Can Russia go it alone?

[BA Deere]

All you have to know is  A. Putin has "the bomb" so he no longer has to say he`s sorry.   and B. as Canuck say `he has needed oil and gas`.   It gets cold in Europe during the winter and it would be a shame if in the middle of January the gas to Germany had to be shut off for "routine maintenance".  The real `elephant in the refrigerator` is if Putin starts selling oil in exchange for currency other than the US Petro-dollar.

Here`s a Paul Craig Roberberts piece on how it`s been handled thus far.

http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/04/26/moving-closer-war-paul-craig-roberts/ 

[425Cat]

Read the piece. My only question is , was the former gov in ukraine truly elected by democratic process or were the numbers fixed. Dont know what to believe. Hate to think our gov is this stupid to instigate a major conflict behind the scenes like Roberts claims. Maybe im naive.
I guess what do the Ukrainian people want is what it boils down to.

[Palouser]

The legitimacy of the Ukrainian government is an issue, however, the last 'elected' government was certainly a kleptocracy and I think we have to respect the right of people to overthrow a government in those cases. Of course Putin is worried about that. His is a kleptocracy based oligarchy also. And 'elected' with suppression of the opposition. It's the complication of division of allegiences in the country that is a real problem. But, as a foreign power Russia does not have a right to intervene. Try as he might, he hasn't made the case that the Russioan faction is oppresssed but their interests may have been clipped when the last leader fled after ordering a sniper attack on demonstrators.

Russia will NOT roll through Europe. It would be war and I don't think Putin is a raving lunatic (yet). If need be energy will be provided to Europe and they might be forced to prioritize energy needs. Wouldn't be easy but Europe could do it. Russia's ecomnomy would wind up retreating to a Soviet style operation with no more sauages on the shelf. The oligarchs want money and toys. Russia is not a central trading post. They can be islolated more easily than most countries. The old FSU is not going to run to them with help.

Russia could conceivably get Ukraine and lose everything else. Putin is starting to lather at the mouth. He could invade anytime. I think he's on the verge. He may fear the game is up. He can't be ignorant of the consequences if the world turns on him.

[Palouser]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27180651

[Palouser]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/world/sanctions-revive-search-for-secret-putin-fortune.html?hp

[ag-?]

If Putin moves into Ukraine and takes over you can then bet he will in short order them move into The three northern states of estonia, etc. to reaquire the northern Soviet ports for Russia. Russia wants to return to size and power control it had in the soviet union and means it controls its access to the seas. The big question is the sanctions that US and europe are proposing can they be handled by Europe because they are sanctions on themselves nearly as much as they are on Russia. The problem i see is that West economic power has shrunk from early post world War II to where Europe is minor player in world economics. Russia cutting off energy to Europe would be far greater economic disaster to Europe than sactions placed on Russia. I beleive Russia would in time be able to sell their energy to other world powers or regions for European poweres that would follow through with sanctions.

I think were seeing effects of policies of West over last 30 to 40 years where laws and regulations have virtually shut down base industries of manufacturing, development of natural resources, and any economic endevour that may leave foot print on the earth. The result is economic wealth and growth has shifted to Far East, India,Russia and even now some into South America. The result has been over this time The West has become Debtor nations and these countries where tthis shift has occurred have become Creditor nations and were begining to see they are flexing this new power for their interests. This shift in power is showing now in that these countries are wanting to control land , Islands, or Seas around themselves and becoming aggressive to do this. History has shifted back to similar time frame of like in the early 20 th century only players are different this time but were seeing that countries are again looking to expand their influence and control over weak neighbors. The West and US will need to revisit their regulations and plolicies in near future if they want to start rebuilding economies and get governmental spending under control and reduce their debt to GDP. The high welfare states we have become and high unemployment econmomies and as well as low birth nations have set us down a path to economic bankruptcies plus making the world much more unstable.