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Because no one really cares about Crimea, and up until this incident, most people in the West (specifically the US) never even heard of the place.
Since "we the people" decide close to nothing, people' ignorance is irrelevant. Whether you choose to ignore it or not, whether it matters to you or not, it's a slap in the Western elite' face. It's like a street thug punching you in the face and asking "what you gonna do about it?" It's a challenge, which cannot be ignored without losing face and credibility. Unilateral application of force that goes against written & unwritten agreements is not the way things are settled in the modern world of the entangled interests. Those who try end up hanging like Sadam, let's see if comrade Putin will be an exception, because Crimea is just a first stage, this conflict comrade Putin stirred up will not end up there.
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The West has never really cared about Ukraine much anyway until the West understood the moment it could get it out from under Russia,
It's not 19th century, how do you imagine the West "getting Ukraine out from under Russia"? Who said it's Russian property? Many people in Ukraine find Western social & economic models attractive, Russia cannot compete in the image fest, thus the need for a blitzkrieg and military threats.
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now all of a sudden Ukraine is the most important place in the world.
Nope, news stories about lost jetliner dominate media.
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"I don't know but it's clear that international security mechanisms are trashed"
They were never in place anyway, I think more than a few examples have been shown on this thread.
There were no annexations for the past 70 years. Nothing like that happened in the world' history before. Examples given by the Russian comrades are disingenuous at best.
boxus I am sure the military industrial complex thinks this is the greatest thing to happen since 9/11
Yes, and that's why I'm skeptical on the idea of the border changing.
Also, our neighbor will present itself as a victim in the eyes of West Europeans. Old game.
Despite the fact that as From Ukraine said, his country doesn't really need the peninsula.
I believe that we are helping them by annexing it. Their country becomes more monolithic, with less number of national minorities and they can play a role of a victim.
Since "we the people" decide close to nothing, people' ignorance is irrelevant. Whether you choose to ignore it or not, whether it matters to you or not, it's a slap in the Western elite' face. It's like a street thug punching you in the face and asking "what you gonna do about it?"
Well may be it's about time for "Western elite" to trade places and to experience what Russian people felt ( not the elite, no - just average Russians) back in the nineties?
As they say - god works in mysterious ways.
Well may be it's about time for "Western elite" to trade places and to experience what Russian people felt ( not the elite, no - just average Russians) back in the nineties?
As they say - god works in mysterious ways.
Russians should take responsibility for their own actions and misery. Whatever misery they've experienced, they've made it happen all by themselves in 1990s, it's not the evil West who rushed to get a piece of Mother Russia not matter the cost in blood, misery and suffering of the less "entrepreneurial" ones. Since tackling own problems is tough, I understand why it's so tempting for the Russians to get their personal punching bag - "Evil West". It looks like Evil West was/is/will be responsible for the Russians trashing their own country for the generations to come.
Russians should take responsibility for their own actions and misery. Whatever misery they've experienced, they've made it happen all by themselves in 1990s, it's not the evil West who rushed to get a piece of Mother Russia not matter the cost in blood, misery and suffering of the less "entrepreneurial" ones. Since tackling own problems is tough, I understand why it's so tempting for the Russians to get their personal punching bag - "Evil West". It looks like Evil West was/is/will be responsible for the Russians trashing their own country for the generations to come.
This "holier than though" attitude in militant people like you doesn't cease to surprise me.
So Russians "made it happen all by themselves?"
Yawn. How predictable.
So here we go again -
"Yeltsin’s propensity to terminate the political impasse by going outside of the Russian constitution was encouraged by a series of interventions in Russia’s internal affairs by the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. Treasury.
In August 1993, the IMF sponsored a conference in Moscow at which its officials criticized the budget bill currently under consideration by the Supreme Soviet. This bill included wide support in the parliament, but it included a budget deficit that exceeded what the IMF was willing to accept. In early September, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary [Lawrence] Summers testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He viewed the recent developments in Moscow with alarm: “The battle for economic reform in Russia has entered a new and critical phase in which many of Russia’s accomplishments on the economic front [sic] are being put at risk. The momentum for Russian reform must be invigorated and intensified to ensure sustained multilateral support.” The IMF, as later press leaks revealed, was “unhappy with Russia’s backtracking in reforms during the summer.” An IMF official said off the record, “Important measures in the budget field have not been taken, and credit discipline has been relaxed. This has put their reform program off track.”
Later, after the crackdown, [columnist] William Safire highlighted Yeltsin’s pre-approval from the West: “Last week, the confrontation between the reform executive and the red legislature [sic] came to a head over – of all things – the budget. Parliament proposed a foolhardy deficit [sic] of 25 percent of GNP, which it was ready to pass over Yeltsin’s veto. . . . With his Red Army and KGB and Dzherzhinsky [Division] ducks all in a row, and his personal relationship with Washington secure, the Russian leader – assured that no Clinton bet on him would be hedged – made his move. This is a calculated power play, long-planned and extra-constitutional, that is likely to put too much power into the hands of the Russian chief executive.”
Historians will be able to judge later from the archives whether the United States got more specific information from other sources and how far it gave Yeltsin advance approval for his actions. . . . On September 16, Yeltsin visited the Dzherzhinsky Division of the Interior Ministry at its base outside Moscow and was photographed brandishing a machine gun. . . . Western sources attributed the reappointment of [shock-therapy advocate Yegor] Gaidar to direct prodding from the IMF, saying that “Yeltsin acted under considerable pressure from the United States and international lending institutions like [the IMF].” . . .
On September 19, the IMF made public its decision to delay indefinitely the disbursement of the $1.5 billion loan to Russia. The IMF complained that Russia had not made promised budget cuts and had not reined in credit to industry. Accordingly, the money would not be forthcoming unless and until Russia “returned to the path of economic reform.” The World Bank also delayed a planned $600 million loan for Russia. A senior Clinton administration official said, We’re very encouraged by Gaidar’s return and by indications from the Russian government that they now see the need for a rapid turn toward stabilization.”
After visiting Moscow on September 14-15, Treasury Undersecretary Summers said that the Russian situation had improved since mid-summer: “The recent inflation has been too high, but I am encouraged by Russia’s official plans to get financial conditions back under control. It is crucial that these plans be implemented as a basis for economic growth in Russia and for the full effectiveness of Western support.”
The summers visit was critically important [as one commentator noted]: “Just before Yeltsin’s dissolution of the Congress September 21, the administration sent . . . Summers to Moscow to talk about the conditions for impending IMF aid. . . . Gaidar was immediately brought back as first deputy prime minister, and for the first time he really applied the shock therapy the IMF had been demanding. Bread prices were raised to the point where the daily minimum wage was roughly equal to the price of a loaf of bread in Moscow, and Gaidar promised a vigorous reduction of subsidies beginning January 1 of [1994]."
Since "we the people" decide close to nothing, people' ignorance is irrelevant. Whether you choose to ignore it or not, whether it matters to you or not, it's a slap in the Western elite' face. It's like a street thug punching you in the face and asking "what you gonna do about it?" It's a challenge, which cannot be ignored without losing face and credibility. Unilateral application of force that goes against written & unwritten agreements is not the way things are settled in the modern world of the entangled interests. Those who try end up hanging like Sadam, let's see if comrade Putin will be an exception, because Crimea is just a first stage, this conflict comrade Putin stirred up will not end up there.
Exactly. Russia can not afford to let the United States has established their own rules in Ukraine. This is the same as if Russia will support the riots in Canada. This is unacceptable. It is a challenge. Ukraine, Belarus and Russia - is East Slavic world, like it or not.
I think that the situation may develop as follows: Republic of Crimea enter the Russian Federation, there will be directed federal money and will steadily pay salaries and pensions. In eastern Ukraine have problems with social payments and thay too will join Russia. I think it is quite likely.
You blame all over Russia, but you destroyed their country, that people run away from you in Russia. Ukrainians killed police in Kiev, Ukrainians brought the country to default, the Ukrainians have chosen instead of evolution revolution. And now you blame Russia. However, as always in your history.
I don't object that Russians in Ukraine lived in structure of Russia. When I spoke about it? )
To me bothered that in the east and in the Crimea beat my brothers only that they want an evrointeration for Ukraine.
Let pass referendum (lawful or not), and they go to Russia.
And when the East and the South will turn into Abkhazia and Ossetia, let don't cry. ..the way back won't be.
I only feel sorry for the acquaintances who now take out children from the Crimea, and it is a pity for Tatars... they didn't deserve it.
Let the Russians have Crimea but make them give Germany back Kaliningrad/Konigsberg...
It will occur soon. All experts now say that Russia will break up to many federations.
The Caucasus will rise, and will want to gain back the independence... In Siberia already 80% of Chinese, and the annektion will be soon...
Russia can't control all the territories long ago... the third part of its earth - the desert.
And it continues annexation of small territories of neighboring states.
Such empires can't long live... sooner or later there will be a new division of Russia as soon as it becomes weaker economically and politically...
Russians should take responsibility for their own actions and misery. Whatever misery they've experienced, they've made it happen all by themselves in 1990s, it's not the evil West who rushed to get a piece of Mother Russia not matter the cost in blood, misery and suffering of the less "entrepreneurial" ones. Since tackling own problems is tough, I understand why it's so tempting for the Russians to get their personal punching bag - "Evil West". It looks like Evil West was/is/will be responsible for the Russians trashing their own country for the generations to come.
It agrees with you. Here now Russians speak that Ukrainians always pretend to be martyrs...
And actually Putin (and other governors) always distracted their attention "the external enemy" as America and Europe.
So many generations brought up Russians.
All to be afraid of the EVIL WEST and they have no time to think of an essence of things, to think of the economy and another matters.
Ukraine means nothing in geopolitics if honestly to admit, but Russia...
Here it also surprises me... such great country has such mentality... It is terrible.
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