by Frances Martel 27 Feb 2014 Following President Obama's lead in warning that there would be "consequences" for any unduly aggressive behavior in Ukraine, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel warned Russia today to "avoid provocative actions" and "be transparent" about any military activity in the region. The Associated Press reports that Hagel made the comments after leaving a meeting of NATO defense ministers who had congregated to discuss the delicate situation in Ukraine. With former President Viktor Yanukovych out of office for good and allegedly fleeing with the help of Russia, the new opposition government has begun to establish an organizational structure and cabinet. This has not meant a cessation in violence or turmoil, however, as pro-Russia agitators have begun to cause strife in the southern province of Crimea. The Crimean Parliament is currently in the middle of an armed standoff as pro-Russia forces try to pry the district from the opposition government. Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov warned in a speech this week that he perceives "separatism and infighting" as threats to the stability of an opposition government. "I expect other nations to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and avoid provocative actions," Hagel told the press in his statements after the meeting with NATO officials. He specifically signaled out Russia, adding that he "expected Russia to be transparent" about any military activities near Ukraine or their relationship with Yanukovych, and to be wary of committing actions that "could be misinterpreted or could lead to miscalculation at a very delicate time." Hagel's attempt to dissuade Russia from any imperialist aggression comes after President Obama's new "line" that Ukraine should not "step over" unless it wants "consequences" of some sort from the United States. [Excerpt] Read more: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/...ussia-To-Avoid-Provocative-Actions-In-Ukraine Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. ---Theodore Roosevelt You can't cut your big stick(defenses) by three quarters and expect to fend off or warn an attacker.
Russia haven't done anything about Ukraine other than voice their opinion on the matter. Meanwhile, US, EU etc. diplomats and politicians alike were on the ground in Ukraine trying to galvanise support for a forceful coup de tat of their democratically elected government! The US went so far as to issue travel bans on several Ukranian leaders they said were responsible for unjustified violence against "peaceful protestors".. The same "peaceful" protestors that FORCED the suspension of government affairs by occupying public buildings, that they reached by trying to drive bulldozers over police, burning police alive etc.
Im sure they are terrified by the words of the men who are hell bent on shrinking our forces. Why if they dont listen we will just ask again only this time in much harsher more authoritative tone and if that doesnt work Obama may point a finger and say stop it. The guy couldnt get our military to Benghazi what exactly is his plan for this? Its unbelievable how horrific this administration is.
Hmm..., was that before or after snipers were killing protesters, and running them down with armored vehicles? Then there's the innocent actions of Putin after the fact. "Some 150,000 troops are on high alert with 880 tanks, 90 aircraft and 80 ships. The 'war games' came hours before protest leaders in Ukraine - which shares access to the strategically vital Black Sea with Russia."
Is anyone attacking the U.S. or our interests? I think not! Is anyone attacking Russia's interests? I think so! Maybe it's time to take everything in context.
[video=youtube;JaoV2gdjRg8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaoV2gdjRg8[/video] he said a time of great tension but didnt the us started or help the uprising by backing the eu?
What "protestors" are you referring to? You must mean those who, being so frustrated that the police line held against their attempts to run them over, decided to bring rifles and shotguns to the "protest"? How did those police get killed? Name a single police force on the planet who wouldn't have an armed response to a live threat while facing live fire from firearms as well as the usual improvised incendiary bombs? What "actions" are you referring to? All that said was that his forces were on high alert. He's not deployed them into the Ukraine. However, foreign forces deployed into the Ukraine include EU and US politicians and diplomats etc. with their own boots on the ground, in Syria, trying to rally support for this armed rebellion. So what about their actions? Why overlook this obvious interference, while instead complaining about the one country in the world who has the most at stake besides the Ukraine, and yet has YET to actually do anything other than voice their opinion? The US even went so far as to try the "Magnitsky Act" (*)(*)(*)(*) again and issue travel bans to various Ukraine officials they blamed for violence against "peaceful demonstrators".. Why? Have they issued any travel bans for Kim Jong Un as he has thousands of his people tortured, enslaved and executed? The US won't even prosecute their own errant cops who murder unarmed people.
They certainly did their fair share of rabble-rousing to inspire and ignite the "protestors".. As for whether they actually started it.... I'm not sure there's evidence of that, but it would make sense, and it would NOT be the first time the US tried inciting revolt and the overthrow of a democracy.. Not even close to the first time. So it wouldn't surprise me.
I believe that there was a thread topic where someone posted that they sent troops to the Crimea in violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, other than that they launched a trade war against the Ukraine when they implemented an embargo against Ukrainian goods on August 14, 2013 when the Ukraine still under Yanukovych made clear that they were going to sign the agreement with the European Union, this trade embargo forced Yanukovych to back out of the agreement which prompted the protests in the first place, so ya you really don't know what you're talking about. Abject unmitigated nonsense, it was Russia that created this entire situation, the U.S. did nothing except support the Ukrainian peoples right to peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances, a large plurality if not an outright majority of the Ukrainian people support entrance to the EU, the U.S. did not come out in loud support of the protesters until Yanukovych sent in his jack booted thugs and initiated the violence to crack the skulls of the previously peaceful protestors on November 30th 2013. Because they were responsible for unjustified violence against peaceful protestors. Abject nonsense, the protests were peaceful and located in a public square until the jack booted thugs were sent in on November 30th 2013, post evidence to the contrary or stop spouting the party line from the Kremlin, it really is quite revolting. Yanukovych has been ousted by the duly elected parliament of the Ukrainian people for crimes against the Ukrainian people, your post-Soviet blame the victims defense of authoritarianism and overt state terror perpetrated against people who dare to exercise their inalienable rights to peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances gets no play.
How is an independent country attacking Russia's interest, unless Russia(Putin) is seeking to invade and take over the Ukraine and the Crimea?
Russia started the protests through their unjustified trade war against the Ukraine forcing Yanukovych to pull out of the EU agreement which a large plurality if not an outright majority of the Ukrainian people support.
The EU is playing a dangerous game although that they know Russia will not back down for issues they consider as of ultimate importance. The example of Georgia is not that old.
Ukraine is Russia's business, because one third of the people are Russians, over half the country speaks Russian, the Crimea is historically Russian, the Russian fleet has always been stationed in the Crimea, the industries in the East have been there since Soviet times, Eastern Ukraine's largest trade partner is Russia, Russia has special trade agreements with Ukraine, Russia's gas to Europe is distributed through Ukraine, and I could go on and on. Now tell me, what is Ukraine to the U.S., and why were our delegates in Kiev supporting a rebel group against a President who was voted in by the majority of the Ukrainian people? We have as much right to encourage an insurrection in Ukraine, as Russia has to encourage an insurrection in Canada. Anyone who thinks that Russia will give up the Eastern part of Ukraine and the Crimea where the majority of people are Russian, has to be very stupid. They will no more give up their political, economic and strategic interests than we would. If they did, they would be signing their death warrant. If Russia was so adamant about Syria with its historical connections and its protection of Russia's oil and gas lines, then how much more will it be when it comes to Ukraine. Years ago when Yugoslavia was breaking up no country in the world would recognize Croatia, knowing it would start a major war. Well Germany did, and I recall an outspoken Greek politician say that they are political idiots. Well this comes to mind today when I think of Germany's anger at Ukraine for not picking the E.U. and how they immediately sent delegates in to encourage the protesters. One German poster even said that they were being supported by Merkel, which must be true because they certainly weren't working.
Abject nonsense, they are Ukrainian citizens not Russian citizens, that's like saying that any country with a sizable minority population is the business of that ethnicity country of origin. I think someone ought to enlighten you on the finer points of international law and state sovereignty. Because the U.S. supports their right to self determination, this was not a rebel group that supported entrance into the EU it was a large plurality if not the outright majority of the Ukrainian people who supported entrance into the EU, and the U.S. likewise supported these peoples rights to peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances which they did until they were violently attacked on November 30th 2013, and this President was voted out by the duly elected Ukrainian Parliament for crimes against the Ukrainian people who brought him into office in the first place. If it were not for Russia the protests would never have taken place and Yanukovych would still be president, Putin overplayed his hand when he initiated the trade war against the Ukraine to force them out of joining with the EU and he underestimated the resolve of the Ukrainian people to no longer be a puppet state of the Kremlin.
