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Thursday, August 7. 2014

The Ukraine Kerfuffle

I see no reason for Americans to give a darn about Ukrainian politics. Putin may be a lowlife, but he is simply pursuing his national interests as he sees them, and that is fine with me. Trade wars are juvenile. It seems as if at least half of Ukrainians want to be affiliated with Russia. Who cares?


Let the Europeans deal with their own problems:  Putin Responds to U.S., EU Sanctions by Blocking Agricultural Imports


Posted by The News Junkie in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 11:07 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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Is Putin shooting himself in the foot with this ploy?

One wonders how the self-imposed restrictions of food imports will affect the price, quality and quantity available to the little people and if this will result in at least a marginal decline in his popularity at home?
#1 feeblemind on 2014-08-07 11:34 (Reply)
I'm concerned about Russki politics, and politicians.
#2 Sam L. on 2014-08-07 11:41 (Reply)
Not me. I do care about American politicians. Russia is a big nothing.
#2.1 The NJ on 2014-08-07 12:35 (Reply)
The game being played is juvenile, and what happens in or to Ukraine is of no consequence to the West. However, the US/EU/NATO seem to think that their power is so transcendentally overwhelming that Putin/Russia will have to grovel and submit. Well, if Operation Barbarossa didn't cow them a few toothless sanctions won't bother them.

But, and it is a big but, everyone is engaged in an ever escalating tit-for-tat rachet, and the stakes keep getting bigger. There is a real possibility someone will miscalculate or just lose it, and WW III is upon us.

All of these clowns need to climb down. We have a minor war in Ukraine, numerous various sized wars in Africa, a fairly largish war in the Middle East, and the possibility of war in the Far East. And a feckless, ignorant delusional Ruling Class. What could possibly go wrong.

Does the Farm have a stocked bomb shelter? You are downwind of NYC.
#3 bob sykes on 2014-08-07 12:35 (Reply)
"I see no reason for Americans to give a darn about Ukrainian politics."
Such a statement is downright ignorant of the implications for other states on Russia's periphery and for nations elsewhere impacted by emboldening Putin and his ilk. That does concerrn the US' vital interests. -- Trading our interests or our morality for a bowl of porridge is absurd, i.e. losing a small export martket, which will be temporary as Russia imports about 40% of its foodstuffs.
The seepage of the juvenile and irresponsible Paulist isolationism into MF is emotional but immature and vacuous.
#4 Bruce Kesler on 2014-08-07 14:39 (Reply)
This is just as minor and unimportant as, say, the assignation of a Hapsburg Archduke in Serbia a century ago. It couldn't possibly lead to world war and tens of thousands of American deaths.
#4.1 NJSoldier on 2014-08-07 15:05 (Reply)
Overoptimistic, I fear you are. Never know for certain, does one
#5 Sam L. on 2014-08-07 18:27 (Reply)
Putin is getting closer and closer to provoking a wider war in Europe. His foolish efforts to bolster his dictatorship have already seriously damaged Russia both politically and economically. Putin is responsible for the bloodshed in Ukraine. Russia has no legitimate claims to any portion of Ukraine, including Crimea. If Putin continues to escalate, there will be a big war. At great cost to everyone. Russian nukes are not a factor because they can never be used. Russia must import food to feed it's population. Russia has very few, if any, friends. The latest round of sanctions have unanimous and unwavering support across Europe and they will seriously harm Russia. Russian counter sanctions just confirm European resolve. Europeans do not want war. But they will not back down from Russia. Putin is a serious threat to everyone. So, he is and should be a major concern for Americans. If Putin is not stopped now, stopping him later will exact a huge price.
#6 W. C. Taqiyya on 2014-08-07 18:49 (Reply)
BFD

The best wat to get WW III (nuclear version) is to intervene in Ukraine. We have NO interests there. But Russia does. Andbthey will fight. And if they are losing, they will go nuclear, first tactical then on us.

What an idiot.
#6.1 bob sykes on 2014-08-07 18:59 (Reply)
I agree. No US interest, except for general geopolitical bullshit maneuvering. Time for Europe to deal with Europe, and to quit expecting the US to do their dirty jobs.
#6.1.1 Bird Dog on 2014-08-07 19:38 (Reply)
You could have signed that Charles Lindbergh.
#6.1.1.1 Bruce Kesler on 2014-08-07 23:10 (Reply)
BFD? Wrong, it is a big deal.

WW3, nuke version? Incorrect, nukes will not be used. Many countries have them, nobody uses them. Why? Because everyone who owns them understands that using them would be last thing they ever did.

You and Bird Dog have missed the point. American involvement is not really a fact in dispute. America and Europe are joined at the hip in every respect. So, what happens over there will impact us over here. Playing at isolationism is self delusion.

The question as it pertains to Ukraine is not just specific to Ukraine but to the consequences of a wider war. Ukraine is the focus but the focus could be Romania. The focus could be Poland. The real point is that a wider war might happen if Putin is not stopped. So, "supporting" Ukraine doesn't mean putting American troops in that country, it means, or should mean, supporting the European efforts to stop Putin.

But, and this is key, Europe does not require the U.S. to land an army in France or Germany. They are dealing with Russia from an overwhelmingly superior position politically and economically. Militarily, the Europeans as a group, and they are unified in this matter, also dominate Russia.

So, even if long standing treaties did not require us to support our European alliance, Putin would be outmatched. This is not a question of rescuing the French or some such outmoded theme. Together, the French, Germans, Poles, etc. can and would kick Putin's ass.
#6.1.2 W. C. Taqiyya on 2014-08-08 14:53 (Reply)

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