Huge Russian military exercise in September

The key difference here is laws are made by those with the writ to enforce them.
So what you think and what i think changes nothing.
What Russians think however, changes everything.

As they are the global police force in this region.

 

I don't think that's a very high priority for them. Unlike getting bombed in their homes, which clearly was.

I think in Ukraine you will see that Western Ukraine wanted these things, but Eastern Ukraine had stronger economic ties with Russia and wished to maintain them as a preference and this cuts to the root of the break up. It was the catalyst that sparked the violence.

 

For Crimeans, maybe the technological backwardness is not a priority now, but it will become one sooner or later.
Their residents see that with Ukrainian passports they can travel to a lot more countries than with the Russian one. They don’t need to register their businesses in alternative locations.
Sooner or later the residents will see that being in Russia is like being in prison.

As for Donbas - Girkin, the first separatist leader who is in Russia now, wasn’t hiding the fact that he worked for Russia and was publicly boasting that he was the one who pulled the trigger on the war. Locals don’t want any of that. Ukraine almost took over in 2014 and Russians had to cross the border to help separatists with holding their line. They did lose quite a bit of territory from the beginning of the conflict in mid 2014.

 

We both agree the U.S. shouldn't have invaded Cuba. So, will you reject Russia's annexation of the Crimea?

The Ukraine has every right to be a member of NATO. That said, there is no evidence NATO ever offered membership to the Ukraine.

So, who's laughing? Russians are living with a contracting economy. They aren't laughing. Ukrainians aren't laughing. I guess The Thug (aka Putin) thinks it's funny.

 

The Russians are always laughing at you mate.

The Ukraine has no right to be a NATO member.
It is a privilege to be afforded them if the other members agree.
I fully expect that they don't.



The difference between the invasions of Cuba by the US and the Annexation of Crimea by Russia.
Is that they asked Russia to do it and wanted to be a part of Russia.
No invasion took place. The people of Crimea simply raised the Russian flag.

It was an entirely consensual process. Peaceful and good natured.
The country formerly known as Russia became known as Russia once more.

Yes, this was the thinking in the EU.

It sparked a war in the country.
It is a mistake to tell people what they want. Always better to ask them.

 

Oh, I understand. Russia decided it wants the Crimea as a warm water port, ergo it sends in troops to annex it.

 

Russia didn't send any troops to annex it.

They were already there.

They had been there longer than Crimea was part of Ukraine.
Ever since it was last known as Russia in fact.


Some history teacher you are.

 

I don’t know about russians laughing. If you read some Russian editorials you would find out that quite a few of them came to realization that the times to pay for pootins adventures has come - retirement age is drastically increased, taxes are raised, and so on. Russians have the retirement age that is higher than male life expectancy. Think about it! They understand that they will be paying a retirement tax with little chance of taking advantage of the retirement. Their economy “growth” is not a true growth because inflation rate is higher than the economy expansion. Average wages are dropping.
Many opinion pieces are openly questioning the wisdom of annexing Crimea, starting wars in Donbas and participating in Syria. Pootin is 65 now and a leader like him must be seen as strong, therefore he won’t last for too long. I really think in 10-15 years from now Russia will undergo major transformation. Giving back Crimea might even trigger a wider collapse of Russia into multiple smaller states - Tatarstan and Chechnya will definitely try to take advantage of the opportunity.
Russia today reminds me Roman Empire period after collapse - it was shrinking, but at times it did temporarily expand. That’s exactly what we are seeing in Russia today.

 

Cheap word play. The Ukraine has every right to be a NATO member if a membership is offered to them. So far, membership hasn't been put on the table.

Of course, an invasion took place. You're perpetrating a fraud.

Russia interfered with the internal affairs of a sovereign neighbor. The difference is Russia annexed the Crimea.

 

You just don't like having your propaganda exposed.

 

Ha! You make it sound as though Russia decided on a whim to "annex" a portion of the Black Sea for sinister purposes. There's no history of congenial, Russian presence there, right?

 

Perfectly normal political discourse.
Sounds to me like Moscovites however. Not Crimeans.

The Chechens are fighting in Ukraine already. They are the Russian Mercenaries you hear so much about.

 

I am happy for you to spout yours all night long.
I find it funny to watch you invent history having claimed to teach it.

I wonder, when studying history we are taught to analyse both sides of the story.
Have you?

If not would you like me to link you up with some "Russian propaganda".
Georgia war is very well documented from the Russian side.

For the best Georgian propaganda, there is that movie 5 Days of War with Andy Garcia. Worth a watch if you are interested in the subject matter.
**** film but great from a propaganda point of view.

 

There is only 1 legal way for Crimea to join Russia - Ukraine must hold a nationwide referendum where all Ukrainians vote on letting Crimea go. If that were to happen all sanctions would be lifted and Ukraine itself would recognize the change.
Anything outside of that framework is nothing but annexation and invasion.

 

Russia isn't having to take anything. In fact, they're dishing it out.

 

Yes, I’ve heard about it.
What’s going to happen when they all come home and are used to violating laws. Did anyone in Russia think about it?

 

You are sorely lacking in knowledge of the world. But I suppose "The Dick & Jane Easy Reader" is seldom updated. If it was good enough for grand ma-ma ........

 

You've been pulled down from behind perpetrating a fraud on the forum.

 

Normally this would be untrue but Putin is definitely giving Washington a thrashing, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Vietnamese kicked their butts all the way back to DC.

 

Columbine High School, et al? There are so many examples.

 

Nor will it ever be.

Could you please put a date on when this invasion occured.
I feel sure in this day and age you will be able to provide some video footage of it also

You being such a good historian and all. I'm sure you have already viewed it and know where.

 

Same thing that happens every other war they come home from.
I expect the Russians are quite used to it after all these years.

I think it is a mistake to attribute Russia control over these people.
They're pretty lawless types. They don't necessarily fight on Russia's side in every war.
In Ukraine for example we expect to find elements of them fighting for both East and West Ukraine.

Other elements of them have been in operating in Syria.
I think a company of them got famously mashed up by Americans in Syria recently.

 

Why need for video footage? Pootin himself admitted sending troops to Ukrainian Crimea:

https://uk.reuters.com/article/russ...were-deployed-to-crimea-idUKL6N0N921H20140417

You know what it’s called when a country sends its troops uninvited to another country? Invasion and occupation!

 

Wolfiwitz approves of this message