My bet is that Crimea ends up under the Russian flag, literally or as another behind the "curtain" and independent, but not as part of Ukraine.....my guess.

Not a thread about the White House being weak, it isn't, the same issues happened with Eisenhower, almost Carter, Regan and Bush 1 with Hungry.

Here, I'm not so sure this wasn't totally orchestrated by Putin from the beginning, the insurrection in the Ukraine for the overthrow, support and coordination. The Russian troops are from their elite units who now occupy Crimea along with navy sailors in unmarked uniforms. Question is, did all come in together or could many have already been there operating for the overthrow?

I tend to think this was timed before the Olympics and executed right after with Russia having it's days in the sun of higher public opinion.

The next move while chasing out the old leaders was to rally the Russian sympathizers to unite, which they have, that was a known outcome, that the people in Crimea would support Putin.

Then, the Ukrainian new government makes a ploy as to request troops come in, Crimea requests assistance and begins actions to secede from Ukraine. Keep in mind this is really originating from inside Ukraine.

Denial by Putin that the troops were his was simply a timing issue, delays for argument's sake.

I'd say it has been well played by Putin, so far and I mentioned my guess concerning the end, at least in his moves of last resort as he has failed to influence the Ukraine with the EU.

Reality is, there is nothing that could have been done or can be done by force as to our reaction. Only an idiot would launch a hot war over this issue and Putin knows that. I'd say he's considered the consequences of every economic chain we can yank and how much it will hurt. Obviously he thinks it's worth it. Consequences will follow. Then the question becomes for how long? Russia won't be isolated forever, not from the world or from the U.S. so it's how much pain will be inflicted? And, anything we do in cutting off Russia will have an impact on us as well.

The way to justify that no action should be taken will be by stating that Russia was requested to enter to protect its related citizens. In that case it's not an invasion or so it would seem.

This has been the M.O. of Russian take overs operating from within politically then moving in by or under the threat of force.

NATO has been a thorn in Putin's side too, west of him. I don't think he will push further into Ukraine, but he could if the request for assistance flies. Putin has his version of the Monroe doctrine.

If there are any shots fired it won't be by NATO or by us, won't happen. 1. We have no interest there really, unlike the first gulf war, there's no oil. 2. The population is not revolting in Crimea, 3. Russian military is far superior to Ukrainian forces, even as poorly equipped and trained as the Russian military really is. (Beyond their elite units, you have very uneducated, less motivated service members laced with vodka drunks, that was the case as I knew it, I doubt it has changed.)

Annexing Crimea will divorce the Ukraine from being pro Moscow.

Putin isn't going to leave, he's much like a vulture in a tree overlooking the areas lost from the federation waiting for opportunities to follow Peter The Great.

Your thoughts?

And no, Obama happened to be in office, there's no underlying issue with foreign policy or other issues. The subject is about tactics and alternatives not political bashing (I know some can't help it, but let's try not to go there) Frankly, if you're a real American you know that we stand together above politics and that politics stops at the water's edge. :)

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CRIMEA, what do you think?

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