The West vs. Russia - New Sanctions ?

The White House: The latest readout of President Obama's calls to EU leaders, the statement is as follows, "Today the President spoke with President Hollande of France, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Renzi of Italy, and Prime Minister Cameron of the UK to consult about the alarming situation in eastern Ukraine.  The leaders noted the positive steps that Ukraine had taken to move forward on the actions to which it committed in the April 17 joint statement by Ukraine, Russia, the European Union, and the United States – including proposing an amnesty law for those who will peacefully leave the buildings they have seized in eastern Ukraine, supporting the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and committing themselves once again to a process of constitutional reform and decentralization.  The leaders also agreed that Russia had not reciprocated – including by not publicly supporting the Geneva accord, nor calling on armed militant groups to lay down their arms and leave the government buildings they’ve occupied – and had in fact continued to escalate the situation through its increasingly concerning rhetoric and threatening military exercises on Ukraine’s border.

 

The President noted that the United States is prepared to impose targeted sanctions to respond to Russia's latest actions. The leaders agreed to work closely together, and through the G7 and European Union, to coordinate additional steps to impose costs on Russia. The leaders underscored that Russia could still choose a peaceful resolution to the crisis, including by implementing the Geneva accord. ".

Lets Get Real:

If your President Putin your shaking in your bear boots NOT, this is the typical weak rubbish we have heard for weeks from the West, Moscow does not want a peaceful resolution, it wants to win and rub Obama's nose in that fact, how the West does not get that point is shameful.   The EU is just to weak, Germany needs the gas from Russia, as do other former Warsaw Countries.  The US IF it lead could force the EU to move to tougher sanctions, but with Obama he wants to be liked by Europe, he does not want the US lead, he wants nearly anybody else to lead, from the EU to the UN.   This will be seen as a green light by Moscow to take action, this weekend should be interesting. 

Jeb Bush for 2016 - The Bush vs. Clinton rematch

CNN - Politics: Reports from inside the Bush clan on the prospects of Jeb Bush running in 2016, the article notes the following, ".....in an exclusive interview with CNN, Jeb's brother, Neil, made it clear that his dad -- George H.W. Bush -- wants his son to run, ".

Lets Get Real:

So that is the choice faced by US voters, either a President Bush or a President Clinton.  This blog has come around to supporting Jeb Bush for the Republican Nomination in 2016, Governor Christie seems to have burned his bridges, sorry to easy a joke to miss, thus we are left with Jeb Bush, he is seen as the smartest of the Bush boys, the one that Bush 41 wanted to be President, the question that he will be asked on the campaign trail is what he thinks of the record of Bush 43 when it comes to Foreign Policy, while Clinton will have to deal with being Secretary of State in the 1st Obama Administration and its failure with Russia, and what if anything she achieved while in that post.    Also lets not forget that it was on her watch that the US Ambassador to Libya and three others were killed by terrorists, what was her role in D.C that night, why had she not placed more troops in Libya.   One wonders how the good relationship between President Clinton and Bush 41 could carry on in a tough Presidential fight, family is family after all, and you take power with the support of the voters. 

Pro Russian Protesters HOLD Hostages, - Ukraine Crisis Latest 2

Guardian: Reports the following from East Ukraine, " Pro-Moscow separatists...were holding a group of European military observers in the city of Slavyansk on Friday night, claiming they had been travelling with a spy for the Kiev government. ".

Lets Get Real:

The pro Russian separatists are either playing for higher stakes, or this was a mistake and the observers will be released, IF there is plan to take hostages this would be way for Russia to play the good guy, it would state in public they oppose such actions and get the hostages released, on the other hand taking hostages has been known to cause problems for the Oval Office, from Carter to Reagan.   In this case there are NO Americans but EU Capitals will be fearing this is a ploy to pressure on them not place more economic sanction on Russia.   One does recall when the Serbs in mid 1990's took UN peacekeepers as hostages, not the best day for the UN.   The result of this action will be interesting. 

Russian Jets ACTIVE in Ukraine Airspace - Ukraine Crisis Latest

BBC News: Reports the following on the developing crisis in the Ukraine, " The US says Russian military aircraft have entered Ukrainian airspace several times in the past 24 hours, amid rising tension in the east of the country. ".

Lets Get Real:

The Russians are testing, they are seeing how much they can get away with before the air force of the Ukraine reacts, they could be pushing the air force of Ukraine to take a shot, then use that as a reason to take the East of Ukraine, if NOT the whole of Ukraine.  Putin might not be in total control of the pro Russian protesters in the East of Ukraine, he would not be the first leader to lose control of an action once it has started.   This weekend will be interesting, the US, UK, France and Germany could impose tougher sanctions, of course this would hurt Russia and Western economy, will Russia wait or will it go in, the troops on the Russian and Ukraine border must be getting bored with the constant alert, Putin has a choice, either use them or lose the edge that Russia has at this moment.  The West could be holding its breath this weekend.