Let's hope for a peaceful diplomatic way for this to be solved.

My heart goes out for the ordinary people in Ukraine -those who just want to get on with life and not be worried about, or by, whoever is in charge. Sadly if this situations results in bullets and bombs it is they who will suffer most....

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

+1

That's something the diplomats and armchair tacticians always fail to realise.

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Putin recently divorced his family and chose something younger delicacy. But many Russians very dislike his family situations on top of his not well managing of their society. Remember in Russia free press is always at 0 level.

There is some uncertain trend in the west that Obamas traditional liberal soft moves generate great amount of western public dislike versus Putins controlled lunacy causing some admirers both in the east and the west. But despite pressurized press in Russia actually public opposition against current Russian regime is still very huge just remember last years big public demonstrations all over Moscow. Hopefully west start trigger their proper leverages against this mad drunk kgb officer.

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Mandtugai!

Putin cannot afford to let one of his satellite states, get fully independent from Russian control, as the others will surely want to follow. At the same time the West sees Russian actions as aggressive and violating the sovereignty of Ukraine. Neither Russia, the USA, nor Europe want to trigger a third world war in which there will be no winners. Hence this stand off.

What other satellite states are left? Belarus? Hmm, thats about it for Europe. and Belarus is the last remaining dictatorship in Europe, I very much doubt that is going to topple soon, but I suppose you never know. Dictatorships are inherently unstable.

There have always been tensions between the East and the West for centuries and there always will be. The freedom loving West cannot understand why people in China, N Korea, Russia etc etc live under the dictatorships and oppression that they do, whilst the East strongly disapproves of the decadent Western lifestyles led by Capitalism.

Hah, maybe in North Korea, but other than that they love the decadent lifestyle of capitalism. Their elites just love having power a lot as well, so you get these curious mixes of autocracy and capitalism.