There is hardly anyone in Europe who is aware of the true reason why America tries to force Ukraine into NATO. This is yet strange because it first of all has a direct bearing on Europe itself. Speaking about this I will first I need to clarify that at least five grounding NATO members - France, Italy, Denmark, Belgium and Germany – feel strongly about admitting Ukraine. Of course they are in obvious minority, but they must not be underestimated anyway.
It is still an open question why the US is so actively lobbying for Ukraine. Let's answer this question together. What is going to happen as soon as Ukraine joins NATO and then the EU shortly afterwards? First of all, Europe is experiencing grave internal crisis nowadays caused by the last enlargement, failure to ratify a new Constitution for Europe and unproductive discussions concerning accession of Turley. That is why stability in Old Europe is uncertain.
However, this is exactly what the US requires in the current situation when the Pentagon is making preparations for warfare in Iran and later in China. Ukraine is so-to-say America's Trojan horse that is aimed at penetrating the organization, triggering further fuzzbuzz in Europe and guarantee that the US finds no more opposition from other NATO members in connection with America's malpractices in Central Asia.

The U.S. wants Ukraine in NATO as a countervailing force against Russia. There are signs that Russia is backpedalling on democracy and it is also trying to consolidate its position of influence with the former Soviet republics. Getting Ukraine in the camp of the West would offset that. Plus, Ukraine has access to the Black Sea, which might provide access to Central Asia in the event of war in that area.

Europe and the US would be quite happy to push the European/Russian boundary further to the east. The more land between central Europe and Russia the better.

I believe Russia is also in a lot more difficult economic situation than Westerners are lead to believe. The hard-line communists have never really given up power, as Eastern Europe did. Yes, Russia is technically not Communist - but the leaders still have a hard-ball attitude about controlling the public dissension. Clearly the Russian economy has not stopped falling since Communism ended. Also, the general level of education of the population is falling as well. The top scientists and engineers are slowly going, going, gone, as is the university system that educated them.

Ukraine is at a critical point on the Black Sea and also a transit area for pipelines bringing oil from Russia to Europe. This alone is a good reason to get it into NATO, under the protection of a strong military force.

Finally, I am going to guess that Europe and the US hope that joining NATO will bring internal governmental security. Ukraine need not worry quite so much about provoking Russia. If their external security fear are reduced, perhaps new leaders will emerge than can put the Ukraine back on a capitalistic/democratic track. Clearly, if I lived in Ukraine, I would be looking for my future to the West and fear my fate looking to the East.

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Hobo
Charter member of 'Republicans Who Hate Bush" Club

THe Reason the US wants the Ukraine to join NATO is because they have helped us in the war on terror and to counter act Russian aggression. America is not going to war with Iran. We will however end up in a war with china if china starts it.

Sounds like a good idea to me. Although... the acronym NATOMBS is gonna take some getting used to.

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan
The United Church of the Latter Day Tangential Tarts

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"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)

Yeahwell ok fine, yours makes more sense. But mine has better zing to it

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan
The United Church of the Latter Day Tangential Tarts

What has Russia been up to lately? I must have missed it.

Would we actually have a choice at that point?

The US is not trying to "force" the Ukraine to join NATO.


What is this obvious minority stuff?
You'd be hard pressed to find very much opposition to the idea of the Ukraine entering NATO from any of its members excluding perhaps Poland, Romania, and maybe Slovakia as well on the basis of territorial claims left over from WWII.

Yes this is the current spin out of Russia and it has been picked up by the anti-war crowd. Its ridiculous and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too simplistic and conspiratorial to be taken seriously...sorry.