2014 Ukrainian Maidan Revolt: News, Views, Photos & Videos
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TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Actually that's pretty consistent with Regular Russian troops to, Different military services maker there soldiers in different ways. A glance in the right location on a US Army soldier and you can tell what unit he belongs to. but look at a marine and there is no indications of which Division he is part of. Wearing a national flag is standard form some but not for others. Russian uniform must wear it's insignia differently, that's the only thing I can think of. I also have questions about the Blackwater-ski Theory. If your a service who wears your uniforms with subdued to no markings as we have seen Russian troops seemingly do how do you tell who is a PMC if they are wearing the same thing?
When The US hired contractors for Iraq and Afghanistan they gave them tan BDU's not camouflage. when you saw contractors they wore tan, Khaki, Grey, Black and olive drab. they avoided "Uniforms" and created a Uniform of T shirts cargo pants, Utility vests or body armor, ball caps, Sunglasses, Beards and Shemaghs.
Yet these guys are wearing Russian military issue. Carrying Russian military issue weapons. I mean that's screaming for Confusion. Seems more likely to me that these guys are Russian Regulars but Putin is trying to keep it QT.
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!
The overall situation in Ukraine is to the advantage of the pro-Western faction, as far as I can tell they are much more activist than the pro-Russian faction, perhaps more numerous as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know there haven't been massive pro-Yanukovych or pro-Russian demonstrations, even the ones in the Crimea are relatively small in scale compared to the pro-Western protests in Kiev. Either there aren't as many pro-Russian Ukrainians or they aren't as activist or both, either way this means a Russian intervention is going to be limited to the Crimea if they want to be successful due to their established military interests there as well as support from the local population.
That the Russians would intervene at least in the Crimea shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone even if the overall situation is to Russia's disadvantage as the Ukraine is right up against the heart of Russia and it would be fair to say that it is a top Russian national security interest if not approaching a critical one. This reminds me of the situation on the Korean peninsula and the Korean War, which was/is a civil war taken over by outside powers because of the country's critical location relative to China.
As the West holds the high ground in Ukraine at this moment as well as the foreseeable future, and the situation is much less critical for us than the Russians, I believe it is actually on us and the pro-Western Ukrainians not to push too hard too fast and make the pro-Russian Ukrainians or the Russians lash out full force from feeling cornered, as I believe they are holding back right now. It is more efficient to "muddle through" to a solidly pro-Western Ukraine further in the future than to risk fracturing the country further (Crimea aside as it is a special situation), escalating the conflict and therefore the necessary commitments and costs in the name of complete victory right now. Unless we really want to play hardball and try to get the Russians to slip up when they lash out full force because I think this will be a fight with tooth and nail for them if it comes down to that.
The overall situation in Ukraine is to the advantage of the pro-Western faction, as far as I can tell they are much more activist than the pro-Russian faction, perhaps more numerous as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know there haven't been massive pro-Yanukovych or pro-Russian demonstrations, even the ones in the Crimea are relatively small in scale compared to the pro-Western protests in Kiev. Either there aren't as many pro-Russian Ukrainians or they aren't as activist or both, either way this means a Russian intervention is going to be limited to the Crimea if they want to be successful due to their established military interests there as well as support from the local population.
That the Russians would intervene at least in the Crimea shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone even if the overall situation is to Russia's disadvantage as the Ukraine is right up against the heart of Russia and it would be fair to say that it is a top Russian national security interest if not approaching a critical one. This reminds me of the situation on the Korean peninsula and the Korean War, which was/is a civil war taken over by outside powers because of the country's critical location relative to China.
As the West holds the high ground in Ukraine at this moment as well as the foreseeable future, and the situation is much less critical for us than the Russians, I believe it is actually on us and the pro-Western Ukrainians not to push too hard too fast and make the pro-Russian Ukrainians or the Russians lash out full force from feeling cornered, as I believe they are holding back right now. It is more efficient to "muddle through" to a solidly pro-Western Ukraine further in the future than to risk fracturing the country further (Crimea aside as it is a special situation), escalating the conflict and therefore the necessary commitments and costs in the name of complete victory right now. Unless we really want to play hardball and try to get the Russians to slip up when they lash out full force because I think this will be a fight with tooth and nail for them if it comes down to that.
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I agree with your stated thoughts but I would disagree if you are implying that anyone could have somehow secured the Crimea away from Russia at any point during this crisis. If anyone attempted that, even US and/or NATO forces, I am sure there would be a hot war with Russia right now even if the shooting is limited to the Crimea. With significant support for the Russians from the local population and the established Russian military presence, that is a situation primed for Russian commitment and victory if a fight breaks out.
Yes, the Ukraine already issued a warrant for his arrest. But unless he waltzes into Kiev, they will never get him. He will be able to be save in the Crimea and Russia for as long as he wants.
All the blustering is not going to change the loss of the Crimea. Putin out maneuvered Obama (easily) and everyone else, and he has it back now. Trying to dislodge him there at this point would be a fool's errand.
The goal posts have been moved. Now the Ukraine must establish its military in as strong a position as they can on the rest of their borders (including the Crimea) and force Putin to come through them. If the US and NATO began ferrying advisors, material, trainers, and their own security forces into the Ukraine right now...to the various major airports and cities...they may save the rest of the Ukraine.
If they do nothing...they will be giving Putin, in essence IMHO, a green light...and he damn well may take it.
Baltics? Slovakia, the Czech Republic?I live in a small non-NATO country next to Russia and we see things little bit differently in here.
God bless and keep you guys.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Putin is making his move. best case for the Pro-Europeans is if Putin keeps his troops on the eastern line. If he pushes to Kiev I don't see anything that could stop him And he seems right now to be fortifying and building to take at least part of Ukraine.
As to Yanukovich, he's done. Even if Putin takes the Ukraine Lock stock and barrel. He wouldn't touch Yanukovich, The way He materialized today. Not at the Kremlin, Not in the Chrimea with the Russian Troops and the new Pro Russian leadership but on his own in Russia Says HE fled there all on his own and Putin is through with him.
As to Yanukovich, he's done. Even if Putin takes the Ukraine Lock stock and barrel. He wouldn't touch Yanukovich, The way He materialized today. Not at the Kremlin, Not in the Chrimea with the Russian Troops and the new Pro Russian leadership but on his own in Russia Says HE fled there all on his own and Putin is through with him.
As I have stated on this thread earlier.
The Ukraine was going to have to at least cede a whole lot more autonomy to the Crimea so they could drift further into the Russian sphere. That was a given.
The only way to perhaps have influenced Russia to not use troops right off the bat, was for the US and NATO to have reacted much more quickly, like on Monday or Tuesday with their own advisors, material, etc. into the rest of the Ukraine ...giving Russia back channel assurances that they would not act at all on the Crimea. Putin may have taken that warning and settled for a much more autonomuous Crimea.
Now...in either case...that is gone. The Crimea is going to declare itself independent and ask for the protectorship of Russia...and they will receive it. They already have.
But Obama did nothing, and Putin acted. Putin may act more if NATO and the US continue to do nothing but talk.
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Link to that story about the laws in Russia?
The US and NATO and the EU had best stop talking now, and get C-17s full of advisors, material, trainers, and security forces on the way to Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities. Not doing so, continuing to "talk," will be a green light to Putin. They have to make the cost of pushin on too great for Putin in terms of the international community.
Who does the Ukraine military listen to? The government that was vote in by the street protest movement or the government that was vote in by the people?
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