George Rebane
“OK, OK, Poroshenko's a bit pissed that it didn’t exactly work out.
But he did promise to behave, so c’mon guys, let’s stand
a bit closer to the big guy for the picture.”
[13feb15 update] "The Minsk accord ratifies a Russian satrapy in the Ukraine." (here)
[20feb15 update] Well, what'd I tell ya?
Where is John Kerry? Not reporting to duty? Who needs the U.S. when we have the Marathon Woman doing the heavy lifting. Now that the warm up act of Obama/Kerry is over, the crowd waits in anticipation for the real reason they came to tonight...the Headliner, the Alloyla of Rock n Rolla, Angie and her Bad Ass Downwind Chili Band!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/02/13/world/europe/13reuters-germany-merkel-mania.html?ref=world&_r=0
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 13 February 2015 at 08:12 AM
Per update: the big guy needs a hug.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 13 February 2015 at 06:28 PM
Are we ever an insular bunch in these foothills. No one here seems to give a crap about "Putinlandia" and what is happening over the horizon. The Economist this week devotes its main feature to Russia's expansion and the impact it is already having in the EU and Mideast.
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21643189-ukraine-suffers-it-time-recognise-gravity-russian-threatand-counter
But just for the record I do want to draw your attention to the 16feb15 update to 'Ruminations - 9feb15'. It should be of particular interest to the 'Bush2 lied' crowd.
Posted by: George Rebane | 16 February 2015 at 01:03 PM
Dr. Rebane. With ISIL, immigration reform, Obamacare Democrat dummies just discovering they have to pay a fine for being uninsured duh, Climate Change, H20 for liitle cute fishes, the wisdom gushing forth from the State Department on a daily basis, the Drought, and the food police coming after your cherry pie, it's just not something people are following as closely as they should. Obama said the Cold War is over now that we have entered our post-racial era. Sad that so many are just not that into Putin.
Ok, Ok, I will toss ya a bone. Enjoy. It breaks my heart to see us so friggin impotent.
http://news.yahoo.com/john-mccain-m-ashamed-country-m-ashamed-president-175342180.html
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 22 February 2015 at 12:43 PM
I am afraid you are right bill. I am still stunned that no one is mentioning that we failed to honor our 1994 treaty with Ukraine that guaranteed their territorial integrity in exchange for their nukes. Not so much as a bullet or encrypted radio or long range counter battery radar much less defensive anti-tank launchers. Shameful.
Posted by: Don Bessee | 22 February 2015 at 03:42 PM
The western European countries have a long history of abandoning their eastern neighbors and treaty partners to invaders like Stalin, Hitler, and now Putin. It will be interesting to see if NATO's Art 5 holds in the Baltics.
Posted by: George Rebane | 22 February 2015 at 03:52 PM
Dr. R- Yes it will be interesting but there are a few positive tangible moves. The Netherlands is blending it mechanized forces into German formations. The Germans just said they are now open to the same with Poland who now uses the German Leopards. That kind of operational integration on a day to day basis is invaluable if things go bad. Having an A-10 unit on the ground in the area of the world it was designed for is a good thing too. My concern is in spite our capabilities (whats left after sequestration) many who wear the boots are worried that 0 will wimp his way into a war.
Posted by: Don Bessee | 22 February 2015 at 06:47 PM