Obiwan - you suck at writing. Stop - FOREVER - talking about literature.

I'm sorry that you again are too fuckign dimwitted to grasp the implications of our moronic boy President - once and future "community organizaer" - from grasping the implications of his asinine and childish trash talking of an aggressive world leader who is, as we speak, conquering neighboring countries "out of weakness". Maybe when you are slinging dope on the streets of Chicago such trash talk works...but the boy int eh white house doesn't seem to grasp that his bullshit has implications in the *real world*.

why you bring Chi-town into this

...but Russia IS just a regional power

it does not have the capacity to project force beyond Ukraine/Belarus/Central Asia

granted, it's a REALLY strong regional power, one that oughtn't be trifled with by any stretch, but it's still at the end of the day a regional power

Yeah, because their nukes can only fall on Ukraine, right? Their ICBM's don't work anymore...

And their navy, now that it is only propelled by Ukranian slave manning the oars, can't make it more than 2 miles off shore.

Interestingly, the most recent news out of Afghanistan is how they are strengthening ties to the Kremlin, and seeking a stronger influence in their country from Russia. Not the only country in the world seeking ties with a strong **global** infuencer like Putin.

You people seriously need to get your heads OUT of your asses.

Further, if Russia is "weak" and only a "regional power", then how come when Russia rolled into Crimea - after we promised Ukraine we would protect them - we quivered in our boots and did nothing?

I guess is Russia is a weak regional player, then the US is even more so.

On the other hand, since we have endless war in Afghanistan, I guess *they* must be a major power and a global threat, right?

Yeah, their navy that would get shredded like mincemeat in a war with the United States. They can't project force worth mentioning by sea.

Nukes aren't credible as the sole means of projecting force because of the implicit understanding that any endgame involving nuclear war is a nuclear holocaust. You don't expand your sphere of influence by threatening to nuke random countries. Having nuclear weapons acts primarily as a deterrent threat against attack from other powers, not as an affirmative tool of power projection.

Afghanistan is in Central Asia, yes, this qualifies as regional power projection.

krellin why are you pulling for Russia to win and America to lose? Aren't you a real American?

And Obama didn't call Russia weak, he said their recent aggression was from a position of weakness. This is completely correct. There were serious prospects for Ukraine to leave the Russian sphere and join the Western sphere prior to this conflict. Russia wasn't and isn't expanding into Crimea and exerting control over Ukraine to show off its strength -- it's doing so to draw a line in the sand on the limits of Western expansion Russia will allow.

You can be very strong and still fight from a position of weakness. It's not an insult.

I don't think anyone seriously argues that the way the Obama administration has handled the Crimean annexation has been optimal. But you're building a mountain out of a molehill here.

Ah, grown men talking about the size and capacity of their missiles and payloads.....

Truly this international dick-waving contest is the HEIGHT of political discourse!

PE - Russia doesn't have to go to war with the US to be more than a regional power - especially when the US has a bully and a coward for a President. Are you completely ignorant of the fact that they just took over the Crimea, and now pretty much holds Europe's fuel supply in their hands? lol Good lord...come on, man, I know Obama told you that Russia isn't a big deal any more, but it's OK to actually exercise yoru own brain every now and then. IF Russia would get shredded by teh US - and I'm not denying that -- then why didn't Obama step up with our European allies and defend the Ukraine? Oh...because Obama is a trash talking coward...and Russia is stronger than you think.

Fuck their navy, anyway...I...C...M....B Look it up.

I'm not pulling for Russia to win, either. Good lord, open your eyes. They ARE winning. And they are winning because under Obama, the US is the weak player on the board. What the fuck is so hard to understand about that?


And if you want to play Obama apologist and say , "He didn't call them weak...he said..." blah blah blah. OK Bill Clinton...I guess it depends on what the definition of "is" is, blah blah blah. Are you seriosuly this muchof a moron?

One, the analysis that it came from a position of "weakness" is obviously wrong - they are *clearly* the strongest kid on the block, since, depsite the stamerings and protests of EVERYONE, Putin flipped the world the bird and said, "Fuck you, what are you going to do about it..." and in reply, the west cancelled a G8 meeting to show how strong we are....lol

And you can play retard and pretend the sometics didn't mean Russia was weak, but to good old Vlad, he was just issued a challenge to prove he's strong by the weak President of the United States...and you can reest assured that Putin will now be inspired to continue to demonstrate his strength in this world.

Bury you head in the sand if you will...it's your right. But you clearly have no idea who Putin is, what the desires of the Russian (Empire) are. Your schooling has failed you miserably.

As for mountain out of a molehill....just wait and see my friend. Reserve your judgement on my analysis until Putin is finished advancing his military and expanding his borders, and with it his global influence by securing global resources and putting them under his control. I think you are woefully ignorant.
Now...apart from Afghanistan, do you want to look at what influence Russia weild outside their hemisphere? South America, for example? I know...that doesn't count to you...

Obi - Never, EVER again talk to us about literature. You are, without a doubt, the *worst* writer I have ever seen.

As for dick waving, at least we have dicks to wave, pindick.

I know, I know...when one is as refiend as Obi....(or is that ass backwards retarded...I forget...) military might has no reason to be involved in a discussion of a nation's military conquests.

You are a moron beyond belief, Jesus killer.

I by no means consider myself an expert, but krellin's casual racism seems to be getting more pronounced.

"moronic boy President"
"slinging dope on the streets of Chicago"
"the boy int eh white house"
"Jesus killer"

ckroberts: I don't know; not having read krellin's posts, I have no doubt that he would stay stuff like that.

@ck

You seem surprised that krellin is a racist. I thought was well known about him.

I know I'm like like 4 posts late, but Krell, you said ICMB, not ICBM. How bout them intercontinental missile ballistics, eh, bud?

Krellin, calm the fuck down. We get it, you don't like Obama very much. There's no reason to bring Obi's literary prowess or lack thereof into this, there's no reason to sling racist bullshit, and there's no reason to act like you want political discussion when really you just want to bitch about something because of some personal issue. Grow the fuck up and get over yourself. I feel sorry for your family.

"krellin's casual racism seems to be getting more pronounced."

Yeah, well, Obama's casual incompetence seems to be getting more pronounced too.

ohh madd diss by ghug

You gonna take that KKKrellin? LOL

Styje: I'm sure that Palin can discuss intercontinental missile ballistics given her expertise in shooting Russia from her house with an NRA-sponsored rifle.

Gunfighter06: Oh. I read "usual" there.

not "casual"

pew pew palin bullets r kill all teh russian commie bastardz

JECE - Really? I may not like Palin, but I am at least honest in my assessment of her and don't resort to ad hominem attacks that take a simple statement (that Russia cam be views from Alaska which is technically true, there is one Russian island visible from the state on a clear day) and blows it out of proportion for "effect". Trying beinmore honest and use less hyperbole and ad hominem next time. You'll find people resect your opinion more if you don't act like putin33..

Oh and, as anti-Semitic as his comments may be (he only ever uses them at obitard), there is nothing racist about calling obi "Jew boy" as even the Jews at the highest ranks in Israel will tell you Judaism.is a religion and a culture, but not a race. European Jews and Mediterranean Jews don't share a common bloodline anymore than the Irish or the Scots.

Defending Palin and krellin in consecutive posts. Bold move. Let's see if it pays off.

I'd never defend Palin. I just said he should keep the rhetoric to fact. Palin has her flaws and I thank God she didn't get the second most powerful seat in the nation. Her views scare the fuck out of me.

Lmao it's so obvious how old krellin is that he is afraid of russia taking over the world. the only thing at stake, other than Eastern Europe itself, is international law. Russia could annex all of Ukraine and it still wouldn't have any important effect in Latin America or least of all the Chinese sphere.

All of this riffraff over the Ukraine is reminding me of Nazi Germany annexing Austria; this could just be the beginning of something bigger, but of course, this is very much just speculation and even more unlikely to happen

It's so fun watching the ignorant youth who believe the world is static as is, and can never change. They are particularly stupid in that they acknowledge that the world is far different now than it was 20 years ago, but they are too stupid.....read **brain washed**....to possibly believe it can change again.

Let's see....Putin secures Crimea....then moves on to take over all of Ukraine. No resistance from the west, other than thug speeches from America's community organizer, and the cancellation of a meeting or two from Frau Chancellor. Putin is emboldened...he recognized that a war-weary and impotent west will do nothing to stop him.

He also now wields the SPIGOT to western Europe's oil supply.

Ahhhh yes, the moron youth all cry "Oil!!! Oil!!!" and shake their fists in anger any time the old US goes to war for oil....and yet when Putin invades a country to secure *it's* oil resources, they bury their fucking heads in the sand, because Comrade Obama hasn't told the sheep to "Bahhhhhhh" yet....an d so they sit silent.

The emboldened Putin now looks at his other neighbors....the one's he has been clamoring for years to re-integrate into the old Russian empire....and recognizes that not only is the west impotent and fearful, they have now also set a precedent of inaction. "Well how can we go to war to protect Georgia when we didn't lift a finger for Ukraine!" the people would cry when Putin makes his next move.

You retards that think we somehow live in a civilized world where "international law" dictates the actions of country are fucking morons. International law **doesn't mean shit** if there is noone to enforce it. And if you issue harsh sanctions against Russia, Russia will respond by cutting off the resources he controls....that Wetern Europe craves.

I'm sorry that you little kiddies are so ill-informed about the world that you live. I'm sorry that your public education was mostly akin to nurssery school, in which every conflict was resolved by a good talking to and the proper response to bullying (i.e. beating the shit out of the bully) is no longer the correct answer....but the world we *actually* live in is run by the aggressive use of **FORCE**...not Libtard Pussyisms.

As for out Boy President....he has the emotional responses, and the experience of a *child*...a *boy*. When he is humiliated on the world stage by Putin, he responds LIKE A BOY CHILD and starts calling him names...Like a boy...NOT like a man.
If you all somehow find Obama's immaturity and total lack of experience to be racist, that is your problem. I call him a boy because he is a man-child, not an adult.

And having Thucy taunt me....oh, that's rich. This is the assclown that is afraid of his own white shadow, and who's every single word and action is determined by examinign the skin color and gender of every individual around him so that he can figure out who he is supposed to pity, who he is supposed to look down upon, etc. Thucy is the Original Racist in modern times who's looked in the mirror and seen what a truly ugly soul he possesses, and tries to pass it off onyo everybody else. Yeah....being judged by Thucy is about a threatening as being pummelled with a feather, so little respect do I have for our resident Racist in Chief Thucy.

Lol who's the racist? The Great American Hero Richard Sherman proved in 2014 that calling a black dude a thug is racist. This wouldn't have happened if Richard Sherman were president. If Richard Sherman were president, your ass would be banned.

Honestly, what was proposed that the U.S. govt do? I've heard a lot of talk about how the U.S. is failing, but what should have been done?

"As for out Boy President....he has the emotional responses, and the experience of a *child*...a *boy*. When he is humiliated on the world stage by Putin, he responds LIKE A BOY CHILD and starts calling him names...Like a boy...NOT like a man."
As Krellin so kindly demonstrates, real men don't call each other names.

I think it's foolish to say the youth of today have blind faith in the government. In my experience (formed by observing my classmates in the bluest state of the union, so it is limited), I have found my classmates critical of the government to the point of being stupid (that is to say, they can be counted upon to provide such a narrow minded and formulaic response to any development that their opinion is worthless).

While I don't support military intervention in Crimea, I think the US should be doing a great deal more to stop Russia (lessening European dependence of Russian oil comes to mind as a sound long term strategy).

Actually, a complete bam on doing business with Russian companies would damn near crush Russia's markets. They rely heavily on US business, as much or more than we rely on Chinese and Japanese business. Already, their market has benn dropping from the limited ban on high profile politically owned businesses as US companies are hesitant to do business with Russian companies not sure whether those businesses are now or will be available to fulfill contracts.

Draugnar: Sure I did. I referenced her pro-NRA, pro-gun politics and the most famous of her idiotic rehearsed lines at the same time.

She never claimed to see Russia from her house.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/russia.asp

Her statement was factually correct.

But don't let the facts get in the way of your Libtard Libnial.

Draug - you are arguing with fucking morons and left-wing media sheep. the fucking "I can see Russia from my front porch" is a god damned SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skit that the fucking asstard Liberals have taken as truth.

That should give you a clue as to exacly how ill-informed the morons on the left are.

Their grasp of History (see "Rhineland") is equally woeful.

The people with the real money in Russia get as much of it abroad as they can because they don't trust Putin or the Russian govt. Net cash outflows from the country must be huge.
Putin war-mongering will just lead to more cash heading West, Putin will come under internal pressure if the Russian economy stagnates.
The approach to Russian aggression has been the correct one, it would have been more robust if Europe were not so dependent on Russian gas but that is a rapidly changing situation, not rapid enough for the Crimea though,
The West have to focus on keeping the Chinese happy and then isolating Russia ...... economic pressure and sanctions will be more effective in the medium to long-term than threats and bully-boy tactics.

Draugnar:
This is embarrassing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg
There is no way around it. She was asked about comments she had made in the past that she knew had elicited a strong reaction The interviewer spoon-fed her talking points for her to defend herself with and she still failed miserably to explain herself. I don't remember ever watching the Saturday Night Live skit. I do remember watching her interviews where she talked about Russia. It was shocking.

krellin: So, morons and sheep practicing sexual intercourse with each other are not worthy debate adversaries? What an interesting suggestion!

I'm on a phone and won't be able to watch the clip, but did she ever say she could see Russia from her house in it? If the answer is no, then you should be embarrassed. You asserted a common misconception if it were fact. You were, quite simply, wrong.

I said from the beginning she has plenty to be lampooned for, but not that specific non-quote. Bogart never said "Play it again, Sam" and she never said you could see Russia from her house.

Draugnar: I did not assert that she said those exact words. What are you trying to lampoon me for? I couldn't care less whether she ever literally said that she could see Russia from her house. She was governor, after all. Her 'house' could be interpreted as Alaska itself. I posted a play on words (ICMB) within a play on words (the Palin Russia/Alaska thing) that referenced both Palin's pro-gun ideology and her pathetic attempts to invent foreign policy credentials. Where in that does the word "house" matter? In fact, I revised the sentence after I first wrote it to include the word "house" just so that people would get the larger play on words. Jeez.

I think Sarahs political ambitions are palin into insignificance .... but her comedy career is just beginning :-)

Krellin - the US (or the UK or EU for that matter) did not promise to protect the Ukraine. They agreed a NAP rather than a mutual protection alliance. Perhaps if the Ukrainian diplomats who agreed the deal originally had a knowledge of webdiplomacy they would have agreed a better deal.

With regards Obama and the EUs reaction to the Crimea, I think you have to realise that the west have been dealt a dreadful hand. The underlying reality is that the people of the Crimea actually want to be under Russian rule, how could any western leader advocate taking up arms against Russia when we all know that the eventual outcome will have to reflect the will of the people? This crisis will die down and everyone will accept the new borders. After a little while the rhetoric will change and western leaders will try and engage Russia again.

The West's hand wasn't bad at all. We had a weak pro-Russian Ukrainian government and a strong pro-Western feeling amongst the people that showed every sign of growing. What we had was fishhooks at the very least. The flop went in our favour, then Russia made a big show of counting all his chips, made a strong bet, and we folded.

We had plenty of opportunities to take control of the situation. We failed to do so.

What would you have wanted the West to have done instead, Oct? Intervene militarily? If we had done that, Putin would have shut off the oil for sure, and the eastern European countries would hate us forevermore

It would have hurt Putin far more than it would have hurt us. It would be akin to picking up a sword by the pointy end and trying to hit us with the hilt.

But no, what we should have done was, after successfully persuading the Ukrainian President to hold early elections, we should have backed him up. Put pressure on the protesters to go home and organise a political campaign.