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1. 

   Zuhlamon said, 1 day ago

   It’s a land grab, pure and simple. The cost to Russia will be slow and long term, at best. Remember their invasion of Georgia and what it cost them? No?
   .
   So what are we and the EU going to do about it (besides the usual political wing-nut bitch and whine routine about our “mommy-pants” President)?
2. 

   Harleyquinn said, 1 day ago

   Putin is more of a leader then Europe? Sounds about right.
3. 

   Beau Nobo said, 1 day ago

   @Harleyquinn

   Your idea of a ‘leader’ is very strange.
4. 

   Michael wme said, 1 day ago

   The Ukraine is now about $13 billion in debt. Putin offered $15 billion in debt relief. The World Bank, IMF, European and American banks offered a few billion in high-interest loans so the Ukraine could make the payments on existing loans, but with the added interest, default comes closer, followed by foreclosure under international law. But the Ukrainians from the formerly Austrian bit were promised generous baksheesh to support rejecting Putin’s money and accepting the Western loans which will make the Western Ukrainian leaders very wealthy and impoverish the eastern Ukrainians.

   
   So every Western media outlet tells us that the Western Ukrainians are loyal patriots and freedom fighters and the legitimate government, while the Eastern Ukrainians are traitors and terrorists and insurgents if they aren’t enthusiastically accepting the usurious loans from the Western banks.
5. 

   dtroutma said, 1 day ago

   Ignoring politics a moment: if everything Russian is so bad, faulty, flawed, and evil, why do we depend on THEM to get our folks to the ISS, because a series of REPUBLICAN actions, ditched the budget for NASA, because “defense” got the budgets. Okay, what are the politics of OUR changing peoples’ politics, at the end of a gun, as in OUR invasions??

   
   Just a thought from more than a single, bigoted, viewpoint.
6. 

   X YYY said, 1 day ago

   The nice thing about propaganda is the fools from that country/region always believe the only propaganda comes from the other side.

   Frankly I’m embarrassed by our “Western leaders”. And frankly most of the people they lead. All they can see is their own side, and frankly none of them care in the least about Ukraine, it is all about them getting their way.
7. 

   Northern Redman said, 1 day ago

   The Crimea is already a semi-autonomous region within Ukraine that is essentially self-governing. The majority of the population is of Russian descent and speaks the Russian language. So why would they not want to be part of Russia? Not everyone is as thrilled with being a “European” as you would like to think.
8. 

   Ivan Araque said, 1 day ago

   I agree, Northern Redman. It may sound counter-intuitive, but, guess what? It’s like it is, not like we would like it to be.
9. 

   X YYY said, 1 day ago

   We all have to pick our own poison.

   For some reason most in the “west” believes that in fact everyone wants “freedom at any cost”, even when in fact they are not “completely free”.

   Some people do pick security over freedom. In fact most do. Most really don’t care who is governing them, as long as their life is relatively OK.

   Russia is offering security for these people as long as they accept they the rules set forth.

   The “West” is offering risks and maybe rewards in the future. They are certainly not guaranteeing anything.

   Most people work for an employer, why when if they took bigger risks they could have more?

   And Ukraine’s government (both sides) is no poster child of nice people. In general it is accepted that both the pro-West and the pro-Russian are made up of corrupt people stealing the tax money and granting favors to their friends.

   So you are looking at a choice of corrupt pro-Russian(Ukraine), corrupt pro-West (Ukraine), and corrupt Russian (Russia). At least Russia has plenty of money they are willing to give for their loyalty.
10. 

    CCNJ's say the sky is falling said, 1 day ago

    Admitting you have a problem is the first step to fixing it.
11. 

    todyoung said, about 23 hours ago

    @dtroutma

    Invade? Naw. Nuke’em…oops, NSA: just klidding.
12. 

    emptc12 said, about 13 hours ago

    @X YYY

    Europeans should know from their folktales and literature the lesson of Faust. However, the legend has gradually become diluted through improved standards of living and widespread common consumer comforts so that we have Satan worship and “Sympathy for the Devil.” It’s said that the Devil’s greatest triumph is in convincing society that he doesn’t exist. While I do not believe in Satan as an entity, I do believe that evil lies dormant in human nature and breaks out at times.
    .
    I watch “Rick Steves’ Europe” on PBS and wonder if the younger generation is fecklessly disregarding what was taking place, in the very places they so pleasantly stroll, about 75 years ago. They are probably so tired of hearing about that from older people.
    .
    One of my favorite stories is “The Sword of Welleran,” by Lord Dunsany. I would hope that at the appropriate time the spirit of our most courageous leaders in times of peril, go as dreams into our dreams to spur us to action. Welleran, and the sword of Welleran! Freedom, and the sword of Freedom.
13. 

    emptc12 said, about 11 hours ago

    “National Geographic” printed an excellent article about Crimea in 2011, “Inside Crimea: A Jewel in Two Crowns.” It explains the issues and attitudes on both sides. Crimea is an irresistible prize, and while nationalism plays a big role so do financial concerns. And as for Crimea belonging squarely to Russia, read this paragraph from the article:
    .
    “A cautionary note: Crimean history would suggest that it is folly to think that possession of any place, especially paradise, is anything other than a tenancy. Crimea has passed from hand to hand, from Scythians to Greeks to Romans, Goths, Huns, Mongols, and Tatars. The latter, Turkic Muslims who migrated from the Eurasian steppes in the 13th century, were brutally targeted by Joseph Stalin and suffered mass deportation.”
14. 

    misterdantes said, about 9 hours ago

    Danziger certainly shows his lack of knowledge on the matter there. Not so good for the “scathing international take on politics” unless scathing actually means ignorant.
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