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Such a referendum has no precedent, analysts say, and no one appears certain how opponents, Russia and the world will react, or what difference the vote may make.
/snip
"You have Russian troops on the ground – it cannot be considered legal – any referendum that happens at gunpoint is illegal," said Liik. "Plus, the referendum was announced by the new prime minister who was appointed at a session of parliament that was also at gunpoint. He got 4% of the vote at the latest local election, so he is clearly not representative, either. That is all staged by Russia."
Given the lack of serious action by the West, many analysts say the outcome of the crisis is squarely in the hands of Putin.
"What happens will be decided by Putin," said Kadri Liik, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "He hasn't said the final word on whether he will join Crimea with Russia or not. But all groundwork is prepared. Basically he has freedom of action."
If Crimea says 'Da!,' what's next?
I had no idea that the "leader" only received 4% of the vote.
The article makes a interesting point that this entire situation is in Putin's hands.
The bear is out of the cage. Are we prepared to in a Cold War Era again?
As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart met in London Friday in a last-ditch effort to find some common ground over the Russian invasion of Crimea, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a warning suggesting Moscow was willing to expand its military actions in Ukraine into another region.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement, according to the Reuters news agency, saying Moscow “reserves the right to take people under its protection” in light of clashes between pro-Moscow and pro-Western demonstrators in the city of Donetsk on Thursday.
One person was killed Thursday evening as the clashes — which have occurred almost daily in the majority-ethnic Russian region — became violent for the first time.
“Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine,” said the statement obtained by Reuters.
I think we should turn the whole Ukraine over to Putin. He's the only player to have backed up his rhetoric with money. His actions helped the Ukraine. Keep in mind Russia was selling Ukraine gas at about half of World Market prices to help the Ukraine, obviously. Russia also agreed to a loan to Ukraine backed by bonds, not as a scheme to privatize Ukrainian Energy assets and with no strings, like lowering pensions, raising taxes, or squeezing the common taxpayer. All Western interests are about Corporate Hegemony with Energy Corporations and Big Banks.
I would rather leave it up to the people of the country what they want to do. And not at gun point. Just because a country invests in another doesn't give them the right to invade. If so, we should welcome china to Hawaii and California.
Then explain how it was all right for the USA to spend $5 billion to create NGOs, train protestors and militants, establish supply and transportation networks, and support the overthrow af a DEMOCRATICALLY elected scumbag in Ukraine and install the leader chosen by our State Department/CIA as acknowledged by the Victoria Nuland phone conversation? And now to have OLIGARCHS in control of some areas? CORPORATE hegemony, eh?
It will have to be ensured that Russia does not send troops into eastern Ukraine.
Then explain how it was all right for the USA to spend $5 billion to create NGOs, train protestors and militants, establish supply and transportation networks, and support the overthrow af a DEMOCRATICALLY elected scumbag in Ukraine and install the leader chosen by our State Department/CIA as acknowledged by the Victoria Nuland phone conversation? And now to have OLIGARCHS in control of some areas? CORPORATE hegemony, eh?
But it's OK to have mercenaries in there. Hypocrisy! I think it needs Russian troops to ensure its' stability and protect the citizens from Western Banks and Energy Conglomerates.
Dave, where did I say that? Get real.
Continuing economic and political isolation for Russia. No one (government or private individual) will trust Putin for the forseeable even if he withdraws.
That is a very real danger. Look into the Europe subforum on a thread I made about violent protests in Donetsk region. It's one of the 4 Oblasts that have majority russian speaking populations. Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhanska Oblasts have all seen massive pro-russian demonstrations and you do see the russian flag flying over Ukrainian buildings in those 3 regions.It will have to be ensured that Russia does not send troops into eastern Ukraine.
Continuing economic and political isolation for Russia. No one (government or private individual) will trust Putin for the forseeable even if he withdraws.
No one??
He wont' withdraw from Crimea (not that he admits to ever being there to begin with) because it's basically political career suicide back home. If you're going to be a despot, better be seen as a strong, unyielding despot than a weak one.
Allegations with no proof.
You state that the "bear is out of the cage" indicting Russia as the destabilizing influence. I have identified the actual destabilizing influence and it is not Russia. It is the USA that is getting the Cold War going again. Good for the Military/Industrial/Corporate complex and armaments profits. Any war is good marketing when you're in the arms business. War is good business and the USA is about business.
It's been established and proved multiple times in multiple threads. Must a person add links to every post. If we mention that the CIA toppled the democratic Iranian government in 1953, or that we landed on the moon in 1969, must we provide a link, each time?
What mercenaries?
Check the conspiracy theory threads...you may be surprised to find out that we did not in fact land on the moon.
JK
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