While Obama sleeps

I'd tell our enemies that we have well defined red lines and if they cross them they are toast. Then, I wouldn't tell them where the lines are drawn.

We and the EU could cut off the economic spigot that Russia needs.

According to your theory, Russia is getting stuff it needs from the US and EU, but the US and EU are not getting anything they need from Russia. Has anyone told you you're a genius?

Yes, we know all about those Republicans and their tough talk. If only Bush were still President Putin would be quaking in his boots right now.

I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue.

"I was able to get a sense of his soul.

Perhaps Obama should call Putin by an affectionate pet name so he can show him the U.S. means business? It is too bad Pootie-Poot has already been taken.

If Russia wants to invade the Ukraine there is nothing we can do about it. We had a hard time beating up Saddam Hussein and can't even control a 3rd world shithole like Afghanistan. Every world leader knows it and that is why they don't take our threats seriously. Conservatives better get over not having the biggest cock on the block anymore.

The Afghans are probably the most fearsome warriors the world has known. Call it a shithole if you like, but stay TF out. The biggest (and most expensive) idiots in contemporary history are GW Bush and Donald Rumsfeld.

The President of the United States has spoken:
"We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine. The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine. Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing."
Ref: Reuters

DonDiego has near absolute confidence in how this will turn out.



DonDiego is reminded of an old Russian fable: "?????????? ??????????? ? ??? ?????" ("The Community Organizer and the KGB Agent"). The KGB Agent wins.
[DonDiego is very disappointed; the preview function displayed the Russian Title in the appropriate Cyrillic script. The thread displays only question marks.]

***EDITED TO ADD***
By the way, as of this morning, 1 February, the initial statement in this thread was already old news.

Yesterday Russian troops, most likely Shock Troops with the 76th Airborne Assault Division had arrived in the Crimean Regional Capital, Simperofol, raised the Russian Flag over the parliament Building, seized the State Television Station, and deployed Armored Personnel Carriers around the City. (The 76th Division comprises only full-time professional servicemen, as opposed to conscripts. The Division is equipped with the most sophisticated weaponry in modern warfare, such as the 'smart' precision guided munitions, guided missiles and self-propelled mortar vehicles. They apparently plan to stay a while.)
The Russians also deployed additional troops to "defend" the military bases and ports in Crimea already occupied by the Russians in accordance with prior treaties.

Today The Federation Council of the Russian Parliament unanimously approved authorization of Russian troops in Ukraine, not limiting any deployment to the Crimean Peninsula.

"alas, while the Bush people applied the Powell Doctrine in the Midwest, they applied the Rumsfeld Doctrine in the Middle East. And the Rumsfeld Doctrine is: "Just enough troops to lose." Donald Rumsfeld tried to prove that a small, mobile army was all that was needed to topple Saddam, without realizing that such a limited force could never stabilize Iraq. He never thought it would have to. He thought his Iraqi pals would do it. He was wrong.

For all of President Bush's vaunted talk about being consistent and resolute, the fact is he never established U.S. authority in Iraq. Never. This has been the source of all our troubles. We have never controlled all the borders, we have never even consistently controlled the road from Baghdad airport into town, because we never had enough troops to do it."



By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: October 3, 2004

Hey! We still pay for the biggest cock on the block.

Sounds like what we need is a President who has insomnia.

The 3:00AM Telephone Call