Soviet-Style Vote in Crimea?

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   mbuggiehposted 10 years ago

   
   Reuters reports that:
   
   "The United States and European Union imposed personal sanctions on Monday on Russian and Crimean officials involved in the seizure of Crimea from Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the region as a sovereign state.
   
   The moves heightened the most serious East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War, following a disputed referendum in the Black Sea peninsula on Sunday in which Crimea's leaders declared a Soviet-style, 97-percent vote to secede from Ukraine."
   
   Are these sanctions on persons (such as freezing of the personal assets of Russian oligarchs) sufficient response to Russia's Soviet-style annexation of Crimea---part of the sovereign nation of Ukraine?

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      breakfastpopposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The sanctions imposed by President Obama are a not very funny joke. Placing sanctions on the assets of 11 people is so idiotic it really doesn't bear discussion. Apparently, President Obama isn't moved by Putin's quest for power.  He is far more concerned with his own power grab right here at home.

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         mbuggiehposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I agree that Obama's actions are meaningless and demonstrate a failure to grasp the gravity of the situation.
         
         That said, I think that he is so dis-interested in governing that he could care less about power grabs in the US. His attention seems to be on comedy shows and late-night television rather than governing.

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            Quilligrapherposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Howdy Ms. Buggie-Hunt. How are you this evening?
            
            It is you stated opinion that the President “is so dis-interested in governing…His attention seems to be on comedy shows and late-night television rather than governing.” Meanwhile, here is a sample of news reports from the first week and a half of March:
            
            U.S. Leading Boycott Of Upcoming Sochi G-8 Summit.
            
            The US has joined the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, and Japan in a joint pledge "to suspend our participation in activities with the preparation of the scheduled G-8 Summit in Sochi in June.” Secretary Kerry has also warned Mr. Putin that Russia might be excluded from the G-8 summit altogether. {1}
            
            President Obama Suspended Trade Negotiations with Moscow.
            
            The US has "suspended trade and military ties with Moscow", reports the WSJ, as one of  "a sharply escalating series of actions responding to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine". {2}
            
            The Pentagon Ends All Military-to-Military Contact with Russia.
            
            Rear Admiral John Kirby announced termination of all engagements with the Russian military including exercises, bilateral meetings, port visits and planning conferences. {3}
            
            U.S. Withdrew Presidential Delegation from Sochi Paralympic Games.
            
            In protest to "host Russia's military action" in Ukraine, the President’s special delegation has been cancelled. USA Today also reported the games would also be boycotted by the delegation from the British government. {4}
            
            U.S. Increases Military Presence On Russia’s Border.
            
            "The U.S. military is increasing its presence in Poland and the Baltics in response to the crisis in Ukraine." Relocating six F-15 fighters and one KC-135 air refueling tanker from Britain to the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania is also planned. {5}
            
            White House Authorizes New Visa Restrictions And Sanctions.
            
            In a statement on March 6th, Press Secretary Jay Carney revealed specific actions in response to Russian aggression in Crimea. They include visa restrictions for Russian nationals and flexible sanctions against "individuals and entities” connected to the crisis in the Ukraine. {6}
            
            12 Additional F-16 Fighters And Troops Sent To Poland.
            
            After a week of steady announcements of new sanctions, the LA Times on March 12th reported a decision to indefinitely station twelve additional F-16 fighter jets at Lask Air Base in Poland and to increase its troop deployment to the country by 300 additional personnel. {7}
            
            It appears that the President has indeed been responding, almost on a daily basis, to the crisis in the Ukraine. Sadly, while the President has been governing, not everyone has been paying attention.
            
            {1} http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/20 … n-ukraine/
            {2} http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1 … 3811345260
            {3} http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukrain … sia-n43631
            {4} http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ol … s/5976875/
            {5} http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukrain … and-n45386
            {6} http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-off … ry-ukraine
            {7} http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/l … z2wN7VsMHt

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               mbuggiehposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Good to hear from you again!
               
               I will agree that we are taking action. I may have over-determined our lack of response, but even that said, I cannot help but believe that our increasing lack of leadership---in terms of global and international affairs, at the very least encouraged Putin.
               
               Everything is about timing, and I suspect, that Putin's timing on this has been very good; very good in the sense that President Obama and his State Department (particularly under the leadership of John Kerry) has not been particularly effective.

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                  crankaliciousposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Please explain how the moral superiority of the United States can be used as a stick given that we invaded Iraq? If you're Putin, don't you chuckle when the U.S. tries to tell you your invasion is illegal?

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                     retief2000posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     UN authorized, dozens of allied military forces committed, Congress authorized - hardly an illegal invasion.  Where are the dozens of Russian allies?  Where is the UN support?  Russian special forces in Crimea long before the BOGUS referendum.  Military exercises on the Crimean and Ukrainian borders on the day of the referendum.  Sounds like Putin is as pure as the driven snow and Bush is the monster. No wonder lefties bore me.

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                        Sychophantasticposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        That must be why all those GOPers are singing Putin's praises all the time about what a great leader he is.

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   crankaliciousposted 10 years ago

   Obama isn't interested in the situation in Crimea? Wow, do we have short memories. Let's remember that international politics is goverened a lot by past action and that U.S. standing was severely damaged by the war in Iraq where we invaded another country and took it over on the basis of false evidence. This doesn't exactly give the U.S. a lot of standing when opposing another nation's invasion. In fact, the ability of the U.S. to effectively oppose such a thing is horribly damaged.

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      retief2000posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      WRONG, as per usual. The Iraq Government was in direct violation of the terms of the Gulf War Cease Fire. That was reason enough to invade Iraq.  If the MASSIVE AND MASSIVE stock piles of WMDs, of which the only lies have been told by lefties, is the false evidence of which you speak - They were NEVER given as a reason in the multi-part, Democrat supported, Authorization of Force Bill that passed both houses with flying colors
      
      Besides, in the mind of a populace that can't locate its own national capitol on a map all that is ancient history.  Who will win "Dancing With American Idol's Voice" is far more engaging, because if it wasn't Obama would have never been elected in the first place.  A Suit Sale from Men's Warehouse wouldn't be in the White House.

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         crankaliciousposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I guess you must be serious.
         
         The invasion of Iraq was done in response to 9/11, the presence of WMD's, and Al Qaida. Every single one of those reasons has some serious flaws. That we made those commitments based on that reasoning makes our moralizing look rather foolish now when we go to criticize other nations, however justifiably. Thus, our international diplomatic power has been severely damaged. If you can't understand that, I'm sad for you.

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            retief2000posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Reasons given in the Use of Force Resolution supported by Democrats and Republicans.
            
            1)Iraq's noncompliance with the conditions of the 1991 ceasefire agreement, including interference with U.N. weapons inspectors.
            True
            2)Iraq "continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability" and "actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability" posed a "threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region."
            no mention of stock piles of WMDs here
            
            3)Iraq's "brutal repression of its civilian population."ask all the women brutalized by Saddam's sons
            
            4)Iraq's "capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people".Saddam possessed weapons systems capable of delivering WMDs and a demonstrated willingness to use them, n'cest-ce pas?
            
            5)Iraq's hostility towards the United States as demonstrated by the 1993 assassination attempt on former President George H. W. Bush and firing on coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones following the 1991 Gulf War.true
            
            6)Members of al-Qaeda, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq. Iraqi intelligence had numerous meetings with Al Qaeda prior to the War, the enemy of my enemy and all - could hardly discount a possible connection considering Iraq's harboring, assisting and rewarding terrorist groups
            
            7)Iraq's "continu[ing] to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations," including anti-United States terrorist organizations.true
            
            8)Iraq paid bounty to families of suicide bombers.true
            
            9)The efforts by the Congress and the President to fight terrorists, and those who aided or harbored them. remember Joe Biden's bag of flour and Bill Clinton's regime change??
            
            10)The authorization by the Constitution and the Congress for the President to fight anti-United States terrorism.perhaps Obama shouldn't so easily ignore his duties and play less golf
            
            11)The governments in Turkey, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia feared Saddam and wanted him removed from power.Regional allies and one a NATO member and they expressed security concerns about a bad actor
            
            12)Citing the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, the resolution reiterated that it should be the policy of the United States to remove the Saddam Hussein regime and promote a democratic replacement.Bill Clinton's signature on that one
            
            Though lefties love the lie, this was hardly a one country show with more nations participating than supported the invasion of Europe on D-Day
            
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Nati … 80%93_Iraq
            
            What were you saying about no moral authority to criticize the Russians?  NOTHING!!!! Russia is doing resembles the many and varied efforts taken by the US to justify its invasion of Iraq, including giving Saddam multiple opportunities to come into compliance with the terms of the original cease fire just days before the invasion.
            
            Moral relativist lefties are silly
            
            How did that whole "Re-set button absurdity work out for Hillary, your future Presidential nominee and Ambassador killer -  BRILLIANT, the smartest woman and political party in the world has, along with the Golfer, led it to the brink of WWIII - BRILLIANT

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