95.5 percent of Crimeans vote for joining Russia

[whoisyourdaddy]

The vote consisted of 2 choices : a) join Russia now; and join Russia later. How deomocratic is that? The vote should have been 100%, not just 95.5%. Or does it mean that 95.5% voted a)? There was no proper electoral register either. So, not everyone could have voted.

However, it will be very easy to bring Crimea to its knees under Russian rule. First, Crimea has no land border with Russia. It's only border is with the Ukraine. Tourism will plummet : parly, from fear of rising tensions, but mainly since Europeans will need visas to go there. No visa is necessary for the Ukraine. It will probably become a new Transdinistr. Rather than getting richer, as they think they will do in Russia, the Crimean economy will collapse and the Ukraine could easily close the border with the Crimea altogether.

Please post a copy of what ballots said, so a copy of ballot would be perfect.

If you do not have it, then stop posting made up nonsense

[khunken]

The vote consisted of 2 choices : a) join Russia now; and join Russia later. How deomocratic is that? The vote should have been 100%, not just 95.5%. Or does it mean that 95.5% voted a)? There was no proper electoral register either. So, not everyone could have voted.

However, it will be very easy to bring Crimea to its knees under Russian rule. First, Crimea has no land border with Russia. It's only border is with the Ukraine. Tourism will plummet : parly, from fear of rising tensions, but mainly since Europeans will need visas to go there. No visa is necessary for the Ukraine. It will probably become a new Transdinistr. Rather than getting richer, as they think they will do in Russia, the Crimean economy will collapse and the Ukraine could easily close the border with the Crimea altogether.

95.5% rubbish.

The people of Crimea are overwhelmingly Russian. Crimea is just a short hop across the Kerch strait and most tourism there is by Russians. The Ukraine economy had already collapsed and it's the EU, US & the IMF/WB who are having to bail them out. Crimea is in far better health.

Ever since the EU & US undermined the government of Ukraine to allow the protestors to take over this has been an echo of the cold war. The EU & US will have to live with the fact that Crimea is Russian.

Wonder if the UK is still allowing the Scots to vote on independence?

Edited March 17, 2014 by khunken

[Chicog]

US an european people should shut up and let the Crimea be russian.

They created a precedent by allowing Kossovo to be independant. Putine play the same game...

No he isn't. He supports returning Kosovo to Serbia and has been quoted as such several times.

[Fasth]

I am russian.

I am not the occupant.

I hate communism.

USSR is coming back.

I don't want to live in the <deleted> USSR.

Most of russians dream about USSR, so no revolution in Russia.
Opposition's sites blocked by goverment.

If EU or USA will not help Ukraine - the red plague will rise again.

Today in Sevastopol (Crimea).

[SICHONSTEVE]

95.5% were for it after only 50% of the votes had been counted. Sounds like a Thai government. (Phu Thai that is)

They have just got the official count and 97% voted to re-join with Russia.

[Chicog]

The vote consisted of 2 choices : a) join Russia now; and join Russia later. How deomocratic is that? The vote should have been 100%, not just 95.5%. Or does it mean that 95.5% voted a)? There was no proper electoral register either. So, not everyone could have voted.

However, it will be very easy to bring Crimea to its knees under Russian rule. First, Crimea has no land border with Russia. It's only border is with the Ukraine. Tourism will plummet : parly, from fear of rising tensions, but mainly since Europeans will need visas to go there. No visa is necessary for the Ukraine. It will probably become a new Transdinistr. Rather than getting richer, as they think they will do in Russia, the Crimean economy will collapse and the Ukraine could easily close the border with the Crimea altogether.

95.5% rubbish.

The people of Crimea are overwhelmingly Russian. Crimea is just a short hop across the Kerch strait and most tourism there is by Russians. The Ukraine economy had already collapsed and it's the EU, US & the IMF/WB who are having to bail them out. Crimea is in far better health.

Ever since the EU & US undermined the government of Ukraine to allow the protestors to take over this has been an echo of the cold war. The EU & US will have to live with the fact that Crimea is Russian.

Wonder if the UK is still allowing the Scots to vote on independence?

If we did it Putin's way, 95.5% would vote to stay in the Union.

[webfact]

Crimean parliament votes in favour of region joining Russia, a day after a referendum approves leaving Ukraine /BBC

[SICHONSTEVE]

The vote consisted of 2 choices : a) join Russia now; and join Russia later. How deomocratic is that? The vote should have been 100%, not just 95.5%. Or does it mean that 95.5% voted a)? There was no proper electoral register either. So, not everyone could have voted.

However, it will be very easy to bring Crimea to its knees under Russian rule. First, Crimea has no land border with Russia. It's only border is with the Ukraine. Tourism will plummet : parly, from fear of rising tensions, but mainly since Europeans will need visas to go there. No visa is necessary for the Ukraine. It will probably become a new Transdinistr. Rather than getting richer, as they think they will do in Russia, the Crimean economy will collapse and the Ukraine could easily close the border with the Crimea altogether.

95.5% rubbish.

The people of Crimea are overwhelmingly Russian. Crimea is just a short hop across the Kerch strait and most tourism there is by Russians. The Ukraine economy had already collapsed and it's the EU, US & the IMF/WB who are having to bail them out. Crimea is in far better health.

Ever since the EU & US undermined the government of Ukraine to allow the protestors to take over this has been an echo of the cold war. The EU & US will have to live with the fact that Crimea is Russian.

Wonder if the UK is still allowing the Scots to vote on independence?

The Scot's under Alex Salmond are still trying for it but a big row has blown up involving him and Andrew Marr of the BBC. Apparently, it is to do with Scotland being unable to stay in the EC (according to AM - quoting Barrosso) whereas AS disagrees and accused AM of being biased against independence when he should be (BBC) neutral, just like Jonathon Head isn't.

If I was boss of a commission I would avoid those particular initials as they seem to be mired in controversy!!

[kotsak]

Crimean referendum, 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_referendum,_2014#Choices

[webfact]

Crimea votes to break off from Ukraine, join Russia. What happens next?
By Marie-Louise Gumuchian, CNN

(CNN) -- To no one's surprise, Ukraine's autonomous Crimea region has voted overwhelmingly to break off from Ukraine and join Russia to join Russia. But what happens next is far from certain.

Diplomatically, Sunday's referendum has put the United States and Russia on the kind of collision course not seen since the end of the Cold War. Economically, it's unclear how much such a coupling will cost Russia. And politically, it's divided Crimeans -- some of whom think it will bring better pay, and some who see this is a Kremlin land grab.

An overwhelming 96.7% of Crimea chose the option of annexation by Moscow. Turnout was 83%.

On Monday, lawmakers in Crimea approved a resolution that declared the Black Sea peninsula an independent, sovereign state. They then filed an appeal to join Russia.

Full story: http://us.cnn.com/2014/03/17/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

-- CNN 2014-03-17

[chotthee]

"Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia"

Actually, no. 95.5% of those who didn't boycott the vote have supported joining Russia.

95.5% of voters have voted to join Russia.

Those who didn't vote are by definition not "voters", they didnt vote did they?

anyways, the voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining russia, staggering numbers, you can't spin your way out of it. especially since this is after a legally democratically elected government in Kiev was removed by a small violent fascist minority and replaced by appointed elitists.

If the west truly values democracy they will back off and let the Crimean people, who in majority are russian anyway, join the country they want to join, but the west only values democracy when it suits them. therefor the small group of protesters (largely non violent) in Thailand is bad, and the democratically elected government is holy and can not be questioned. and the small group of protesters (largely very violent neo nazi's) in the Ukraine is good and the government is bad.

By the way, i don't want to make any claims about wether the government in Ukraine prior to the coup was not bad, it clearly was as corrupt as could be, and the people were right to be pissed off. but that doesn't make the double standard and total hypocrisy ok.

it's amazing the power the mainstream media has over people, who will blindly believe and support what they are being told to support.

Like Thailand, we should not allow dictatorship by the majority.

Say if Southern Thailand voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining Malaysia, would we have to allow that too?

Or if Northern Thailand voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining Laos (or forma an independent Lanna) would we have to allow that too?

Best of all, if Sudan voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining USA, would the USA allow that?

Edited March 17, 2014 by chotthee

[ABCer]

If US wants any meaningful dialogue/negotiation with Russia they should first and foremost accept equal terms.

Russia is not Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Uganda, Lybia, etc.

Any American voting/referendum ever had international observers?

High time to stop this attitude of grown-ups talking to children.

American Democracy is not exactly a Democracy and their form of political order is not for every country.

Kosovo was OK, Sth. Sudan was OK, Nth. Korea was OK but Crimea is not OK.

No wonder they get nothing and go nowhere with Russia except contemptuous " And what are you going to do about it?".

Each and every American President after Nixon would do a service to US by keeping their soldiers inside their country, their pants zipped up and their policies concentrating on US domestic problems.

And they have far too many of them on the table - running away deficit, printing paper useless money, throwing their forces around for no good cause with too many bodies coming back home...

[khunken]

The vote consisted of 2 choices : a) join Russia now; and join Russia later. How deomocratic is that? The vote should have been 100%, not just 95.5%. Or does it mean that 95.5% voted a)? There was no proper electoral register either. So, not everyone could have voted.

However, it will be very easy to bring Crimea to its knees under Russian rule. First, Crimea has no land border with Russia. It's only border is with the Ukraine. Tourism will plummet : parly, from fear of rising tensions, but mainly since Europeans will need visas to go there. No visa is necessary for the Ukraine. It will probably become a new Transdinistr. Rather than getting richer, as they think they will do in Russia, the Crimean economy will collapse and the Ukraine could easily close the border with the Crimea altogether.

95.5% rubbish.

The people of Crimea are overwhelmingly Russian. Crimea is just a short hop across the Kerch strait and most tourism there is by Russians. The Ukraine economy had already collapsed and it's the EU, US & the IMF/WB who are having to bail them out. Crimea is in far better health.

Ever since the EU & US undermined the government of Ukraine to allow the protestors to take over this has been an echo of the cold war. The EU & US will have to live with the fact that Crimea is Russian.

Wonder if the UK is still allowing the Scots to vote on independence?

If we did it Putin's way, 95.5% would vote to stay in the Union.

Or Thatcher's way, her 98% trumps Crimea's 97%.

[SICHONSTEVE]

"Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia"

Actually, no. 95.5% of those who didn't boycott the vote have supported joining Russia.

95.5% of voters have voted to join Russia.

Those who didn't vote are by definition not "voters", they didnt vote did they?

anyways, the voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining russia, staggering numbers, you can't spin your way out of it. especially since this is after a legally democratically elected government in Kiev was removed by a small violent fascist minority and replaced by appointed elitists.

If the west truly values democracy they will back off and let the Crimean people, who in majority are russian anyway, join the country they want to join, but the west only values democracy when it suits them. therefor the small group of protesters (largely non violent) in Thailand is bad, and the democratically elected government is holy and can not be questioned. and the small group of protesters (largely very violent neo nazi's) in the Ukraine is good and the government is bad.

By the way, i don't want to make any claims about wether the government in Ukraine prior to the coup was not bad, it clearly was as corrupt as could be, and the people were right to be pissed off. but that doesn't make the double standard and total hypocrisy ok.

it's amazing the power the mainstream media has over people, who will blindly believe and support what they are being told to support.

Like Thailand, we should not allow dictatorship by the majority.

Say if Southern Thailand voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining Malaysia, would we have to allow that too?

Or if Northern Thailand voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining Laos (or forma an independent Lanna) would we have to allow that too?

Best of all, if Sudan voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining USA, would the USA allow that?

'Dictatorship by the majority' - that's a good one!!

There again, it does sum up the PTP in it's death throes extremely accurately actually (except in their case it wasn't a majority).

As to you're listed propositions - I guess that they should be allowed to in all 3 cases as they would be democratic decisions in referenda by the people involved as to where their future should lie!!!

As to the last one ie: the potential for Sudan to join the US I think that it might be stretching your point a little bit too far!!

[khunken]

"Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia"

Actually, no. 95.5% of those who didn't boycott the vote have supported joining Russia.

95.5% of voters have voted to join Russia.

Those who didn't vote are by definition not "voters", they didnt vote did they?

anyways, the voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining russia, staggering numbers, you can't spin your way out of it. especially since this is after a legally democratically elected government in Kiev was removed by a small violent fascist minority and replaced by appointed elitists.

If the west truly values democracy they will back off and let the Crimean people, who in majority are russian anyway, join the country they want to join, but the west only values democracy when it suits them. therefor the small group of protesters (largely non violent) in Thailand is bad, and the democratically elected government is holy and can not be questioned. and the small group of protesters (largely very violent neo nazi's) in the Ukraine is good and the government is bad.

By the way, i don't want to make any claims about wether the government in Ukraine prior to the coup was not bad, it clearly was as corrupt as could be, and the people were right to be pissed off. but that doesn't make the double standard and total hypocrisy ok.

it's amazing the power the mainstream media has over people, who will blindly believe and support what they are being told to support.

Like Thailand, we should not allow dictatorship by the majority.

Say if Southern Thailand voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining Malaysia, would we have to allow that too?

Or if Northern Thailand voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining Laos (or forma an independent Lanna) would we have to allow that too?

Best of all, if Sudan voter turnout was 81.7%, with 95.5% in favor of joining USA, would the USA allow that?

'Dictatorship by the majority' - that's a good one!!

There again, it does sum up the PTP in it's death throes extremely accurately actually (except in their case it wasn't a majority).

As to you're listed propositions - I guess that they should be allowed to in all 3 cases as they would be democratic decisions in referenda by the people involved as to where their future should lie!!!

As to the last one ie: the potential for Sudan to join the US I think that it might be stretching your point a little bit too far!!

Yes and not only that with Sudan.

Western countries supported the breakaway country of South Sudan after a referendum. There are quite a few problems there now but it is a new country recognised by the UN.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier is that Russia already has it's Black Sea fleet based at Sevastapol on Crimea and there's no way that they'll allow that to come under the NATO umbrella, which seems like the USA's main interest in the Ukraine.

[icare999]

so west in particular USA should respect wishes of people and stay the @#@@# out of it

[icare999]

so it is ok for Russia to annex Crimea, then Germany was correct in ww2 with the Sudetenland etc.....nah, the Russian's are shit stirring and they know it. If the Russian speaking people want to be Russian, then move to Russia.

So following that path it was ok for England to annex Northern Ireland and If the Northern Irish want to be English move to England

the people of northern ireland have shown time and again they wish to stay with UK or at least 2/3rd who are Protestant but yes if people of NI voted to join south it would be quite right for south to take it over. Crimea was russian before and it seems most want to join so just let them. Unless their is some evidence that vote was not fair or rigged then west should stay totally out of it.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

[F430murci]

This could be so bad. I hope not.

Does not have to be. If EU and US recognize it as they did with Kosovo, problem ends right there.

95% would surely count as majority and if the whole saga is about people and nothing else, accepting majority choice should not be an issue

Not a real vote. Not much different than nutty little NK boy getting 100%, but this has much worse implications. I have many friends from the region and are all very upset. This is not even remotely about US or EU. Not even remotely.

Wife said today when she came here, it was not US citizens that showed animosity. It was all the little Eastern European border countries that hated Russians and this is going to cause huge problems over there.

Wife was totally in Putin's corner and thought West was FOS when saying Putin was going to annex Crimea. Now she is in disbelieve and thinks this thing could go to levels no one can imagine. She is pretty tied in to Moscow big business as she works for BofA as an investment banker in global wealth. She says everyone over there is shocked and worried it went this far. Forget US response, this thing could spiral out of control rapidly no matter what US does.

I really like your posts, but its about time you stop with "the wife says"

US and EU set precedent with Kosovo, it is as much legal as Kosovo vote.

If the US or EU wanted to be the "good guys" perhaps they should invent time travel machine and go back to Kosovo vote, otherwise all involved look like biggest hypocrites and then wonder why Russia would not negotiate

Haha, yeah I hear you on the wife says, but she knows and understands so much more about the situation. The real interesting aspect is how Russians, even her after being in States for 11 years and a 1/3 of her life, are so apt to believing everything Putin says even when there is video evidence to the contrary. That is why I brought her up as she typifies that Russian mentality that is blinded by pride and prone to believe whatever one is told to believe.

Me, I Ithink US should stay the hell away and the US wants to stay the hell away. The problem is all of the little countries looking for US assurances and support such as Poland, Latvia and etc. are driving that ship. No problem if this stops at Crimea, but if this is only step 1 in Putin's bigger plans then we are all in serious trouble.

I have no issues with Russia. I just want everyone to get along. This is a huge set back in world relations and even Putin supporters in Russia are extremely worried and asking why this happened or why he felt the need to take it this far.

Edited March 17, 2014 by F430murci

[pmugghc]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

Usually I agree with your posts re Thailand. But not at all on this issue. The US isn't getting anything kicked here, it's all the former Warsawa pact countries like Letland, Estland, Poland etc that are getting scared. It's a European problem.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[F430murci]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

This has zero to with Yanks or US v Russia. To say that is more a reflection of on's personal issues, personal resentments or personal insecurities and less to do with reality and how this creates instability, hate, and fear in the little countries that surround Russia. If and when Putin annexes LA, London or Miami, then we can talk about him kicking Yank's arse.

For now, he just rolled hardware into a defenses sea port that he already controlled and annexed it. This is about as monumental of an achievement of US taking control of Cabo San Lucas and makes about as much sense unless part of a larger goal or vision.

[F430murci]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

Usually I agree with your posts re Thailand. But not at all on this issue. The US isn't getting anything kicked here, it's all the former Warsawa pact countries like Letland, Estland, Poland etc that are getting scared. It's a European problem.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Exactly . . .

[pmugghc]

The US gets dragged into this because these smaller European countries see only the US as having the required muscle to protect them from Russia.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Jingthing]

It does have a lot to do with USA vs. Russia. Putin is testing U.S. power. Russia did the same to Bush, invading land in Georgia but didn't get all of Georgia. What stopped them? Now he has taken over part of Ukraine. Will he go for more or not? A lot has to do with how the U.S. reacts. People may complain about too much U.S. influence in the world, but compared to the thugocracy of Putin things really could be worse. You can't act like this doesn't have a lot to do with the U.S., the world's military superpower, not as super as before, but still much more SUPER than any other country.

It's quite interesting also that some U.S. leftists and also "libertarian" isolationist types are bending over backwards to be Putin apologists:

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/03/pathetic-lives-of-putins-american-dupes.html

But the central appeal of RT is to leftists, libertarians, conspiracy theorists, and other marginalized groups. The main thematic work of RT is to paint the West in the worst possible light, as decadent, corrupt, and failing – the Cohen method of defense-by-implication. RT’s deep coverage of the Occupy protests and harsh coverage of American politics and life in general offers a platform to critics who are denied respectful treatment in the U.S. media. They are bound, above all, by a desire to get on television.

The demise of communism has left a void in the place where socialist fervor once animated the Soviet dupes. In the absence of any positive motivating force, Putin’s Russia, which has positioned itself as America’s main rival, has sponged up whatever motley collection of outsiders it can find. Russia is not the vessel for their ideological fantasies, but merely a placeholder for their accumulated discontent.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Jingthing

[F430murci]

The US gets dragged into this because these smaller European countries see only the US as having the required muscle to protect them from Russia.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes, I saw a couple of leaders from these small countries being interviewed yesterday and it put this situation far more into perspective as to what they are afraid of, why they are begging US to issue sanctions and why European countries are so worried and incapable of acting to protect their interests.

US is not problem here. US people in general, prior to Ukraine issue, had very little or no issues with Russia or Russians. In general, US citizens are very receptive of and interested in Russian citizens here. Individuals from the smaller border countries absolutely despise Russians and Putin. They are extremely racist and anti Russian people and that is true even after they move to the US.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

Usually I agree with your posts re Thailand. But not at all on this issue. The US isn't getting anything kicked here, it's all the former Warsawa pact countries like Letland, Estland, Poland etc that are getting scared. It's a European problem.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If the people are so obviously in favour (I can see thousands of happy people on the streets in Crimea smiling away waving Russian flags on the BBC world news). Then how can you deprive them of their wishes and desire?

To them, it is clearly beneficial for them to be in an alliance with Russia and the fact that America and the West are not happy about recent events is irrelevant.\

This seems (one can never be sure) that it is solely the Ukraine that is being affected here and not any surrounding countries. It is certainly possible that other parts of Ukraine could come into the equation, but so be it, if they want the same then let them have it as well..

[Jingthing]

That's daft. USA - Russia relations are now as bad as they have been since the so called end of the so called cold war. It's not about liking vodka or not or finding Russian ladies pretty, it's about the actions of Russia's dictator -- PUTIN.

[F430murci]

It does have a lot to do with USA vs. Russia. Putin is testing U.S. power. Russia did the same to Bush, invading land in Georgia but didn't get all of Georgia. What stopped them? Now he has taken over part of Ukraine. Will he go for more or not? A lot has to do with how the U.S. reacts. People may complain about too much U.S. influence in the world, but compared to the thugocracy of Putin things really could be worse. You can't act like this doesn't have a lot to do with the U.S., the world's military superpower, not as super as before, but still much more SUPER than any other country.

It's quite interesting also that some U.S. leftists and also "libertarian" isolationist types are bending over backwards to be Putin apologists:

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/03/pathetic-lives-of-putins-american-dupes.html

But the central appeal of RT is to leftists, libertarians, conspiracy theorists, and other marginalized groups. The main thematic work of RT is to paint the West in the worst possible light, as decadent, corrupt, and failing the Cohen method of defense-by-implication. RTs deep coverage of the Occupy protests and harsh coverage of American politics and life in general offers a platform to critics who are denied respectful treatment in the U.S. media. They are bound, above all, by a desire to get on television.

The demise of communism has left a void in the place where socialist fervor once animated the Soviet dupes. In the absence of any positive motivating force, Putins Russia, which has positioned itself as Americas main rival, has sponged up whatever motley collection of outsiders it can find. Russia is not the vessel for their ideological fantasies, but merely a placeholder for their accumulated discontent.

You are not seeing the forest for the trees. Also, Putin has much better things to do with his time than "test US power." Putin is much more intelligent than that. Idiots like NK's fat boy does stuff like that. Not Putin who already knows exactly where he stands.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

This has zero to with Yanks or US v Russia. To say that is more a reflection of on's personal issues, personal resentments or personal insecurities and less to do with reality and how this creates instability, hate, and fear in the little countries that surround Russia. If and when Putin annexes LA, London or Miami, then we can talk about him kicking Yank's arse.

For now, he just rolled hardware into a defenses sea port that he already controlled and annexed it. This is about as monumental of an achievement of US taking control of Cabo San Lucas and makes about as much sense unless part of a larger goal or vision.

It is these peoples prerogative to do what they see as best for THEIR interests. They have spoken and their message is plain to see.

[F430murci]

Good to see the Yanks getting their ar** kicked for once!!!!

Putin must be loving this!!

This has zero to with Yanks or US v Russia. To say that is more a reflection of on's personal issues, personal resentments or personal insecurities and less to do with reality and how this creates instability, hate, and fear in the little countries that surround Russia. If and when Putin annexes LA, London or Miami, then we can talk about him kicking Yank's arse.

For now, he just rolled hardware into a defenses sea port that he already controlled and annexed it. This is about as monumental of an achievement of US taking control of Cabo San Lucas and makes about as much sense unless part of a larger goal or vision.

It is these peoples prerogative to do what they see as best for THEIR interests. They have spoken and their message is plain to see.

Therein lies the problem. We are talking about different people. The problem and the threat has nothing to do with the people of Crimea, but everyone else in the region running scared right now about the bigger picture. As I said, but some of you guys seem to constantly miss, all is okay if Putin stops at Crimea. The concern is this may be only step 1 in a larger process.

The Crimea vote was as predictable as the recent North Korea vote, but some of you guys so blinded by prejudice ignore the obvious. Trying to speak objectively on the reality of the situation is an exercise in futility . . .