Merged Ukraine erupts in riots and general strike.

[L.Y.S.]

The funny thing is, there is a false dichotomy being drawn between pro-Russian supporters and pro-Western supporters. No one realizes that the west and Russia had their hands in the same cookie jar on the same cookie. Now that cookie is about to be broken apart by two separate hands.

 

[LSSBB]

The funny thing is, there is a false dichotomy being drawn between pro-Russian supporters and pro-Western supporters. No one realizes that the west and Russia had their hands in the same cookie jar on the same cookie. Now that cookie is about to be broken apart by two separate hands.

Only one hand is actually in the cookie jar, with guns and ammunition, in any significant way.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Only one hand is actually in the cookie jar, with guns and ammunition, in any significant way.

The west recognizes a regime born in coup. They've reached their hand into the jar one way or another.

 

[Cleon]

For those interested, the reason the "anti-imperialist" left isn't doing anything is because virtually nobody agrees with each other about the situation.

The ANSWER coalition and the IAC, who organized those massive anti-war demonstrations in DC, are arguing that the protests in Ukraine were staged by the US/EU and Russia's actions are defensive in nature. If they organize any demonstrations, they will take the line of "EU/US Hands of Ukraine" or some such, not "Russia out of Ukraine." If they try to organize such a demonstration (and I expect that they will), virtually nobody will show, because nobody else agrees with that nonsense. "No war in Iraq" was something a screaming ****ton of people agreed with, hence the giant demonstrations.

 

[spin0]

Images and interesting analysis of the weaponry and accessories Russian troops wield in Crimea: http://imgur.com/a/3DzA0#0

 

[trustbutverify]

The funny thing is, there is a false dichotomy being drawn between pro-Russian supporters and pro-Western supporters. No one realizes that the west and Russia had their hands in the same cookie jar on the same cookie. Now that cookie is about to be broken apart by two separate hands.

What false dichotomy are you referring to?

 

[spin0]

The funny thing is, there is a false dichotomy being drawn between pro-Russian supporters and pro-Western supporters. No one realizes that the west and Russia had their hands in the same cookie jar on the same cookie. Now that cookie is about to be broken apart by two separate hands.

You know what's also funny?

False equivalences.

 

[trustbutverify]

For those interested, the reason the "anti-imperialist" left isn't doing anything is because virtually nobody agrees with each other about the situation.

The ANSWER coalition and the IAC, who organized those massive anti-war demonstrations in DC, are arguing that the protests in Ukraine were staged by the US/EU and Russia's actions are defensive in nature. If they organize any demonstrations, they will take the line of "EU/US Hands of Ukraine" or some such, not "Russia out of Ukraine." If they try to organize such a demonstration (and I expect that they will), virtually nobody will show, because nobody else agrees with that nonsense. "No war in Iraq" was something a screaming ****ton of people agreed with, hence the giant demonstrations.

Replace the role Russia is playing in this scenario with the US or Britain, and the Galloway left/Paultard right would be setting the internet aflame with spittle covered rage. The "anti-imperialists/interventionists" are certainly anti-something, but it aint imperialism or interventionism.

 

[Cleon]

Replace the role Russia is playing in this scenario with the US or Britain, and the Galloway left/Paultard right would be setting the internet aflame with spittle covered rage. The "anti-imperialists/interventionists" are certainly anti-something, but it aint imperialism or interventionism.

Yes, I'm aware that if the situation were different, the reactions would be different. Thank you for that insight.

 

[trustbutverify]

Yes, I'm aware that if the situation were different, the reactions would be different. Thank you for that insight.

I was agreeing with you. But thanks for the insult.

 

[L.Y.S.]

You know what's also funny?

False equivalences.

Plausible deniability never gets old.

 

[trustbutverify]

Russian broadcaster receives a fake Oscar.

After decades of Soviet communist rule, Ukrainians are used to state-controlled news and political manipulation of the media, but some watching Russian television have been shocked by what they see as deliberate misrepresentation of the facts.

One took matters into his own hands on Sunday, interrupting a live broadcast from the Kiev protests by Russian state channel Rossiya 24 to hand the astonished presenter a fake "Oscar" for the "lies and nonsense" he said it was spreading.

 

[L.Y.S.]

What is there to talk about darthrotor? The policy of containment proved extremely effective in the past, there is no reason why the same policy shouldn't work now.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Those calling for severe sanctions might not get their wish. For one thing there is an extremely divided response in Europe as to what to do, and Americans are not exactly in agreement.

Germany, the EU's largest member state, is extremely skeptical that shoveling money into Ukraine's dire situation is a good idea. They are also leery of any military conflict with Russia. This owing largely to historical defeats at the hands of Russia.

http://blogs.ft.com/the-world/2014/03/ukraine-and-the-us-german-spat/

More of the article above.

 

[spin0]

Russian broadcaster receives a fake Oscar.

Yup, Russia's state controlled media has been publishing and broadcasting blatant lies regarding Ukraine since November, and now they have gone to a new level.

Just for one example couple of days ago Russian media reported that people are fleeing in droves into safety in Russia from "chaos" in Ukraine. Likely in an effort to fabricate a propaganda narrative where Russia's military invasion would be made seem like protecting someone. But because nothing such was happening on Russian border, they used video imagery of a modest line of cars on Polish border (quite normal occurence there) to tell a fairytale of 140,000 refugees on Russian border.

Polish FM Radosław Sikorski ‏put it bluntly.
@sikorskiradek
RToday setting new standards in disgusting propaganda. Politicians make their biggest mistakes when they start believing in their own lies.

Also AFP: Russia launches 'propaganda' war over Ukraine

news channel Russia 24 aired an apparent confession from a young Russian who claimed he was paid to serve as a sniper with opposition forces.
"There are mercenaries there... they come from very different countries: the United States and Germany, they come wearing identical military uniforms," he alleged.

Probably a quote that will make its appearance in the useful idiot wiki.

 

[Darth Rotor]

What is there to talk about darthrotor? The policy of containment proved extremely effective in the past, there is no reason why the same policy shouldn't work now.

As it's a multi polar world now, not bipolar world (and hence more dangerous), the solution sets are going to be different, depending upon what solution choices you think a problem needs.

I can give a damn what Russia does so long as it doesn't extend past the non-Baltic republics of the former Soviet Union. .

Widen your field of view a bit. Vlad Putin is the leader of a Power. He doesn't confine his aims and goals to his own territory, nor just the nearby locale.

spin: what does it matter, what hardware they are using? Looks to me that whomever is sending the soldiers into a tense situation is equipping them to do what soldiers do.

Why would they not?

 

[LSSBB]

The west recognizes a regime born in coup. They've reached their hand into the jar one way or another.

How is this a coup? More like a revolution. Differentiating factor: Protagonist group size

coup d'état
Variant(s): or coup d'etat \ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌ, -də-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural coups d'état or coups d'etat \-ˈtä(z), -ˌtä(z)\
Etymology: French, literally, stroke of state
Date: 1646
: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics ; especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group

rev·o·lu·tion
Pronunciation: \ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English revolucioun, from Middle French revolution, from Late Latin revolution-, revolutio, from Latin revolvere to revolve
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course ; also : apparent movement of such a body round the earth (2) : the time taken by a celestial body to make a complete round in its orbit (3) : the rotation of a celestial body on its axis b : completion of a course (as of years) ; also : the period made by the regular succession of a measure of time or by a succession of similar events c (1) : a progressive motion of a body around an axis so that any line of the body parallel to the axis returns to its initial position while remaining parallel to the axis in transit and usually at a constant distance from it (2) : motion of any figure about a center or axis <revolution of a right triangle about one of its legs generates a cone> (3) : rotation 1b 2 a : a sudden, radical, or complete change b : a fundamental change in political organization ; especially : the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed c : activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation d : a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm <the Copernican revolution> e : a changeover in use or preference especially in technology <the computer revolution>

Was the American Revolution a coup?

 

[Garrison]

People need to remember that the current situation represents an abject failure of Putin's foreign policy. Several months back when Yanukovych rejected the EU deal in favour of ties with Moscow that looked like a major win for Putin. Now he's scrambling to save face and salvage what he can. What really makes Putin dangerous is that isn't as clever as he (or a number of commentators) think he is.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Kerry sounded really tough this morning. I suspect that economic sanctions are going to happen, at least on the US's Part. If for other reason then Obama cannot be seen as weak on this with the midterm elections right around the corner.

Kerry is also personally going to Kiev. It's almost as if the Obama administration is saying to Putin: "Go on and start some **** while we have our man there."

This is getting dicey. At the very least, all out civil war is brewing in Ukraine.

 

[MattusMaximus]

People need to remember that the current situation represents an abject failure of Putin's foreign policy. Several months back when Yanukovych rejected the EU deal in favour of ties with Moscow that looked like a major win for Putin. Now he's scrambling to save face and salvage what he can. What really makes Putin dangerous is that isn't as clever as he (or a number of commentators) think he is.

Stupidity plus power is a dangerous mix.