They had a revolution about a decade ago that got rid of a pro-Russian government so this isn't something new. Also there is some question about how much control or unity there is in the opposition which could be problematic when it also includes radical nationalist and Neo-Nazis. On top of that as others have noted much of the country is ethnically Russian and / or supportive of closer ties to Russia so this revolution may not be as overwhelmingly popular as it seems to be.
This is a bit ironic. Ukraine wants more integration with the EU in no small part due to its struggling economy. Now that the pro-EU crowd seems to have won, the country is on the brink of immediate economic collapse and bankruptcy and currently officials from the EU is looking at Russia & China for money to support Ukraine.
Ukraine needs 35 billion? The US will spend $350 billion on the F-35, hell, we lost a pallet with $7 billion on it in Iraq.
Something worth keeping an eye on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_and_Ukraine http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Budapest_Memorandum_on_Security_Assurances&redirect=no
Treaty's don't mean jack. They're only good while they're convenient. As soon as that becomes inconvenient, it will be broken.
I'd say it's already been violated by Russia. You might be right that the US and UK won't honor the treaty, and that's too bad. Still, I think Obama works behind the scenes with the EU to support the Ukraine.
I wouldn't say "treaties don't mean jack." They mean a hell of a lot. Just how much depends on how seriously the various countries take a particular treaty. You can bet that the Ukraine did and does take that treaty seriously indeed. They could have kept at least some of the former Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal, left within its borders after that empire's collapse, and instead entered into a solemn agreement that gave her secure borders and freedom from Russian economic blackmail in return for giving them up. Russia has been economically blackmailing them for a while now, so we've seen how effective that aspect of the treaty has been. The countries that signed that treaty should speak out loudly against further Russian interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine. That's what President Obama did. Privately, he should (and I assume has) spell out just what the consequences could be should Russia continue on a path that appears to be leading to its forcible annexation of the Crimea. He could also send 3 or 4 Aegis Destroyers into the Black Sea to join the pair already there during the Olympics, as a further signal of this country's displeasure. Guess we'll see what happens.
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It's no big deal, I heard that President Obama was going to write a strongly worded letter to Putin if Russia keeps taking over parts of Ukraine. That should halt them immediately.
What a wimp. Nuke the Ruskies or at least send a few hundred thousand of the volunteer army. Observing Obama derangement syndrome can be amusing.
Not our business. None of our blood nor money should go to interferring with this ethnic conflict that does not concern us. If you have family there, take some action or organize others to do something....just dont expect our government to take any action other than opening their mouths to protest bad doing. We as a people should be getting sicker and sicker of sending our troops into situations that dont directly effect our people or land.
There's a lot of rich people in this country that would beg to differ. They have a lot of vested interest in seeing "free markets" thrive so they can exploit them. It used to be a good idea because these very people at least would pay taxes as required. For current state of our union, I tend to agree with you but you and I are just the general mob that are placated with the loaves of bread thrown at us while we watch American Idol and WWE.
Didn't read the whole thread. But didn't we have a treaty with Ukraine to protect them from invasions in exchange for giving up their nuclear weapons? International treaties are a big deal. England joined WW1 when Germany invaded Belgium.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_London_(1839)
