War imminent as Russia masses troops at East Ukraine border

[phillybear 366]

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/03/14/prepare-for-war-at-any-moment-ukrainian-president-warns-after-putin-sends-8500-soldiers-270-tanks-to-border/

 

Prepare for war ‘at any moment,’ Ukrainian president warns after Putin sends 8,500 soldiers, 270 tanks to border

Ukraine must be ready for a full-scale Russian invasion “at any moment,” the country’s acting president warned Thursday, as officials announced the emergency call-up of a 60,000-strong national guard force.

Oleksander Turchynov said Moscow was “ready” to go much further than the annexation of the Black Sea territory of Crimea, which is expected to vote to secede from Ukraine in a referendum on Sunday.

Only clear international pressure could halt slow the momentum of the Kremlin, he said. “All of civilized humanity supports our country,” said Mr. Turchynov. “I am sure that this united effort in the international arena, bringing together all democratic countries, can still allow us to halt this aggression.”

Washington and the international community won’t recognize the outcome of Sunday’s referendum in Crimea on seceding from Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday after six hours of talks with Russia’s foreign minister.

His comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov acknowledged there was no “common vision” between the two nations over the crisis in Ukraine.

Sunday’s vote on Crimea — Ukraine’s strategic Black Sea peninsula of 2 million people — is widely expected to back secession and, potentially, annexation with Russia. The new government in Kyiv believes the vote is illegal, but Moscow says it does not recognize the new government as legitimate.

The U.S. and EU say the Crimean vote violates Ukraine’s constitution and international law. If Crimea votes to secede, the U.S. and European Union plan to slap sanctions as early as Monday on Russian officials and businesses accused of escalating the crisis and undermining Ukraine’s new government.

Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Thursday that Ottawa will contribute $220-million to an international effort to bailout Ukraine’s government.

“Restoring economic stability in that country is a priority for both Canada and of our international partners during this important transition period towards a Euro-Atlantic future for Ukraine,” he said.

Ukraine’s parliament voted to create the national guard from interior ministry employees and members of the militias that emerged from the pro-Western protest movement that toppled Viktor Yanukovych, the former president.

The measure was passed as Russia confirmed that it was conducting military manoeuvres in the Rostov, Tambov and Belgorod regions near the Ukraine border, involving 8,500 ground troops, 270 tanks and 180 armoured personnel carriers. “The main purpose of these actions is to completely check teamwork of the units and make them implement combat missions on an unknown territory,” the Russian defence ministry said.

With tensions mounting across the region, Moscow also sent three fighter jets to Belarus at the request of its government following the deployment of 12 F-16 fighters to Poland by the U.S. Senior NATO and Russian generals discussed the moves by hotline.

Mr. Turchynov said mismanagement of the security forces by Mr. Yanukovych had rendered the country incapable of defending itself. He said the forces would be rebuilt “effectively from scratch.”

Illustrating the volatility of Crimea, the Ukrainian commander of an air base in Sevastopol asked his superiors in Kyiv to give him instructions should he be fired upon. “To avoid armed confrontations, I ask you to tell us as quickly as possible what commanding officers need to do if troops or members of their families come under threat,” said Col. Yuli Mamchur on Ukrainian television. “If you do not make a decision, we will act according to the status of the Ukrainian armed forces, even opening fire if need be.”

Two weeks ago, an unarmed Col. Mamchur braved heavily armed Russians at the base as he attempted, in vain, to lead his men back to work.

In an unusually robust and emotional speech, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, warned of “catastrophe” unless Russia changed course.

“We would not only see it, also as neighbours of Russia, as a threat,” she said. “This would also cause massive damage to Russia, economically and politically.”

The head of the Russian Duma’s international relations committee acknowledged that Russian troops were controlling Crimea, in a break from Moscow’s position that armed, uniformed men in the area were “self-defence units.”

“There are some military units there, which are in position in case there is an aggression, expansion from Kyiv,” Leonid Slutsky said.

Russian troops from the leased naval base in Sevastopol, and possibly troops from Russia itself, have been instrumental in securing the territory, which is now run by a Moscow friendly leader of a fringe party.

Rumours swirled in Simferopol, the capital, that cash supplies to the region would be cut off after the referendum result is confirmed, prompting a run on some banks. Payouts were swiftly limited to 3,000 hryvna ($215).

 

[tikigods 76]

How do you feel about this, Philly? I'm assuming you're of Ukrainian decent.

[phillybear 366]

I am gay, black, and female. I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

Ukraine is certainly a tipping point. Unlike one of these shitty countries in the Middle East or Africa or elsewhere that we have poured trillions of dollars into and send troops/weapons into for God knows what reason. Ukraine is a Western nation, the most important independent nation in the world, that just fought to win their independence. However, a super power is now moving into to curb stomp them. The United States disarmed Ukraine of their nuclear weapons and guns and promised to fight their war if Russia ever invaded, and now they are showing they lied. With the impending war, millions of people will die, Russia will once again enslave Ukraine, and it's basically the United States fault. The Cold War II is just getting ramped up. Ukraine, then Belarus, then Moldovia, then a bunch more.

 

My solution? Damned if I know. The Nobel Peace Prize President we have in the White House is just going to sit back watch the next Ukraine holocaust take place.

[FlaHawker 24]

Obama has no time for this. He has a bracket to fill out!

[tikigods 76]

Obama has no time for this. He has a bracket to fill out!

 

Florida, FTW?

[IGotWorms 4,060]

There's just no way Russia is really going to go to war with the Ukraine. They may hope the Ukraine just lets them waltz in and take over, but if it comes down to real, actual war, it ain't gonna happen.

 

That said I wonder what the U.S. is doing militarily these days. They can't really get into a war with Russia but they also can't let Russia take the Ukraine by force. Tough situation.

[Mungwater 597]

There's just no way Russia is really going to go to war with the Ukraine. They may hope the Ukraine just lets them waltz in and take over, but if it comes down to real, actual war, it ain't gonna happen.

 

That said I wonder what the U.S. is doing militarily these days. They can't really get into a war with Russia but they also can't let Russia take the Ukraine by force. Tough situation.

Like my grandpa always said, "you don't put a rubber on unless you want to do some fuckin'"

[tikigods 76]

This is probably the biggest threat to world peace since the Cuban missile crisis. It could be the tipping point for World War III

[The Moz 71]

US should just come out and say If Russia advances past Crimea it is the same as an attack on the US and it will be an act of war. We cave on letting them keep Crimea (as they seem to want to e part of russia anyway) and we save face on our word to Ukraine to support them. I would not do this yet but if there is good intel that Russia plans to move south - a declaration like that would stop Russia as they don;'t want a war with us any more than we do with them. If I was Obama I would already be talking with the EU to get them to basically say the same thing and stand united.

 

This isn't a case for politcal partisanship - the US needs to save face on our commitment to Ukraine. Personally i couldn't care less about the country but I do care about the name of US bascially being worth nothing if we let soemthing like that happen after we promised them we wouldn't.

[jerryskids 6,969]

This isn't a case for politcal partisanship - the US needs to save face on our commitment to Ukraine. Personally i couldn't care less about the country but I do care about the name of US bascially being worth nothing if we let soemthing like that happen after we promised them we wouldn't.

You should care. This isn't some POS African country which we get involved in for gawd knows what reason. This is the shining example of how a former SSR can adopt capitalism and be successful. If we let them fall, we are looking at another Soviet Union.

[tikigods 76]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLtF_PxbYw

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

How has Beijing reacted to this? I would think a billion pissed off chinamen could be a useful deterrent here.

[Googballz 39]

US should just come out and say If Russia advances past Crimea it is the same as an attack on the US and it will be an act of war. We cave on letting them keep Crimea (as they seem to want to e part of russia anyway) and we save face on our word to Ukraine to support them. I would not do this yet but if there is good intel that Russia plans to move south - a declaration like that would stop Russia as they don;'t want a war with us any more than we do with them. If I was Obama I would already be talking with the EU to get them to basically say the same thing and stand united.

 

This isn't a case for politcal partisanship - the US needs to save face on our commitment to Ukraine. Personally i couldn't care less about the country but I do care about the name of US bascially being worth nothing if we let soemthing like that happen after we promised them we wouldn't.

This post assumes Obama has any clue how to conduct foreign policy with a guy like Putin.

[NewbieJr 541]

Lol. Plenty of republitards claiming Obama is in over his head, but none have stuck their neck out and said what they think he should do. Par for the course for those hacks.

Let me predict the future once again....They'll just sit back and wait and then criticize regardless of what he does. :zzzzzzzzzzz:

[Googballz 39]

Lol. Plenty of republitards claiming Obama is in over his head, but none have stuck their neck out and said what they think he should do. Par for the course for those hacks.

Let me predict the future once again....They'll just sit back and wait and then criticize regardless of what he does. :zzzzzzzzzzz:

Moz laid out a pretty good course of action that I agree with.

 

I have no idea if Obama has the marbles to take such a hard stance against Putin, especially since Obama told Putin before this re-election he would have much more leeway after he was re-elected. Seems Putin is taking the leeway and running over Obama with it.

 

You are fee to show where Obama has bettered Putin in any situation since he was elected.

[NewbieJr 541]

Moz laid out a pretty good course of action that I agree with.

 

I have no idea if Obama has the marbles to take such a hard stance against Putin, especially since Obama told Putin before this re-election he would have much more leeway after he was re-elected. Seems Putin is taking the leeway and running over Obama with it.

 

You are fee to show where Obama has bettered Putin in any situation since he was elected.

There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it?

[phillybear 366]

http://news.yahoo.com/russian-commandos-invade-ukraine-220800886--politics.html

 

Russian Commandos Invade Ukraine

Forget the military forces massed on the border and brief incursions into Ukrainian territory and airspace. Russia is invading Ukraine in the shadows. The same special operations forces that appear to be rigging the election in Crimea are quietly escalating tensions inside other parts of eastern Ukraine.

This week the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested a group of people led by a Ukrainian citizen who were said to be scoping out three of its most crucial military divisions in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

In Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, press reports from the ground say that Russian provocateurs have attacked Ukrainians who organized anti-Russian street protests.

The forces behind these operations, according to U.S. officials briefed on the updates in Ukraine, are likely the Spetsnaz, the Russian military’s highly trained saboteurs, spies and special operations forces who may change the face—and the borders—of Ukraine without once showing the Russian flag on their uniforms. Or, for that matter, without wearing any particular uniforms at all.

In 1979 the Soviet Union was able to take over Afghanistan with less than 700 Spetsnaz units. These same operatives are now spreading out over Ukraine, according to U.S. officials who spoke to The Daily Beast on condition of anonymity. One of these officials stressed that while U.S. intelligence assesses there are more Spetsnaz forces surging into Ukraine, there is no reliable number on how many are inside the country and ultimately whether their presence is a prelude to a more formal invasion.

Of course, the situation in Ukraine is fluid, and the intelligence coming from the area is incomplete. Most analysts say only Putin and a small circle of advisers will decide whether Russia's current military incursions become a full-fledged invasion.

On the ground in Ukraine, such confusion reigns that the role of Spetsnaz is hard to confirm. But its involvement would come as no surprise.

In Kiev’s Maidan Square, there’s the camp set up by veterans who fought for the Soviets in Afghanistan when Ukraine was still part of the USSR. Twenty-five years ago, Ukrainian and Russian soldiers belonged to the same army; they were dying shoulder to shoulder in Afghanistan. So the Ukrainian veterans watch closely and understand only too well the tactics used against them now.

For the last two weeks, Oleg Mikhnyuk, the commander of a group of veterans calling themselves the Afghan Hundred, has been receiving reports from southern and eastern Ukraine about the mysterious "Russian presence" on Ukraine's territory. "If in the beginning of March they were just 'little green men' without identity driving armored vehicles all over Crimea, now the invasion is official, as Kherson region is definitely outside of the Russian Black Sea fleet jurisdiction, " Mikhnyuk said. (Putin played his game initially within his self-defined version of a treaty that gives Russia the right to locate military bases in Crimea.)

This evening the crowd in the Afghan veterans’ camp grew quiet as one of their senior officers spoke on his cell phone. Earlier in the day, the foreign ministry of Ukraine declared that the Russian invasion had gone beyond the Crimean peninsula, and the ministry demanded immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukrainian territory.

On the previous night, locals of Strelkovoye village complained to Afghan veterans about Russian military helicopters circling over Kherson region. On Saturday morning about 50 militants in Russian army uniforms occupied a natural gas substation there. "But our forces immediately reacted and pushed them off our territory," Mikhnyuk said, expressing hopes that no "provocation could cause bloodshed in the future.”

Meanwhile, Petr Mekhed at the Ukrainian ministry of defense declared that "the statement about the invasion came from foreign ministry, and the defense ministry cannot confirm the invasion.”

Meanwhile, reports continue of "unknown armed men" kidnapping Ukrainian civil society activists, and even anti-Russian activities are suspected as “false flag” operations by Putin’s operatives. Saturday afternoon, an Orthodox priest, Nikolai Kvich, was reportedly kidnapped as he conducted a service in his church in Sevastopol church. At about 8 p.m. dozens of masked men stormed the Moskva Hotel in the Crimean capital of Symferopol. The hotel's visitors were told to stay in their rooms while the men armed with machine guns raided the hotel.

Daily Beast correspondent Jamie Dettmer, who was there, says they may well have been Spetsnaz: “They initially claimed it was an anti-terror exercise and then said it was a false tip off. They were aggressive, waving guns, automatic weaponry with silencers on, and they lashed out at a cameraman with rifle butts. Maybe an exercise in intimidation—we don't know."

Few politicians in Kiev seemed to have any doubts that the results of the referendum Sunday will bring Crimea under the Kremlin's control. The question discussed in political circles continues to be whether Russia will use open military force against Ukrainian army bases outside the peninsula, in the rest of Ukraine. With the Spetsnaz deployed, it may not have to.

[wiffleball 4,793]

When did Philly become Posty??

[Googballz 39]

There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it?

Pointing you are wrong in saying nobody has given any suggestions as to what Obama should do is very easy. Apparently, it is much easier than you showing us an instance when Putin didn't roll Obama.

[NewbieJr 541]

Pointing you are wrong in saying nobody has given any suggestions as to what Obama should do is very easy. Apparently, it is much easier than you showing us an instance when Putin didn't roll Obama.

YOU didn't have any suggestions. As usual. Just quick to criticize. Typical rightie hack.

[Googballz 39]

 

I will take your inability to show an instance where Obama didn't get rolled by Putin as an admission Obama has been rolled by Putin in every instance.

[NewbieJr 541]

 

I will take your inability to show an instance where Obama didn't get rolled by Putin as an admission Obama has been rolled by Putin in every instance.

Way to deflect from the fact that, once again, you jump into a thread to criticize Obama without offering an opinion on how you think it should be handled. My God, you truly are a caricature of the typical Fox News parrot.

 

Also, where have I ever bragged about Obama "rolling" Putin? I'm so happy for you that your guy is winning. Do you have a Putin Fathead on your wall?

[Googballz 39]

[Googballz 39]

 

http://time.com/26755/kasparov-carter-looks-like-churchill-in-comparison-to-obama/

[NewbieJr 541]

 

http://time.com/26755/kasparov-carter-looks-like-churchill-in-comparison-to-obama/

This has to be fake. There's a media bias. Time magazine would never print a negative article about Obama. Unless the media bias stuff is all bullsh!t. Hmmmmmm

[Googballz 39]

Good news for you, Newbiejr. It looks as if ABC News is proving your media bias theory correct.

 

 

 

Russian Deputy PM Laughs at Obama’s Sanctions

MOSCOW – Russia’s deputy prime minister laughed off President Obama’s sanction against him today asking “Comrade @BarackObama” if “some prankster” came up with the list.

The Obama administration hit 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials with sanctions today as punishment for Russia’s support of Crimea’s referendum. Among them: aides to President Vladimir Putin, a top government official, senior lawmakers, Crimean officials, the ousted president of Ukraine, and a Ukrainian politician and businessman allegedly tied to violence against protesters in Kiev.

It remains to be seen whether the sanctions will dissuade Russia from annexing Crimea, but one an early clue that they will not be effective came just hours later when President Putin signed a decree recognizing Crimea as an independent state, perhaps an early step towards annexation.

U.S. official have warned of additional sanctions for Russian action, hoping it will deter Russia from any further aggression towards Ukraine, but it didn’t appear to upset the often outspoke Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

Rogozin, a friend of actor Steven Seagal, took to Twitter to tweak Obama, tweeting he thinks “some prankster” came up with the sanctions list

In a later tweet addressed to “Comrade @BarackObama,” he asked, “what should do those who have neither accounts nor property abroad? Or U didn’t think about it?”

Another Russian on the sanctions list, Vladislav Surkov, also seemed unconcerned.

Surkov, a top Putin ideologue often called the Kremlin’s grey cardinal, reportedly told a Russian newspaper, “It’s a big honor for me. I don’t have accounts abroad. The only things that interest me in the U.S. are Tupac Shakur, Allen Ginsberg, and Jackson Pollock. I don’t need a visa to access their work. I lose nothing.”

 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/03/russian-deputy-pm-laughs-at-obamas-sanctions/

[NewbieJr 541]

:sigh: Why can't he be more like Putin? Now THAT'S a leader!

[FlaHawker 24]

 

Also, where have I ever bragged about Obama "rolling" Putin?

Obama is an embarrassment. He's just plain incompetent. Glad I didn't vote for this community organizer--twice

[NewbieJr 541]

Obama is an embarrassment. He's just plain incompetent. Glad I didn't vote for this community organizer--twice

You picked the wrong guy. Twice. 0-2

[Brad GLuckman 519]

This has to be fake. There's a media bias. Time magazine would never print a negative article about Obama. Unless the media bias stuff is all bullsh!t. Hmmmmmm

 

Bias isn't necessarily an "all or nothing" deal, Newbie.

[NewbieJr 541]

 

Bias isn't necessarily an "all or nothing" deal, Newbie.

It's a good excuse when it's convenient.

[Googballz 39]

 

Bias isn't necessarily an "all or nothing" deal, Newbie.

It's convenient to cry about "bias" to deflect from the fact you can't argue an issue on the merits. Obama gets rolled by Putin time and time again, and Newbiejr can't dispute that fact so he thinks he is cute by deflecting to unrelated BS.

 

It shows how weak he is on the issues, just like Obama.

[NewbieJr 541]

It's convenient to cry about "bias" to deflect from the fact you can't argue an issue on the merits. Obama gets rolled by Putin time and time again, and Newbiejr can't dispute that fact so he thinks he is cute by deflecting to unrelated BS.

 

It shows how weak he is on the issues, just like Obama.

As a known Obama hater, it's real easy for you to make broad brush statements about his failures. I'm not sure if you realize how pathetic and un-American it makes you sound that you are jumping up and down, celebrating that you think Putin is winning some personal battle against Obama.

 

Please explain all the ways that Putin is "rolling" Obama. Was the Crimea an American property? Also, I have no recollection of you offering a opinion as to how you thought these situations be handled.

[Googballz 39]

 

 

Please explain all the ways that Putin is "rolling" Obama. Was the Crimea an American property?

 

Poland and the Czech Republic. Syria. Now the Russians are literally laughing at Obama and his "sanctions" regarding Crimea.

 

That should get you started.

[NewbieJr 541]

 

Poland and the Czech Republic. Syria. Now the Russians are literally laughing at Obama and his "sanctions" regarding Crimea.

 

That should get you started.

No no no. You named countries. How is Putin 'rolling' Obama?

 

That should get you started

[Googballz 39]

Wow!

 

It really isn't an act. You are this dumb.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Moz laid out a pretty good course of action that I agree with.

 

I have no idea if Obama has the marbles to take such a hard stance against Putin, especially since Obama told Putin before this re-election he would have much more leeway after he was re-elected. Seems Putin is taking the leeway and running over Obama with it.

 

You are fee to show where Obama has bettered Putin in any situation since he was elected.

Moz did lay out a course of action.

Instead of agreeing or saying you would do something similar, your response was a bad Obama jab.

and you wonder why people know you are a hack alias?

[NewbieJr 541]

Wow!

 

It really isn't an act. You are this dumb.

This is like the fifth time I've tried to get you to actually have a discussion and back up claims you've made. It's also the fifth time you've failed to do so.

 

Maybe you can find a Fox News article that answers it, since you bring nothing. Ever.

 

Now go admire your Putin Fathead.

[Googballz 39]

 

you wonder why people know you are a hack alias?

 

 

 

Yes, I do. You have yet to show how I am an alias.

 

You, and Newbiejr, have failed to tell us what you think Obama should do in this situation. Instead you both want to cry about me agreeing with what Moz laid out as a course of action.

[Googballz 39]

This is like the fifth time I've tried to get you to actually have a discussion and back up claims you've made. It's also the fifth time you've failed to do so.

 

 

 

Wow!