Ukraine mega thread

A couple of Ukrainian barracks had their weapons confiscated by the first wave of Russian Airborne, there won't be too much of a fight.

The first wave Russia had complete surprise. If they tried to fight a ground war I doubt very seriously that they would have any kind of air superiority and claiming and holding ground would be difficult. BUT that doesn't mean at this point Ukraine could re-take Crimea without a LOT of bloodshed. I think that is lost to them now, and economically that is a major blow.

A couple of Ukrainian barracks had their weapons confiscated by the first wave of Russian Airborne, there won't be too much of a fight.

Yup....it could be like France in WW2.
5,000 Russian tanks come rolling in to western Ukraine and they just lay down for them.
Putin sets up a new new pro Russian govt and then leaves and its like back in the good old soviet days.
And Putin will guarantee somehow that Sevastopol will always be open/pro Russian since its his home port for the black sea fleet which leads to the Med.

Either way its all about limiting westernization from coming to his doorstep.
A pro Russian Ukraine creates that buffer zone for him.

http://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1623616_821717517842327_354010851_n.jpg

Crimea is lost. Unfortunately, the EU nor the US saw this coming and when we did we were too slow to act. Still think Russia may not stop at Crimea, Putin is a serious threat to the rest of the Ukraine and quite frankly, Im surprised we are not seeing this and reacting.

Any type of sanctions are slow moving and you cant just flick a switch unless you are throughly prepared. Obama, the US government and our intelligent community werent prepared for Russia to invade.

To the rest of the world, this is an embarrassment for the Europeans and especially the US. I think if we should respond at least with something else besides costs or threats.

I dont think this is an embarrassment to the US. (syria is another story). Engaging in a knee jerk military response would be costly, divisive and ultimately produce the same result as applying sanctions.

i like to think "what would china do"? China would use this act of aggression to further isolate russia and damage their economy for the next 2 decades.

I think this is an embarrassment to Putin. He over-played his hand and is not sure how to untie his hands while saving face.

Does the benefits of Crimea (or however you spell it) outweigh the long term damage this will do to the russian economy?

i think the business sector of russia is pissed. a govt conducted poll of russians found 80% disapproved of the invasion.

this could be a huge benefit to the US if we play our cards right.

What OTM said.

Unfortunately, the brains trust at 1600 will turn it into an epic fail.

Crimea is lost. Unfortunately, the EU nor the US saw this coming and when we did we were too slow to act. Still think Russia may not stop at Crimea, Putin is a serious threat to the rest of the Ukraine and quite frankly, Im surprised we are not seeing this and reacting.

Any type of sanctions are slow moving and you cant just flick a switch unless you are throughly prepared. Obama, the US government and our intelligent community werent prepared for Russia to invade.

To the rest of the world, this is an embarrassment for the Europeans and especially the US. I think if we should respond at least with something else besides costs or threats.

How it is an embarrassment?
We are not protectors of the world (despite the world police argument and stuff).
We didn't let any bad thing happen.
Russia has been frog marching the Crimea since WWII anyway.
We don't owe the Crimeans anything.

People forgetting the treaty we signed with Russia and the Ukraine.

People forgetting the treaty we signed with Russia and the Ukraine.

What does that mean?
You want the US military in The Ukraine?
You want a shooting war with Russia?
You're talking about guaranteeing the Ukraines sovereignty?
We would have to counter-invade the Crimea to do that.

What does that mean?
You want the US military in The Ukraine?
You want a shooting war with Russia?

I dont want a shooting war with anybody