Written especially for Russia Insider
The Ukrainian Defense Minister Valerii Geletei is hardly a credible figure.
Not only did he recently declare that Russia had threatened the Ukraine with nuclear strikes, he even told a Ukrainian journalist that Russia had already executed two tactical nuclear strikes on the city of Lugansk (apparently to explain why the Ukrainian forces had to retreat from there). The Junta later denied the story and blamed it on the journalist who first published it.
Despite these antics, Geletei nonetheless caught the world’s attention when he promised the Ukrainian Rada that the Ukraine would retake Crimea and organize a victory parade in Sevastopol. The Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) greeted that promise with a standing ovation.
The truth is that this will never happen. Here is why:
By 2020 Russia will have completed the following defense plan:
- 86.7 billion rubles will be spend to modernize the Black Sea Fleet. Modernization plans include the deployment of ultra-modern Project 11356 frigates and top of the line Project 636.3 diesel-electric attack submarines.
- A separate army group, similar to the one in Kaliningrad, will be formed and a bomber base will be created. The ground forces component will include one Air-Assault brigade, one Spetsnaz brigade, one Naval Infantry brigade and one Motor-Rifle brigade. Earlier, other sources spoke of one or two Airborne brigades, two or three Motor-Rifle brigades and one Tank brigades.
- The Russian Air Force plans to deploy Tupolev Tu-22M3 “Backfire” bombers in Crimea which will be able to not only defend Crimea from any threat from the sea, but also destroy key components of the the US/NATO anti-ballistic missile system now deployed in southern Europe.
- Finally, Crimea will be defended by coastal defense missiles, air defense systems and anti-ship cruise missiles.
In other words, Crimea will become a formidable defensive node, an unsinkable aircraft carrier if you want, and an ideal location for the power-projection of Russian military forces in southern Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
No wonder the US/NATO wanted it so badly.
Speaking of the US and NATO – much is made of the presence of USN ships in the Black Sea. In reality, the USN poses no threat to Russia at all, at least not from the Black Sea. The Black Sea is an enclose and small sea, at least by USN standards, where any USN ship, underwater or on the surface, would be a sitting duck for Russian forces, especially missile attacks.
The USN knows that and what these USN vessels do in the Black Sea is called “showing the flag”. This has nothing to do with threatening Russia or Crimea. If the US really wanted to threaten Russia, the very last thing the USN would do is enter the Black Sea. The USN is a deep sea, “blue water” navy, which fights long-distance and not a littoral, “green water” or, even less so, a coastal “brown water” water navy.
Finally, history has shown that Crimea is ideal to defend and very hard to take. By land, Crimea is only accessible by a few open and undefended roads from the north. Centuries of warfare have turned it into a Swiss-cheese like structure filled with tunnels, underground bunkers and fortifications.
Last but not least, Crimea has now already been fully integrated into the Russian military’s Southern Military District (based in Rostov-on-the-Don) and, as such, it would have the full support of the rest of the Russian Armed Forces.
The Saker
I’m sick already of these no good necktie eaters.
Putin bends over backwards like the
Atlanticist we know he is
http://en.ria.ru/business/20140923/193204601/Russia-Spared-Western-Companies-From-Sanctions-Response-to-Avoid.html
Japan gives Putin the finger. Europoodles and Asianpoodles
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/750895
Crimean military analysis: Wow! Sent that to my friend who was grumbling the other day about ” Saker falling down on the job”.. LOL I think you proved that wrong to the max with an article short and sharp and informative. Thank you !!
With all due respect Saker, all this talk of why Russian conventional forces will prevent any sort of military attack of on Russia is redundant.
I hope nobody would be stupid enough to attack what is now Russian territory. I don’t want to die in a nuclear flash, or of radiation poisoning or starvation. If the Ukrainians or their shady backers in the empire of the West did decide to try their luck, I think we’d be looking at an inevitable and horrific escalation. Let’s hope the Ukrainians don’t ever think of persuing the following plan:
Step 1, Attack the Crimea.
Step 2, Something something.
Step 3, Victory.
I wonder, but these Ukrainians are stupid? I am asking, because I know few Ukrainians here in Canada and they look very normal to me, but the ones in Kiew act as brainless criminals.
Everyone knows including US that Crimea is “gone with the wind”, and only a WW lost by RF would bring it back to Ukraine.
@:AnunnakiPutin bends over backwards (..) Japan gives Putin the finger. Europoodles and Asianpoodles
Honestly, any more such stupid and illiterate comments will be going to the trash bin. This is not a Kingergarten and folks here like to think, not just here pre-adolescent slogans. Last warning.
You are welcome to think that Putin is a CIA agents, a pushover, a whip, and a corrupt puppet in the hand of Russian, Ukrainian and American oligarch, but please post that kind of idiocy on the blogs where such inanities will get you a standing ovation.
The Saker
@teranam13: my friend who was grumbling the other day about ” Saker falling down on the job
No worries here, you friend is just parroting the stuff a few bloggers and websites say about me because I don’t support their primitive “solutions” for Novorussia and the Ukraine. It is easy to verify that they were consistently wrong in the past, and they will be wrong in the future. But in the meantime, instead of producing a halfway decent (nevermind useful) analysis they prefer smearing me (it is probably easier for them). So no worries, tell your friend that I am doing just fine and doing better with each passing day :-)
Cheers,
The Saker
lol. Ukraíne can’t retake Crimea because it was never theirs from the beginning, it was stolen from Russia by a communist dictator against the will of the Crimeans.
Further more. Russia has nuclear weapons. That means no other country that does not have nuclear weapons is defenceless against Russia.. And it means if a country with nuclear weapons attack Russia. Human civilisation will cease to exist, and we can look forward to an nuclear winter.
The End.
Honestly, any more such stupid and illiterate comments will be going to the trash bin. This is not a Kingergarten and folks here like to think, not just here pre-adolescent slogans. Last warning.
You are welcome to think that Putin is a CIA agents, a pushover, a whip, and a corrupt puppet in the hand of Russian, Ukrainian and American oligarch, but please post that kind of idiocy on the blogs where such inanities will get you a standing ovation.
The Saker
—
Fair enough, but how much more will Putin accomodate the west to retain access to the European trade.
He won’t get any credit for his statemanship in trying to extend an olive branch to the West. It will only make him look weak and servile.
Personally I believe that Putin will do anything, including selling out the NAF, to keep trade with the West and Europe at any cost.
Is that less juvenile for you?
Saker, I’m 100% on your side in this war, but you are disgustingly effeminate.
Saker, are you a female?
but 2020 is too late. putin should have prepared for the current world war 3 started 3 years ago when medvedev ressurected nato by backstabbing libya.
russia could have armed syria and iran to keep angl enemis engagned but it act foolishly
russia has backstabbed novorussia now.
anglos know about 2020 preparation and they are laughing that they are not granting to russia that luxury of time. time is not on russi’s side.
russia has acted so timidly that it has encouraged pirate english and american race.
This “Ukraine is going to take back Crimea” is a non sequitur. Period. End of story.
To attack Crimea is to attack Russia.
And even a neocon or neolib is not that stupid.
Saker, you’re definitely a female. No woman would appreciate the argument.
Peace and money from the RF will get Novorossiya through the winter. But only an explicit program of modern socialism will carry the revolution forward. The working and country people of Donetsk and Lugansk can reach out to the brothers and sisters in Odessa and Kharkiv. Political and ideological organization is paramount. Any sellout to the RF/Ukraine oligarchs dooms the project. And guerilla warfare behind the lines is also key. The RF can provide: peace, money, political technology, intelligence, and guerilla specialists. But will they? The Kremlin may be playing on a timescale of decades and centuries. But the revolution is now.
Possession of Crimea is also necessary for construction and unharassed operations of South Stream pipe. Could you imagine its construction with US Navy in Sevastopol? :-)
Strategic importance of Crimea is really immense, much bigger than of East Ukraine. It’s strange USA didn’t defend its vital interests here more vigorously in February/March. Putin must always take into consideration that any event in Novorossiya may be an attempt to divert his attention from Crimea. So I have full understanding for his effort to get some time for stabilization of Crimea, even at the expense of Novorossiya.
A betrayal of Novorossiya would solve nothing for Russia, USA would want Crimea too anyway…
Russia also initiated a stress-moderinsation of its army forces after the war with Georgia 2008.. That really showed the Russian leadership that it need a strong modern army, that USA is mad and that it can puppet nations and then order them to attack Russia.. Before that Russia generally felt the big threat came from NATO,and that was easy to deal with using nuclear weapons, however the Georgian war showed that NATO can use proxies, so Russia needs a up-to-date army itself.
One of the programs launched was the ratnik program. To give the average Russian soldier cutting age technology, equal or superior to that of USA soldiers. How much of the forces that has been equipped and trained with the new gear is unknown, but based on Crimea, where Russian troops guarded the population, atleast 30 000.
http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_03_19/Ratnik-gear-will-make-Russian-troops-fully-fledged-soldiers-of-the-future-1851/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratnik_%28program%29
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N1YuzPvvxs
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-36GMlqimOAg/UmAIhSAq22I/AAAAAAAAPo4/_oPjmTV9jsA/s400/Russian_Army+_Special_Forces_test_new_thermal_sight_for_Future_Combat_Soldier_Equipment_Ratnik_640_001.jpg
Possession is 9/10 of the law.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
This piece of Ukro-trash passing as “Defence Minister” will, most likely, witness at least one “dignified” achievement of his: A Nobel peace prize bestowed upon him, courtesy of Western imperialism’s most preposterous, vile self-promotion business. Indeed, the award could well be shared between Geletei and Norway’s homegrown über-Nazi: Anders Behring Breivik.
What the above is hinting at is the fact that fascists, whether in the East or in the West, are hell-bent on being proud, devout Westerners. Still, however, there is a most interesting difference between them which immediately becomes evident by comparing the two scum above. Breivik is Western imperialism “turned inward”, happily resorting to torture and slaughter as part and parcel of the West’s “cultural heritage” at the expense of his fellow, white countrymen. This shows eloquently that Breivik knows his beloved Western civilization is rape, theft, and murder 24/7, but his “egalitarianism” didn’t mind the complexion and social status of his victims.
As for Ukro-trash such as Valerii Geletei, I agree wholeheartedly with what you wrote the other day, Saker, to the effect that:
“Far from being any kind of patriots or nationalists, the Ukie “nationalists” are subservient puppets of the West, willing to service AngloZionist interests with less shame than an old prostitute services her clients. For all the “Glory to the Ukraine, to the Heroes Glory!” slogans, the Ukies are the cheapest prostitutes on the planet with no self-respect whatsoever.“
Well, maybe they could be said to have that special kind of “self-respect” which stems from being too stupid to realize one’s own worthlessness. But the quotation above is brilliant and summarizes beautifully how the fascists of the East are fuelled by a futile sense of having lost History’s lottery, for which Russia allegedly is to blame. Sadly for them, however, Western imperialism will greet them with toilet cleaning and, yes, commodified sex as fit for a bunch of “cheap prostitutes with no self-respect whatsoever”.
My conclusion, therefore, is that Valerii Geletei’s only chance of prevailing militarily would be as a suicide bomber, for which he lacks the spine pf course. Fascists don’t want to die for Big Money, mind you. They want to kill for it.
@ Anunnaki,
Q: Japan gives Putin the finger…
R: Japan is a US colony [like Germany], so, if anyone is giving someone else a finger, it’s unca Sammy [you know, the country that’s bombing inside sovereign Syrian territory, whilst condemning Russia/Putin for being a warmonger].
@ Saker,
The first strike is detrimental. The rest… most likely history.
Words do not kill.
Thanks, now I know that all this is a gigantic waste of time. Unfortunately, Marxian, Marxist, Liberal or whatever tag may be sown to one’s coat, it very much seems that NR was not meant to be, but is nothing more than a PR campaign for dividing the world, with some multipolarity, but still managed by a group of zillionaires. As for Brazil, another stooge is about to be elected, but luckily Petrobras will supply the high tech for continuing what essentially is 19th century management of non creative resources.
As for the tens of millions of deaths in WW1, 2, 3 and upcoming, I doubt that they really care, including ALL current politians.
Thanks again.
Thanks, now I know that all this is a gigantic waste of time. Unfortunately, Marxian, Marxist, Liberal or whatever tag may be sown to one’s coat, it very much seems that NR was not meant to be, but is nothing more than a PR campaign for dividing the world, with some multipolarity, but still managed by a group of zillionaires. As for Brazil, another stooge is about to be elected, but luckily Petrobras will supply the high tech for continuing what essentially is 19th century management of non creative resources.
As for the tens of millions of deaths in WW1, 2, 3 and upcoming, I doubt that they really care, including ALL current politians.
Thanks again.
I found this article on a German news site yesterday it’s a little bit OT but also about Crimea. Apparently, not all Germans are afraid of the Russians because of the “annexation” of the Crimea.
Germans despite travel warning in the Crimea
http://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Deutsche-trotz-Reisewarnung-auf-der-Krim,krimtouristen100.html
“About 500 passengers visited the port of Yalta on the Crimean peninsula with the ship “Ocean Majesty” – despite an embargo of the Ukraine and travel warnings of the Federal Foreign Office. This reported NDR 90.3. All day long the “Ocean Majesty” moored last Wednesday in Yalta. Most of the guests on Board took the time for a stroll through the city or for a trip to the Crimea, which was been annexed by Russia a few months ago. The cruise ship belongs to a Greek shipping company, but is chartered by the cruise company Hansa Touristik with headquarters in Bremen. Almost all passengers should be German.”
“Since the Crimea is claimed by Russia, the Ukraine has imposed an embargo against the ports on the peninsula. Shipping companies are called upon to avoid the ports. … The German Foreign Ministry advises tourists urgently not to travel to Crimea, the Ukraine as well.”
“… A spokesman for the port authority of Yalta said the “Ocean Majesty” was the first Western cruise ship which moored there since the annexation of the Crimea. Hansa Touristik came already here for years. Russian state media celebrated the visit to the “Ocean Majesty” as a step towards normality in the Crimea.”
“In the cruise industry there is astonishment that a ship with German guests went to Yalta. Shipping company Deilmann said they consider the warnings of the Federal Foreign Office and dodge with MS “Deutschland” to Odessa. Also the Hamburg shipping line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises sends their two ships “Europa 2” and “Bremen” no more to the occupied peninsula. …”
@Miroslav
I would argue that Crimea is far more important than the whole of Ukraine combined. Ukraine is a financial and logistical liability for whoever has to pay for it. I’ll tell you now that the west are deeply regretting Crimea, but are losing sleep over their ever-lighter wallets.
@ Anunnaki
Honestly, any more such stupid and illiterate comments will be going to the trash bin. This is not a Kingergarten and folks here like to think, not just here pre-adolescent slogans. Last warning.
You are welcome to think that Putin is a CIA agents, a pushover, a whip, and a corrupt puppet in the hand of Russian, Ukrainian and American oligarch, but please post that kind of idiocy on the blogs where such inanities will get you a standing ovation.
The Saker
—
Fair enough, but how much more will Putin accomodate the west to retain access to the European trade.
He won’t get any credit for his statemanship in trying to extend an olive branch to the West. It will only make him look weak and servile.
Personally I believe that Putin will do anything, including selling out the NAF, to keep trade with the West and Europe at any cost.
Is that less juvenile for you?
——————————–
This is a very immature understanding of Russian culture and Russian politics. Russia is all about reality, rather then merely a perception of reality. Just because Putin talks about western “partners” and extends some olive branches here and there doesn’t really mean anything. He is a very shrewd politician whose mind is not on a shop window display for everyone to see. He gets things done! He is far more effective than any current ‘leader” in the world, what more do you want? Do you want him to rip his shirt off and scream “I gonna kill everyone”?!…In other words be a child?!… So far, I don’t see him accommodating anyone but Russia what more would you want?
Q: Anonymous said… Saker, are you a female?
R: Slater is a transgender bloke who thought he wanted to be a woman, but after the operation found out he still loves women, so now he’s a lesbian.
Does that answer your question?
“Only queers and steers have tattoos.. and I don’t see any horns on you, honey…”
News @ 11
Dear Saker,
I’ve been following your blog since you published the great “pas-de-deux coming to an end”-article. (Asia Times Online, which has become very suspicious to me, brought me here.) I’ve also liked to read the comments, as many of them were insightful and intelligent, for example Bot Tak, American Kulak, Mohamed and others have always posted nice comments. But it’s becoming increasingly insupportable to rove around this section. If I read things like “Saker is female”, “Putin is a CIA agent” or similar BS, I see Saboteurs at work. They want to discredit your work and create the fear among us Readers that the NWO is winning. I, as a follower of the comment section, feel manipulated by These People. Don’t let them do their dirty Psycho games in the comment section. Concerning your post: Crimea as a fortress and an unsinkable carrier! i like that Image :-) I have an other Suggestion: What about making a Report about how Crimea has evolved since its return to the motherland? How is daily life, economy, School; what about the Tatars?
Best regards
olivier
I got a guy lives down the block, a Ukrainian.
He says, “It takes 10 Russians to equal 1 Ukrainian.”
I wanted to tell him that I heard, “When Ukrainians get smart, they become Russians.”
But I want to keep good neighbors.
And to the Anonymous ball pirates who are concerned if Saker is male or female: What are you even talking about? Are you looking for a date?
Because the guy writes eloquently and not like a knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing moron who thinks with his dick, that makes him a female? This is irrelevant.
Not everyone considers reading at a 6th grade level an accomplishment.
Everyday the Ukraine slips further into oblivion. Further to failure.
Crimea was, is, and will always be Russian.
-Farflungstar
From Zio Occupied AmeriKa
I think that some commenters here don’t get it when we point out tha t Putin finds himself in an increasingly weakened position. We are just stating facts. Not that it makes us happy. We just want to acknowledge really, with the hope that he can turn things around.
I think this is better than sticking your head in the sand and pretending that everything is under control.
This is a fight to the death to preserve the hegemony of the USD. I think everyone here agrees on that.
In that sense, Putin, the “great chess master”, has suffered setbacks in Lybia, in Iran, in Ukraine and now in Syria. You’d have to be completely blind not to see this, or at least truly dishonest.
On top of that, as others have pointed out, yet another US puppet is about to get elected in Brazil. This will basically put an end to the BRICS alliance.
We support Putin, but somehow we are not supposed to acknowledge the dire situation?
As for Crimea, I share Imran Hosein’s analysis of the situation, but if you guys do not think the west won’t hesitate to launch WWIII to take it back, you are clearly deluded.
I’ve asked a serious question several times on this blog and no one, including The Saker, has ever answered it: why won’t Putin put missile in Cuba for leverage against the NATO bases that surround him? After all he’s got dozens of bases right at his borders.
This is a very serious question and I’d like to hear what others have to say about this.
Преведено на српски / Translated into Serbian:
Russia Insider: Зашто Украјина никада неће “повратити” Крим | Ћирилизовано
[from Blue]
To anunnaki 18:58
“… It will only make him look weak and servile.
Personally I believe that Putin will do anything, including selling out the NAF, to keep trade with the West and Europe at any cost.”
Looking weak is very different from being weak — and Sun Tzu said that millenia ago. Also, ‘looking’ is in the eye of the beholder.
I don’t see Putin as weak at all, but rather very smart and subtle.
Of course trade, per se, with anyone, including the West, is advantageous for Russia in various ways, despite the nuisance and dangers involved, and it’s smart to keep doing that as long as it remains advantageous, and as long as alternatives are not yet fully developed (which is in progress).
Further, the West is in flux, and the situations can change — may be expected to change, so there is no point in reducing the economic and political space, or one’s flexibility and freedom to act prematurely. Why commit to anything before it’s necessary? That just makes it easier for one’s enemies to strategize and attack — better to keep them guessing and needing to keep diversify their resources instead of concentrating them attack a fixed position. These are basic principles of hypermodern chess, as laid out by Nimzovich, for example: overprotection, maximize space, control from the periphery, etc. and these basic principles can be translated into real-world situations as well.
I think few in the West is able to understand Putin’s thinking and strategies — certainly not the clowns who are running the empire now, who are fixed in ruts of their own making, who can not rightly evaluate the deeper situation.
__Blue
I think West is more interested in Russia then Russia in West
So after some sanction times they are looking forward to negotiate as well
Why they want to go Russia and money and the jobs?
Supporting the Ukraine that is corrupted and nazies oriented is insane
It’s only USA that pushing EU
But for the sake their own people and their own integrity EU would continue ties with Russia
Ukraine will not retake Crimea (or attempt to) via a conventional attack. At most the Uk. nazis may try to use provocations on the border of Crimea as a way to raise tensions. However, Crimea may return to Ukraine if Russia is defeated the way USSR was defeated in 1991, which in this case will lead to disintegration of Russia. This scenario is not implausible (but is by no means certain), given how much weaker Russia is than USSR and how strong is its 5th (and 6th) column…
“As for the tens of millions of deaths in WW1, 2, 3 and upcoming, I doubt that they really care, including ALL current politians.”
The world is full. Western politicians won’t admit it but mass extermination is a solution under consideration.
I look at problems in Europe from a historical background.So my problem with the Ukraine situation is their denial and falsification of history (among others).Ukrainians are West Russians speaking a different dialect of “Russian”, than East Russians.Much like North and South Germans speak different German dialects,but are still all “Germans” in the ethnic sense.The Western campaign over the years to divide those people is an abomination.Teaming up with fake nationalists,and their neo-nazi allies has caused the deaths of thousands.And whether Russia can see it or not,this is an existential problem for them.If the West can cause this split in Ukraine,and be successful.Then they can target (they already are to some extent) Belarus.And even inside Russia, Siberia and Kaliningrad in particular.In articles,they have already been trying to say Siberia wants to breakaway from Russia (its bs,but non-Russians don’t know that).And how “European” Kaliningrad is,and people there want their own state.As well,the maps of Ukraine put out by nationalists show areas of Russia and other surrounding countries as “to be reclaimed territory for Ukraine”.To defeat these nationalists in Ukraine is the only way to halt,short of WW,the plan to break Russia apart.That is why I support Novorossii.While being “Ukrainian” in the main.They realize they are also Russian in the ethnic sense.And a “Ukrainian” NAF victory over the junta is what needs to happen.That would restore the “Ukraine” to the Russian Mir and end the Western threat to the Russian World.If Russians,leaders or people,don’t see what they are facing they will be like Stalin.Thinking until the last minute Hitler wasn’t going to attack.Any betrayal of Novorossii leads along the path for the breakup of Russia itself.
@2014 20:27
and what facts exactly are you referring to? Russia is still there and it is stronger than ever, and this is the fact nobody can deny. Sanctions will, without doubt, enhance Russia’s economy, the borders of Russia now include Crimea, Ukrainian coup without Crimea is a waste of money and resources and even if Syria falls, and Qatar gets the pipes going, Russia’s main trading partner is still China and together, sooner or later, they will crash the petrodollar. The truth is that western civilizations are in a massive decline (Thanks to Zionistic policies) and the East is rising…so, do your math.
The junta attacking Crimea is really a question of if the US wants a war with Russia. Because NATO is the military arm of the US that controls the EU and as Ukraine signed away its sovereignty to the EU, via the association agreement, we know that the US has defacto military control of the Ukraine. Likewise, any military action that occurs in the Ukraine must be understood as being ordered by the US and not to confuse any such military action with the initiative of a rogue Nazis. This is the same reason that Iran stated that if any aggression by Israel occurred, Iran would target and destroy any and all US military assets in the region.
Nevertheless, the next day, before the signatures were dry on the memorandum, a ballistic missiles exploded in Donetsk. The blasts happened when the Russian humanitarian aid convoy was unloading elsewhere in the city. What caught my attention was that the explosion looked a lot like a low yield tactical nuke, of the Davy Crockett variety (a US mini nuke that was developed in the 50’s). Today, with more than half a century of advancements in nuclear weapons technology, you can likely dial the tonnage from 1 to whatever kilotons you need to destroy a target.
The bomb damage assessment team estimated the explosive power of the devastation was in the range of 3 kilotons. An immediate cover story was released stating that ammunition was being stored there. However, I am not buying that story. Would you store your ammunition in a factory that is the favorite target of the junta and in range of their artillery fire? No of course not. Nor would anyone with an IQ above the phylum of platyhelminthes. Most would store ammunition out of harms way, in the middle of no where, far away from cities, and most especially factories. Moreover, the crazed Nazi have a proven track record of only being able to incinerate sunflower fields and cabbage patches with the same weapon.
If we reasonably speculate that the factory was not being used as an ammunition depot, then we must conclude that the device had to be nuclear. There is no other conclusion that can be drawn. Because there is no such thing as a tactical or even a strategic ballistic missile with a 3 thousand ton delivery capacity. This is just common sense. A 400 foot frigate is about 3,000 tons.
Thus, the question becomes, why would the NAF want to minimize the importance of such an attack, only hours after signing the memorandum? Well, if the US strongly expressed its unwillingness to allow the junta army to be destroyed by the NAF, and threatened to use nuclear weapons, this answers a lot of seemingly contradictory events; like why the sudden peace accords when the NAF was about to win, why Novorossia is now willing to negotiate with the junta, and why Poroshenko is showing us his sweeter side for the first time since taking office!
To me the question of attacking Crimea seems unlikely as the Donbas will do just fine in sparking WWIII. I always get nervous when the political narrative changes so drastically. It makes me feel as if I am in the eye of the storm.
“I’ve asked a serious question several times on this blog and no one, including The Saker, has ever answered it: why won’t Putin put missile in Cuba for leverage against the NATO bases that surround him? After all he’s got dozens of bases right at his borders.”
He doesn’t have to if he’s serious about putting in his lot with the Chinese. A United Russo/Sino bloc, bound by fiber/telecom, steel rails and air ways, as well as kinship, will be huge and powerful. Bigger than anyone else. Not just economically but militarily.
Provided he submerges petty nationalism.
Look at a globe.
Anon @ 20:27
“why won’t Putin put missile in Cuba for leverage against the NATO bases that surround him? After all he’s got dozens of bases right at his borders.”
I think why he does not do it as follows:
Playing the West’s game and edging the World closer to disaster it just isn’t his style. Falling into the Zionist trap by becoming the aggressor they have portrayed him to be from Day One, it isn’t his style.
Plus it makes Cuba an immediate target for US annihilation. Like the Balts for Uncle Sam, eagerly making themselves willing targets if the missiles start to fly.
Some ally to have, eh?
I for one, appreciate Putin’s prudence here. I got a family, we don’t want to die anytime soon, and certainly not from a nuclear firestorm / fallout. Living in the Empire’s Homeland, the sheep are herded from one crisis to the next and if Putin were to bang his shoe on the table, the Zionist hasbarats and sayanim would make sure all Hell would break loose in Stupidville tomorrow, I can tell you that.
Could be the guy just cares about the future of his country / the world once he is no longer in it? Maybe there are people like that left…those who know when they die they can’t take it all with them, and don’t need to destroy it all before they go.
Used to be people like that here, before Greed and Selfish became virtues.
Sorry for the rambling here.
-Farflungstar
From Zio Occupied AmeriKa
Also, Putin needs to tread carefully with the Merkins. Their sanctimony knows no bounds. There is no crime they won’t write off as God-blessed.
Anonymous 20:21
There’s a joke about a couple of soldiers, one Ukrainian and one Russian. They are in their foxholes. The Ukrainian throws a grenade which lands at the feet of the Russian. The Russian picks it up, pulls out the pin and throws the greande back.
“why won’t Putin put missile in Cuba for leverage against the NATO bases that surround him? After all he’s got dozens of bases right at his borders.”
It’s not as simple as that.Russia would need Cuba to agree.And that would put Cuba on the firing line.The US still does things to harm Cuba.But they haven’t been hell bent to destroy her in several years.
For Cuba to agree,and I think they might if the groundwork was laid.Russia and probably China as well would need to massively invest in Cuba’s economy.To do what they should have done years ago.Make a showcase there.Showing what a country free of the US in Latin America can accomplish.Ever since 1959 the US has tried to destroy Cuba.Ruin her economy and show Latin America what happens to slaves that try and escape.And to other countries that without the US your economy is trash.The Cubans are a tough people.And so it hasn’t totally worked,but it has done them great harm over the years.
Cuba is a small country,a set of Islands with only around 11 million people(educated people).Large resources of nickel,manganese,copper,and oil (they believe).With fertile farmland.Compared to many places it would be simple to remake and improve their economy.Russia and China could do that easily.If they want to build bases in Cuba that is the deal they should offer.
This is a very immature understanding of Russian culture and Russian politics. Russia is all about reality, rather then merely a perception of reality. Just because Putin talks about western “partners” and extends some olive branches here and there doesn’t really mean anything. He is a very shrewd politician whose mind is not on a shop window display for everyone to see. He gets things done! He is far more effective than any current ‘leader” in the world, what more do you want? Do you want him to rip his shirt off and scream “I gonna kill everyone”?!…In other words be a child?!… So far, I don’t see him accommodating anyone but Russia what more would you want?
=========
What do I want from Putin? I want him to continue the clandestine support he was giving the NAF when it looked like it was all over in Slavyansk. The Nazis are ascendant in Kiev and want to depopulate the East of Moskals. What I want is immaterial. What would I like to see: A Novorossiya from Kharkov to Odessa liberated by Mozgovoy.
Answer me two questions, Anon:
1. Is the Voertong closed? (Col. Cassad has been yes and no on it being closed)
2. Why were the NAF commanders told to remove their Novorossiyan insignias off their uniform
Am I naive to “assume” that there are forces at work to keep Ukraine intact no matter what the LPR NPR rebel leaders want or have said otherwise?
Is Novorissya being sold out for Putin’s Atlanticist preferences? Everytime I call Putin an Atlanticist people on this site go ape shit.
I argue that such accomodation will be seen as weakness by the West not statesmanship. Khadaffi/Saddam/Bin Laden demonization is the Western goal for Putin. Rumor is Japan just snubbed him.
Look at Norway, they just jumped on the sanctions bandwagon. Putin warned on Syria and boom. Bombs away! Russia is being quarantined by the West. Made irrelevant to true discussions.
Feel free to keep attacking me for saying that Putin is betraying Novorossiyan interests for Russian ones.
Understandable, he is the leader of Russia not Novorossiya and we shouldn’t forget that he was against the referendum from the start.
I’m disappointed b/c the NAF were so close. Maybe they were too successful for their own good and Putin pulled the plug.
You guys gonna give me my propers when Putin caves on Ukraine gas talks in Germany?
The more Putin “accomodates” the more shrill his defenders become here.
1. I don’t think Putin is a CIA stooge or captive to oligarchs
2. I don’t think he’s a whimp
It doesn’t make me an idiot or “posting inanities” to admit I believe he is selling out the Novorossiyans. So bring it h8ers
lol
I was present at the fall of the SU for at least part of the time. I am and was a US citizen, but I lived in Moscow for part of 1991.
To watch a country collapse to the point that the distribution system breaks down is both scary and fascinating. People – at least those I knew – were anxious and yet hopeful because the system had ceased to function and something better might take its place, saving a complete breakdown in the form of civil war or loss of control over the military.
The people I knew were disaffected even though most were fairly well-off and in some ways immune from the worst effects of the collapse. My landlady came from an extremely well-connected family in Soviet terms, but I recall her coming home from shopping during the summer of that year holding aloft a string bag containing two dozen eggs, as if it were a precious trophy.
Something similar may be happening in Ukraine. Fortunately for the world, Ukraine has foregone the power it might have had.
Eras of instability are the most dangerous. Steady as she goes, both East and West.
Things could be worse.
I see comments about Putin showing weakness because he is not uncompromisingly hard. Anyone who has studied Putin knows that he is “good with animals”.
Anyone who has worked with animals, especially dangerous ones, knows that the process of training them involves lots of advance and retreat.
Advance (pressure on) means do what I want and do it now. Retreat (pressure off) means that I see you are frightened and I want you to see that things will be good for you if you do what I want so now I’ll back off.
But the good trainer never loses sight of the main goal which is an animal that respects him and mostly behaves itself.
The bad trainer pushes too hard and too relentlessly making the animal more and more resentful and eventually convincing it to risk everything in a final desperate bid to kill its tormentor.
We know who here is the trainer and who is the wild beast.
Anunnaki:
1) Voentorg: not only has it not been closed, it *cannot* be closed if only because it is not run by one group of people, but by various different channels
2) First time I hear about it, but then again, insignias mean nothing.
You and those who share your position are completely missing a crucial fact:
This war has never been about Novorussia or about the Ukraine. It is about Russia through the Ukraine and, therefore, Russia’s goal is not freedom for Novorussia, but regime change in Kiev. Once you understand that, everything else makes sense. If you do not understand that, then you will end up with ridiculous scenarios like ‘Putin the NWO man’.
Oh shit, I think I will have to make a separate post tomorrow, I am tried of repeating the same thing over and over and over again. Cya tomorrow.
In the meantime, chill, relax and think about what I wrote above. Please!
The Saker
Doubtful one will see a ZPC/NWO attempt on Crimea without regime changing Russia first. I’m sure the fascist planners realise this. The plan instead in my opinion is to use Crimea as a propaganda rallying point something like Cuba has been used as. Harping about it keeps dim in line and on message.
__Blue…23 September, 2014 20:35
Well written short synopsis.
вот так
I agree with Dalpe on the non irrelevance on the attack to the factory that has been downplayed. Not a word nor image of the ruins….nor of the missiles
Not a word of protest
Simply, it did not happen.
It takes much determination to allow it to remain as is.
It takes no less determination to present the current status of NR as simply waiting for winter to come. What about survival of the civilians???? Voentorg?
I simply believe that the metamessage of the Russian government does not exist, as General Haig once stated:”we must send the Russians an ambiguous message that they will clearly understand” has no Russian counterpart while the AZs’ metamessage is all to clear: “f…k u”
Some parity is overneeded, following Haig.
Someone?
Patagonian
Farflungstar
From Zio Occupied AmeriKa
23 September, 2014 20:21
LOL and Thank You for your comment.
Anon, all of you are you just to lazy to make up or use your own name?
The multipolar world as many have hoped will come (myself included) will have to wait a few generations (no less). For now and for many years to come it is the AZ who rule the world as can be clearly seen in the recent bombing of Syria. Nobody (except the heros of NR) dares to raise a finger against them. To her credit Russia made such an attempt but was quickly silenced and quietly gave up these ambitions. Not a single country jumped to Russia’s help. Each on his own BRICS included. So Putin (and the many oligarchs whispering in his ear) were left with no choice but to bend down. This is the reality no matter how you spin it. It is true that Russia got Crimea but lost all credibility and was badly hurt in the process. The hegemon rules supreme now even more than before and the naive NR-ian lamb was sacrificed.
What’s kind of fun at MOA is there’s only one troll allowed who seems relatively dopey and comes off like the court jester, when you got several of them, they get irritating. But I’m quite fond of MOA’s troll!
Hahaha yeah everyone comes up with different names for it. Its something Colefield?
BTW Said…
May I make some observations regarding anonymous 20:27 and Annunaki (the frustrated) and make some other points by the way:
1. The first thing we all must bear in mind is that Russia has been forced to deal with this whole mess from a position of weakness. Look, Yeltsin nearly broke the Russian economy and perhaps the Russian nation-state. Putin has done a marvellous job of putting things together. In less than 15 years, Russia has ceased to be a basket case and is again regaining its prosperity, pride, glory, and strength. Please give Putin credit where it is due.
2. I do think there was a strategic intelligence and political failure on Russia’s part in not anticipating Ukraine’s break-down and take-over by the west. They should have seen it coming after Georgia. But that is spilled milk, we will gain nothing crying over it.
3. Libya: yes, that was a huge mistake, a betrayal even, but the blame for that goes to Medvdev, not Putin. But don’t you see, that is the kind of problem Putin is facing? A strong Atlanticist faction entrenched inside the Russian state, a west-leaning elite, and a not insignificant chunk of the population that sees the west through rose-tinted glasses. I would call them the “seduced, deluded, and sedated bunch” – seduced by the western shop windows, deluded by the false talk of democracy and human rights, and sedated by the fact that they are mostly in elite positions and have not had to face the rigors of life that an average western citizen has to. Hasn’t anyone told them that unemployment rates in EU run between 12 to 45%? Or did it not register in their sedated brains? Regardless, that is the kind of people that Putin is battling at home even as he copes with aggression after aggression from the west. Judo is a one-to-one martial art; Putin is battling hundreds of monsters single-handedly.
4. Ukraine and Novorussia: Look, the basic problem is how do you gain the loyalty of an utterly deluded bunch, the western ukies? Attack them and you will guaranteed have a perpetual enemy. As for the Eastern Ukrainians, Putin has made them go through trial by fire and has consolidated them such that they will now be able to look after themselves and know right from wrong. He has made them west-proof. Even as Novorussians are rising as a people, just look at the mess in Ukieland. Now place your long-term bets!
5. Syria: It is a terrible tragedy, a complex mess, anyone going in is bound to get hurt. The Americans rushed into Iraq twenty years back. After billions of dollars spent, what have they achieved? Not even total control over the oil. Let the Americans burn themselves out, others can go in later.
So, for a recovering state like Russia, dealing with a slightly insane and highly aggressive west, perhaps the best defense is to wait, watch, and land blows as and when the openings present themselves. In many ways, that is what Putin seems to be doing. If you find it a boring game to watch now, remind yourself that the game has just started!
— BTW
I agree with you. This a long game. And I’m pretty sure Putin knows that. Russia’s comprehensive power, that is the sum of its economical power, hard power, soft power etc, is way under its potential, I believe he seeks to maximisize this comprehensive power and knows that open confrontation and a cold war 2.0 will trump Russia’s vast possibilities. The West’s comprehensive power still is massive but any observer can see the trends and it seems the west now relies more on their marketing skills, propaganda and remaining good will. They are burning on their reserves really fast.. They are really good at playing this house of mirrors and still control a lot of levers, but its all starting to look like a house of cards. So I believe Putin and Xi will patiently wait and try to build a multipolar world with powerful sovereign nations as its pillar. If India is swayed and Iran fully integrated I believe it’s a done deal. But the west knows this and they are dead set on using their advantages and changing the game.. Hopefully they’ll remain sane and see the light. As you said this is just starting
There has been no detonation of a nuclear device in Ukraine, or anywhere else. It would be impossible to conceal, the traces would be measurable all over the world, and the geopolitical consequences would be shattering.
@ 23 September, 2014 22:47
Succinctly Put. COuld not heve been better.
Regards
This war has never been about Novorussia or about the Ukraine. It is about Russia through the Ukraine and, therefore, Russia’s goal is not freedom for Novorussia, but regime change in Kiev. Once you understand that, everything else makes sense. If you do not understand that, then you will end up with ridiculous scenarios like ‘Putin the NWO man’.
—-
I will look forward to it. I am curious what regime change can look like with lustration, the banning of leftist parties and whether or not Donetsk and Luhansk citizens can or are willing to vote.
Putin stated clearly his philosophy on sanctions here:
http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/22949
I stress this part:
QUESTION: You said that you will not do anything to harm Russia with these sanctions; nevertheless, the limitations in food imports have already led to increased prices.
VLADIMIR PUTIN: You apparently got a little distracted, because I stated that certain aspects of this are undoubtedly negative. But if we look at the problem comprehensively, there are more positives than negatives.
QUESTION: Yesterday, your aide said that [limitations] might involve cars, pharmaceuticals and…
VLADIMIR PUTIN: Listen. I am not getting involved in such technical work at this phase. It is true that the Cabinet is currently thinking this over, preparing certain suggestions. If my colleagues in the Cabinet come to the conclusion that a specific set of steps correspond to the interests of our economy, then we will do it. And if it’s just about showing off how tough we are, just to snap back and then to suffer damage as a result of that, we will not do it.
There you have it. Sanctions are not a pissing contest. The winner is the one who manages to improve the economy, not the one that can boast to be the tougher.
usernames, Yes!
Saker should insist on it. We can’t all be anonymi. Just make up a damn name, it’s not hard. You think you’re protected because you call yourself “anonymous”? LOL
Dear Saker
thank you for a good article. Frankly speaking, however, I find it amusing that you even have to write it, since it is self evident to anyone that an attack on Crimea is an attack on Russia. Any Ukie government knows their military would be totally destroyed by tactical nukes, and the USSA promises of protection would be worthless. America cannot destroy lightly armed so called arab terrorists, much less russia.
“The Americans rushed into Iraq twenty years back. After billions of dollars spent what have they achieved?”
Chaos, they love it!
“Not even total control over the oil.”
No need to “control” the oil, getting ISIS to flog poached oil cheap, in Merkin dollars, will lube, literally, the wheels of consumerism, Merka’s dominant ideology.
Jana @ 1944: may I suggest a visit to the blog of Vera Graziadei, one of whose recent posts details “Why Crimeans are happier with Russia than Russians”? :)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-09-23/decline-fall-europe-french-farmers-set-tax-office-fire
Sanctions boomerang
Anonymous 20:59
It makes sense to me that a Ukrainian NAF needs to squelch the Junta. That is, if I understand correctly, that defeat of Kiev Junta must be “owned” by Ukrainians, and must be seen to be owned by Ukrainians, not by anyone else. Which is a tall order, seeing the number of proxies that seem to be running around in Uk. But perhaps fewer in the eastern portion. In the “ownership” sense the name Novorossiya might be a problem because confusing the “brand.” Perhaps the first order of business is to quash the Junta under a patriotic Ukrainian flag and then do we-are-all-Russians brotherhood. In marketing jargon, try to reinforce a Ukraine “brand” that is anti-fascist.
Katherine
PS. Anonyms: Heal thyselves. Get a life—er, name. So you say something stupid. Maybe I’m saying something stupid. Big deal.
Reconcile the Red and the White, vindicate the Soviet Union and the Novorossian revolution will succeed. Selling out to capitalism = selling out to Nazis.
Victory or death!
@Anunnaki: I am curious what regime change can look like with lustration, the banning of leftist parties and whether or not Donetsk and Luhansk citizens can or are willing to vote.
BUT THAT IS PRECISELY THE POINT!!! (yes, as the owner of this blog I get to use CAPS, at least when I really want to scream, and if I don’t do that too often. And no, you don’t have that right, only me :-P)
Who do you think that this lustration folly will hurt most?
I tell you what, if I was the director of the SVR and one of my agents could convince the Ukies to engage in the lustration of 1’000’000 civil servants I would immediately give him the rank of general, offer him an immediate retirement and give him the medal of “Hero of Russia”. This lustration business is a dream come true for Russia, absolute bliss. This will do more for regime change than anything Putin or Strelkov could ever do.
Now that the Donbass is (partially free), that Crimea is gone, that Communists are basically banned and underground, that the Party of Regions has politically dead – who will make up the next Rada?
That’s right! Nazis, freaks, Banderites, and all the rest of the imbeciles a la Geleti or Liashko who could not run a 5-employees business, nevermind a country in a crisis. That is what Russia must foster and that is what Russia is doing.
I will write a full analysis about that tomorrow. Too tired today, sorry.
Cheers,
The Saker
Testing … creating identity.
Regards and sorry for this inane action, but my first time creating blog identity
BTW
All armed forces in Crimea can be wiped out with an artificial tsunami. It happened with Fukushima to put Japan in line, it happened with India in 2005 when they refused initially to host a US base.
Today film director Oliver Stone stated that he understands Putin’s actions in Ukraine, especially regarding Crimea. Stone is basically validating Russia’s position in the conflict. I really respect and admire Stone for having the courage to say this.
Here’s the article:
http://news.yahoo.com/oliver-stone-says-putin-strong-person-backs-crimea-215530328.html
GW
Our gracious host argues:
Now that the Donbass is (partially free), that Crimea is gone, that Communists are basically banned and underground, that the Party of Regions has politically dead – who will make up the next Rada?
That’s right! Nazis, freaks, Banderites, and all the rest of the imbeciles a la Geleti or Liashko who could not run a 5-employees business, nevermind a country in a crisis. That is what Russia must foster and that is what Russia is doing.
—————
This survey suggests another answer.
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=11385
The Ukrainian people are not fond of war. Since Porochenko is the only prominent politician that supports what looks like a peace process, the Misnk protocol, it sounds like his party will sweep the Rada.
Saker,
I share you exasperation with the ‘Putin is a secret NWO agent, Putin has sold out Novorossiya’ steady drumbeat.
Thanks to the commenter who said they keep reading despite the trolls due to Saker’s analysis and comments by myself and others.
Keep the SITREPs coming. I will try and put together a post on the Scotland voter fraud and post-referenda situation and maybe the Catalans as well.
I have been lurking here for several months. Here are my thoughts, finally. Putin was hoping to fit into the western capitalist system. he is now under attack by that system. The RF’s future is one of dismemberment and subjugation. Putin only realistic alternative is to create an alternative capitalist order, one which will allow for cultural diversity. He cannot allow for wars of national liberation, viz. backing the independence of the Donbass. In the meantime, he is trying to buy time (the rope-a-dope) to look for options other than a military victory by the NAF, but one which keeps them out of the Russian news — some kind of rump state status. No, I don’t see Putin as a traitor because he never was a fan of the revolt.
Dalpe said…
The junta attacking Crimea is really a question of if the US wants a war with Russia. Because NATO is the military arm of the US that controls the EU and as Ukraine signed away its sovereignty to the EU,
Not hardly.
http://www.in5d.com/40-outrageous-facts-most-people-dont-know.html
The IMF is an Agency of the UN. (Blacks Law Dictionary 6th Ed. Pg. 816)
3. The U.S. Has not had a Treasury since 1921. (41 Stat. Ch.214 pg. 654)
4. The U.S. Treasury is now the IMF. (Presidential Documents Volume 29-No.4 pg. 113, 22 U.S.C. 285-288)
Social Security Numbers are issued by the UN through the IMF
Your Social Security check comes directly from the IMF which is an Agency of the UN.
EU Jesuit Herman von Rompuy says nation states are dead
The age of the nation state is over and the idea that countries can stand alone is an ‘illusion’ and a ‘lie’, the EU president believes.
Anonymous said…
“why won’t Putin put missile in Cuba for leverage against the NATO bases that surround him? After all he’s got dozens of bases right at his borders.”
Stalin was trained by Jesuits while in the Tiflis Orthodox Seminary in Georgia—openly admitted by “Koba” himself to journalist and Masonic Jew Emil Ludwig (Cohen). The CIA put Castro in power and has kept him in that power since 1960. The British SIS put Stalin in power and with the CIA, kept him there until he was poisoned for resisting the Order. He arrested his Jesuit advisor Alexander Poskrebyshev in late 1952. Fidel Castro (Jesuit Colegio Belen in Havana)
Bill O’Reilly (Jesuit House At Harvard) Joseph Goebbels (Roman catholic Jesuit trained) Jewish wife named Magda.
Himmler most of the old guards werecatholics.)
Gordon Liddy (Georgetown)
William Casey (Catholic University of America, Washington,
D.C.) Timothy Leary (Holy Cross, oldest Roman Catholic liberal arts college) (The pioneer of LSD)
Apparently, Fidel Castro is gay, Jewish, very wealthy
http://aanirfan.blogspot.com/2014/05/castro-gay-jewish-billionaire-cia-asset.html
There is a little more to this than what one finds on the cover of Time magazine.
That’s right! Nazis, freaks, Banderites, and all the rest of the imbeciles a la Geleti or Liashko who could not run a 5-employees business, nevermind a country in a crisis. That is what Russia must foster and that is what Russia is doing.
—————
This survey suggests another answer.
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=11385
The Ukrainian people are not fond of war. Since Porochenko is the only prominent politician that supports what looks like a peace process, the Misnk protocol, it sounds like his party will sweep the Rada.
—
I look forward to the Saker’s posting on this of course
I wondered as well that the Nazi esque parties poll so poorly that their only hope of electoral victory is through coup
So I wonder if much like the Americans who held their nose and voted for the Lesser of 2 Evils in Obama over Romney if Poroshenko will win handily for much the same reason
Although maybe Poroshenko will lose to be the “sin eater” of Ukraine’s (thankfully) abysmal showing against the NAF
Personally I hope the Nazi Parties win for the maximal embarrassment it would cause Obama and Merkel
If the left is illegally muzzled and the NR can’t vote elections are bogus anyway
Which makes me ponder: will the Nazis try a coup before the elections if Chocula looks like a lock for the reasons mentioned?
Snarky comment regarding the 1 mil civil servants cashiered for “lustration”
Was that move political or financial? They aren’t paying salaries in the East and this 1 mil fired is a sign of utter desperation as their economy craters
Are we taking bets on when Ukraine defaults?
Put me down for 1 hryvnia for Oct. 25, 2014
Hope someone can make change from a dime if I lose
Uki exchange: 1 UAH gets you 7.5 cents
uh-huh said…
“The Americans rushed into Iraq twenty years back. After billions of dollars spent what have they achieved?”
Chaos, they love it!
———————————-
First of all, it was over $1 trillion squandered over Iraq, and if chaos was all we got for it, it was a mighty poor deal. No, I don’t think it ended up the way the Americans had planned it. They thought Iraqis would be so grateful to the Americans for toppling Saddam, lustrating all the Baathists, and bombing the cities into oblivion, that they would let us do whatever we wanted there. It is stupid decisions like this that explain why America is in decline, but Russia is in ascendency. The longer Russia can avoid an overt military conflict with anyone, the better off she will be.
Speaking of why Putin would not put his missiles in Cuba… reminds me a meeting I attended where Kissinger was talking. He compared American politics and the Chinese politics like so: where Americans see a solution to every problem, Chinese see every solution as a next problem. What good would come out of Putin’s missiles putting?
@Anonymous:
@Anunnaki:
This survey suggests another answer. http://johnhelmer.net/?p=11385
Look again. Poroshenko’s party – which, if you ask me – is already a party of freaks, Nazis and Banderites – would not even have a majority, and the rest of the Rada would be worse. I agree that the first time around the Ukrainian people did vote for Poroshenko hoping that he would stop the war, but now a vote for him is like a vote for Obama: a vote for a guy who promises peace and delivers only war. As for the 25% who “won’t say”, that tells you something of the climate right now. Bottom line is this: the last Rada was a disaster and all the signs are that the next one will be worse. There simply is no viable party of peace. It’s like choosing between the SS and the SA and hoping that the latter one wins. One example, it is the CURRENT Rada (the “dissolved one”!) which is debating lustration. And the CURRENT Prime Minister who refuses to execute the President’s policies.
Yukieland is already a basketcase, and it’s about to get worse.
The Saker