Obama and Russian Sanctions - Ukraine Latest

Guardian - Ukraine Live: Reports the following in its 7.50pm post, " Obama said he expected to work with Congress on a package of economic assistance to the Ukraine and warned Russia of worldwide isolation if it persisted with its aggression, ".

Lets Get Real:

The US will have to lead on sanctions, the UN is frozen with Russia's Veto power, the EU is slow to get anything done, also lot of EU countries get their gas from Russia, thus Moscow can cut off Europe in the Winter.    Every time President Obama has talked about the Ukraine he looks weak, as if he does understand that politics is a winner take all in the view of Putin and Moscow, this is not some Harvard seminar, this is the real world, lets see IF Obama can up his game, his polls have been hit by his weak stand on THE Ukraine, time for POTUS to man up as they say these days. 

President Obama on Ukraine - Ukraine Latest

BBC News - Ukraine Live: Reports the following in its 7.43pm post, " US President Barack Obama says Russia has violated international law in Ukraine. Russia is on the "wrong side of history", he said, adding that the US would look at a series of economic and diplomatic sanctions that would isolate Moscow. ".

Lets Get Real:

One can see the solution, the West has no backbone to taken on President Putin of Russia, very much like the West would not taken on Hitler in the 1930s, one can postulate that the West will place symbolic sanctions and then sell out East Ukraine to Moscow over the heads of the new Government in Kiev, from Washington D.C to London they will argue that the Russian invasion is not a threat, in few months or years the Russians could turn their eyes to the Baltic States and even Poland, at what point does the West draw a line, a firm line, a line that can not be crossed or changed.   It seems leaders have not learned the lesson of Munich 1938, weakness just make tyrants think they can carry on, when you need a leader in the shape of Churchill or Thatcher in the UK and JFK and Reagan in the US they are never around, the people get the leaders they elect, weak leaders, narrow minded leaders, leaders who do not understand what leadership really means in World history. 

President Obama on the Ukraine - Ukraine Crisis

The White House: President Obama's statement on the latest in the Ukraine Crisis, " Over the last several days, the United States has been responding to events as they unfold in Ukraine.  Throughout this crisis, we have been very clear about one fundamental principle: The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future.  Together with our European allies, we have urged an end to the violence and encouraged Ukrainians to pursue a course in which they stabilize their country, forge a broad-based government and move to elections this spring.

I also spoke several days ago with President Putin, and my administration has been in daily communication with Russian officials, and we've made clear that they can be part of an international community’s effort to support the stability and success of a united Ukraine going forward, which is not only in the interest of The people of Ukraine and the international community, but also in Russia’s interest.

However, we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine.  Russia has a historic relationship with Ukraine, including cultural and economic ties, and a military facility in Crimea, but any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interest of Ukraine, Russia, or Europe. 

It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people.  It would be a clear violation of Russia’s commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine, and of international laws.  And just days after the world came to Russia for the Olympic Games, it would invite the condemnation of nations around the world.  And indeed, the United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine.

The events of the past several months remind us of how difficult democracy can be in a country with deep divisions.  But the Ukrainian people have also reminded us that human beings have a universal right to determine their own future. 

Right now, the situation remains very fluid.  Vice President Biden just spoke with Prime Minister -- the Prime Minister of Ukraine to assure him that in this difficult moment the United States supports his government’s efforts and stands for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic future of Ukraine.  I also commend the Ukrainian government’s restraint and its commitment to uphold its international obligations. 

We will continue to coordinate closely with our European allies.  We will continue to communicate directly with the Russian government.  And we will continue to keep all of you in the press corps and the American people informed as events develop. "

Lets Get Real:

The above is a modern Munich 1938, THE US is going to allow Putin's Russia to either create a Eastern Ukraine under Moscow rule or it is going to retake the Eastern part of the Ukraine back in to Russia.  Lets be VERY clear here, no one is suggesting taking military action, that is not the point, it is the weakness of the above statement, what if Putin one day takes it in to his mind that Poland should be in the Russian backyard, or other former Warsaw Pact Countries can  be taken over even if they are in NATO, the West can not trust the Oval under Obama, the next three years are going to be rough, the EU and NATO will have to toughen up in case it has to carry the ball of leadership due to the weakness of President Obama.   If Hillary Clinton is the next President of the US, one can expect a tougher reaction, the one thing about Hillary  is she no roll over, she might be weak when it comes to Bill, but she is tough when it comes to international politics, the US and the West needs a tough leader after Obama. 

Russian Provocation of Ukraine - Ukraine Latest

BBC News - Ukraine Live: Reports the following in its 8.20pm post, " More from interim President Turchynov: "I personally appeal to President Putin to immediately stop military provocation and to withdraw from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea... It's a naked aggression against Ukraine," he was reported by AFP to have told reporters. ".

Lets Get Real:

It seems the Kremlin is trying to push the Kiev Government to take some kind of action then it can send in extra troops on top of the troops that have taken the local Parliament, Airports, Cost Guard Base and the local Crimean TV Station in the East Ukraine.    Lets be very clear here, one can argue that the Crimea is part of the real Russia, its a political accident of the 1950s that Crimea was given to the Ukraine, the Kiev Government should cut it losses, decide to recall its name as  West Ukraine, push the EU to grant it membership access due to the problems in the West.   The US/EU/IMF should fund  West Ukraine, the US and the West is not going to War over the Crimea, its not worth it, if the East wants to be under Putin let them learn the negatives in their own time, not on the dime of the West.   100 years since 1914, lets not make that mistake again. 

Former President of Ukraine Yankovych is in Moscow, - Great Russian Threat

Telegraph: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Viktor Yanukovych 'is in Moscow', says Russian news agency ".

Lets Get Real:

On the whole the above might be for the best, if the former President did end up in a Court, one can postulate that he would blame pressure from Russia for the shootings in the Ukraine, that would even further sour the relationship between the US and Russia.   One can postulate but not a 100% that Putin will keep the former President at some distance and away from the press, the idea to place the Russian Army on alert will get the attention of Kiev and Washington D.C, the problem is that Moscow can not be sure it will get a 100% welcome in the East of the Ukraine should it take action, and the international reaction will be BAD, the Oval will have a hard time keeping the relationship going, it needs that for Syria and Iran.  Interesting days and weeks ahead for the Ukraine. 

Russian THREAT to Ukraine - Great Russian Threat

Guardian: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead ".

Lets Get Real:

No one would be surprised if the Russians invaded the East of the Ukraine, it full of native Russians with Russian passports give out by the Moscow, also the Russian Navel fleet is stationed there, thus can Moscow afford to lose the Ukraine.   The Oval has warned Moscow about taking action, but if your Putin you must be laughing, Obama never follows through, see Syria.   The Oval stands up to Republicans but folds when it comes to Iran and Russia, thus if Russia does take action, one can expect refugees to head to neighbouring countries, and they are NATO countries.   Lets hope history is not repeating itself, the World can not afford another 1914. 

Withdrawal TALK Damage to US Troops - Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports the following from Afghanistan, " US Army boss: Afghan pullout talk may encourage Taliban ".

Lets Get Real:

The Taliban from their view have already won, they have waited Obama and the US out, if the US leaves a small force in Afghanistan they will become target practice for Al Qaeda and the Taliban, thus another defeat for the West.   The US and its Allies should just get out, there is no way they can defend a new Afghan Government, your in either in or out in Afghanistan, leaving a small force just makes you a target, just ask British Imperial planners of the 19th Century.   When it comes to Afghanistan every great power thinks they are asking new questions, they are not, at the end of the day the British learned ONE lesson, keep out of having a ground presence in Afghanistan, make any threat aware that the Empire will react, either through small units taking action, or later using planes.    Let the Afghan do their internal stuff any way they like, your not going to make it New York.    The Oval should just get out and use drones, make Afghanistan a free fire zone, yes its brutal but it works.