All of Crimea’s Oil, Gas and Water comes by way of the Ukraine, not Russia. ( In fact, Russia has no common border with Crimea. ) Crimea also depends almost entirely on tourism for its income…and most of those tourists come from guess where? Not any more…at the very least, the Ukrainians aren’t going to want to bother with visas and passports to visit their summer getaway.Crimea isn’t in danger of smothering, so much as starving.
There are only so many options available to the president – any president. This is nothing that either Romney or McCain could have done anything about. Freezing selected bank accounts is akin to firing a shot over the bow – it is harmless but lets Putin know that the West will do whatever it can, which will be limited to increasingly sharp economic sanctions. And no, nobody in the West will or should consider military intervention. That would be just about the stupidest thing they could do. Especially since I suspect Putin will regret his “purchase” in relatively short order just because it will be a heavy financial burden.
Imagine if a Mexican army occupied southern California, and a week later held a vote in which the majority approved secession from the United States and union with Mexico. Absurd, of course. What would the U.S. do, however? We, of course, have the means to defend our territory against Mexico, but the Ukraine could not beat Russia. The only difference between this scenario and the one now being played out in the Crimea, is the relative strength of the two nations involved. Is one nation justified in biting off a piece of another, if they can engineer a majority in the desired piece to approve of it, what then? Interesting question. We took Hawaii when there was a coup there in the 1890s, and a white minority seized power, overthrew the monarchy, and petitioned to be taken over by the U.S. In that case, there was not even a vote was taken, as the native inhabitants were not considered capable of self-government, etc. IF the Russian stops with the Crimea, Ukraine will be hurt, but recover, though you have to feel for the minority of Crimeans who would prefer to remain Ukrainians. IF the Germans had stopped with the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia would have been hurt, but would have recovered, though you would not have wanted to be one of the (probably minority of) residents who preferred democratic Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany. The big question is, will the Russians (read Putin) be satisfied with the Crimea. Or will they not stop until they have Odessa and Kiev as well? De facto, if not de jure?
Actually Crimea had trouble breathing when it was part of Ukraine. 20 years ago Crimea was promised prosperity and autonomy as part of independent Ukraine. Instead most of its autonomous right were taken away, and its profits from natural gas industry and rent paid by Russia for the navy base went straight to Kiev. No wonder Crimeans are saying ‘Niet’ to Ukraine during the referendum.
emptc12 about 10 years ago
… suckled from bomb-shaped breasts.
Odon Premium Member about 10 years ago
Now there’s your nanny state.
William Bednar Premium Member about 10 years ago
Great cartoon, great comments!
krisjackson01 about 10 years ago
Bottom line, though? They did it and they’re getting away with it. What’s the alternative? War with Russia? Count me out.
Godfreydaniel about 10 years ago
Nobody else in Russia is doing much (free) speaking under Dictator Putin, either.
alan.gurka about 10 years ago
Maybe it should read: Smother Russia.
Simon_Jester about 10 years ago
All of Crimea’s Oil, Gas and Water comes by way of the Ukraine, not Russia. ( In fact, Russia has no common border with Crimea. ) Crimea also depends almost entirely on tourism for its income…and most of those tourists come from guess where? Not any more…at the very least, the Ukrainians aren’t going to want to bother with visas and passports to visit their summer getaway.Crimea isn’t in danger of smothering, so much as starving.
cdward about 10 years ago
There are only so many options available to the president – any president. This is nothing that either Romney or McCain could have done anything about. Freezing selected bank accounts is akin to firing a shot over the bow – it is harmless but lets Putin know that the West will do whatever it can, which will be limited to increasingly sharp economic sanctions. And no, nobody in the West will or should consider military intervention. That would be just about the stupidest thing they could do. Especially since I suspect Putin will regret his “purchase” in relatively short order just because it will be a heavy financial burden.
Doughfoot about 10 years ago
Imagine if a Mexican army occupied southern California, and a week later held a vote in which the majority approved secession from the United States and union with Mexico. Absurd, of course. What would the U.S. do, however? We, of course, have the means to defend our territory against Mexico, but the Ukraine could not beat Russia. The only difference between this scenario and the one now being played out in the Crimea, is the relative strength of the two nations involved. Is one nation justified in biting off a piece of another, if they can engineer a majority in the desired piece to approve of it, what then? Interesting question. We took Hawaii when there was a coup there in the 1890s, and a white minority seized power, overthrew the monarchy, and petitioned to be taken over by the U.S. In that case, there was not even a vote was taken, as the native inhabitants were not considered capable of self-government, etc. IF the Russian stops with the Crimea, Ukraine will be hurt, but recover, though you have to feel for the minority of Crimeans who would prefer to remain Ukrainians. IF the Germans had stopped with the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia would have been hurt, but would have recovered, though you would not have wanted to be one of the (probably minority of) residents who preferred democratic Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany. The big question is, will the Russians (read Putin) be satisfied with the Crimea. Or will they not stop until they have Odessa and Kiev as well? De facto, if not de jure?
Kot_begemot about 10 years ago
Actually Crimea had trouble breathing when it was part of Ukraine. 20 years ago Crimea was promised prosperity and autonomy as part of independent Ukraine. Instead most of its autonomous right were taken away, and its profits from natural gas industry and rent paid by Russia for the navy base went straight to Kiev. No wonder Crimeans are saying ‘Niet’ to Ukraine during the referendum.
Kot_begemot about 10 years ago
The other option was to vote ‘yes’ for remaining in Ukraine (but with greater autonomous rights). So most people really voted yes for Russia.