tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post2639368769930490707..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: It's déjà vu all over again...Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-78540771301322222102014-03-03T11:52:38.371-05:002014-03-03T11:52:38.371-05:00What value a twenty-year-old promise of assistance...What value a twenty-year-old promise of assistance from a country that has had 3 major changes in political leadership since then (and I-don't-know-much-much) turnover in the legislature?<br /><br />To a certain extent, it's nobody's business but the Turks (and Poles, &c). OTOH, the turks (and poles &c) are NATO members, so they could make it our business...Ian Argenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03704336044732061128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-46058430374254499602014-03-02T13:40:18.915-05:002014-03-02T13:40:18.915-05:00I think it's all over except the shouting, any...I think it's all over except the shouting, anyway.<br /><br />All of the Ukrainian military units in the Crimean region have declared for Putin.<br /><br />Not exactly a surprise, since the East half of the country is almost completely ethnic Russian, thanx to Stalin.Kristophrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08370888276707569365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-65426269173590167502014-03-02T13:02:28.789-05:002014-03-02T13:02:28.789-05:00We have to hold Manhattan though, cause next they&...We have to hold Manhattan though, cause next they'll take Berlin.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05414687981098467556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-21745924189699584472014-03-02T08:21:50.612-05:002014-03-02T08:21:50.612-05:00I wouldn't risk war with China over San Franci...I wouldn't risk war with China over San Francisco's continued membership in the USA- Wendy Wilson<br /><br />I would make them take LA too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-26623154082331226862014-03-01T22:19:23.499-05:002014-03-01T22:19:23.499-05:00I predict the next irredentist move will be far to...I predict the next irredentist move will be far to the east regarding a certain large island. . .<br />And our esteemed Reader-in-Chief, Ethelred, will ask for cooler heads to prevail and then keep his piehole closed. <br />I don't see any real American interest here except so far as it destabilizes eastern Europe, and our interest there is in the stability of Europe generally. Putin is scaring everyone who ever had to stand for the Soviet national anthem.Windy Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951254236693386401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-90863574813099069192014-03-01T22:12:06.003-05:002014-03-01T22:12:06.003-05:00I wouldn't risk war with China over San Franci...I wouldn't risk war with China over <a rel="nofollow">San Francisco's</a> continued membership in the USA.Windy Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951254236693386401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-75926213480810008962014-03-01T22:09:03.000-05:002014-03-01T22:09:03.000-05:00I'd rather let the Russians fight a war in the...I'd rather let the Russians fight a war in the Crimea than fight there ourselves.<br /><br />How do you say "Light Brigade" in Russian?tanksoldierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04160316039546071989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-43685068673152544372014-03-01T21:31:31.992-05:002014-03-01T21:31:31.992-05:00That's why I clarified: so as not to be misund...That's why I clarified: so as not to be misunderstood. Gooberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358115439453465833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-62270359013892969532014-03-01T21:12:57.529-05:002014-03-01T21:12:57.529-05:00Promises aren't magic, they are meaningless wi...Promises aren't magic, they are meaningless without both the will and ability to carry them out.<br /><br />We have demonstrated for seventy years that our promises, like the promises of every King, nation, bride, and groom are of little value when they become more painful to keep than to discard. <br /><br /><br /><br />staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-60423206450976178302014-03-01T19:23:08.413-05:002014-03-01T19:23:08.413-05:00There is a serious problem. When the Ukraine gave...There is a serious problem. When the Ukraine gave up its nukes it got a security guarantee from the US. In hindsight they would clearly have been safer to keep their nukes. Now that it's obvious that American promises are worth less than the paper they are printed upon, I would bet that the heads of the nuclear physics programs at the universities of Warsaw, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Helsinki, etc all just got phone calls from their nations presidents asking how long it would take to get a nuke put together. The answer for these countries is between a few weeks and a year or two. Many more nations will follow suit in the next few years. We will soon see a complete breakdown in the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and we will have a world with dozens of nuclear armed states. This does not inspire a restful night's sleep.gth871rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09667513852291880277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-69162071076310341732014-03-01T18:50:47.259-05:002014-03-01T18:50:47.259-05:00I just keep thinking "Anschluss und Lebensrau...I just keep thinking "Anschluss und Lebensraum." I know, it's a small thought, and we didn't help Austria much at all but I believe the anti-Hitler side (and the ones who got killed at the barricades) was mixed blend of Social-Unionists (predominantly, which might have appealed to FDR), Monarchists, and Nationalists - but the common-language thing blurred everything.NotClauswitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14358707844087117280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-20189895109974890592014-03-01T18:22:58.051-05:002014-03-01T18:22:58.051-05:00Goober,
"Not saying Tam wants to get involve...Goober,<br /><br />"<i>Not saying Tam wants to get involved, just agreeing with you here, og. </i>"<br /><br />I even made comments to this very post at 1130 and 1132 hrs this morning so that people who had started reading my blog just this week might have an idea of what my feelings were on the topic.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-51139149674546693822014-03-01T17:58:45.339-05:002014-03-01T17:58:45.339-05:00Exactly. This is a perfect time for Obama to keep ...Exactly. This is a perfect time for Obama to keep having cocktail parties and keep his noisehole firmly shut. <br /><br />I can't even imagine why we'd get involved even on the "strongly worded letter " front. That's what the UN is for. <br /><br />Not saying Tam wants to get involved, just agreeing with you here, og. Gooberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358115439453465833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-87746241285360898502014-03-01T17:54:29.851-05:002014-03-01T17:54:29.851-05:00The only similarity is location. The events descri...The only similarity is location. The events described in the poem also occured in Crimea.<br /><br />Cue snarky "you think I didn't know that, dumbass?" In three, two....<br /><br />My defense is that some of your readers may not know.... please be gentle<br />..<br /> :)Gooberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358115439453465833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-43333345441325736222014-03-01T17:39:12.067-05:002014-03-01T17:39:12.067-05:00Ukraine is not that distant from the West! Ukrain...Ukraine is not that distant from the West! Ukraine is only bordered by four (4) NATO members; Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-32187754769959921612014-03-01T16:35:03.478-05:002014-03-01T16:35:03.478-05:00If we did make any security guaranties to Ukraine,...If we did make any security guaranties to Ukraine, this episode will pretty much prove all such guaranties to be worthless. The next time such a situation comes up, the next tyrant, whether Putin or someone else will be less restrained.<br /><br />I see a slippery slope, but the valley is obscured by clouds and fog. There's no telling what the slope looks like below. There's not much we can do about it, either.fast richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05947715402204312013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-82579948190917531282014-03-01T15:15:46.565-05:002014-03-01T15:15:46.565-05:00I wonder if this is how all that shit in "Ter...I wonder if this is how all that shit in "Terms of Enlistment" started....Weer'd Beardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528978001340070552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-66087680026920371732014-03-01T14:57:43.418-05:002014-03-01T14:57:43.418-05:00Since they actually built the nukes there in Ukrai...Since they actually built the nukes there in Ukraine, who's to say they don't actually have a few left lying around? When you are talking thousands of them, easy to "misplace" a handful. Putin could get a hell of a surprise, if he gets carried away.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-72623586467109742532014-03-01T12:55:58.419-05:002014-03-01T12:55:58.419-05:00If I recall the US (and the UK) has a defense deal...If I recall the US (and the UK) has a defense deal with the Ukraine.<br /><br />I think it was part of the deal to have the Ukrainians give up the nukes they got from the USSR breakup.<br /><br />So, in abstract, the US has an interest in upholding the value of it's promises.<br /><br />If the US doesn't obligate it's pledge to defend from an invader here, other nations, such as Japan or Taiwan or Poland won't be reassured that *their* deals will be honored.<br /><br />Now, that's no an endorsement for the US to go to war. Especially if our national interest is "Well it makes us look like we'll uphold deals we've made in the past."<br /><br />But that is a reason I shake my head at the simplistic saber-rattling of the current admin knobs.<br /><br />The problem with "acting tough" is that if someone calls your bluff, you'll look even weaker than if you didn't go with the bluster.<br /><br />What, do they think the Ukraine and other nations will be reassured that the US will come in to save them if the President talks tough and maybe hints that the 110st to jump into Sevastopol... and then stop?<br /><br />Then again, this is the crew that has threatened people to not call their bluff, and a President that sees giving a speech as the limits of his responsibility.<br /><br /><br />Course, I also fear that these knobs will get caught up or simply get war-fever and send US troops in.<br /><br />And unlike Syria I'm not sure Putin can be counted on to save Obama.<br /><br />The Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173903164209256926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-49014932092544331632014-03-01T12:53:27.909-05:002014-03-01T12:53:27.909-05:00I did some more research on Ukrainian nukes.
It l...I did some more research on Ukrainian nukes.<br /><br />It looks like Bill Clinton convinced the Ukrainians to hand them all over to Yeltsin, in return for a promise of American "protection".<br /><br />( cue Beavis and Butthead laugher )<br /><br />Kristophrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08370888276707569365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15008225120598156832014-03-01T12:42:46.219-05:002014-03-01T12:42:46.219-05:00We wouldn't go to war over Ukraine even if we ...We wouldn't go to war over Ukraine even if we didn't have an empty suit in the White House. I agree with Tam, there's just no scenario where it would happen, and it's not in our interest.<br /><br />But we could, possibly, have more options at our disposal to contain the bear. Obama is threatening not to go to the G8 summit. Oh my. I'm sure Putin is quaking in his boots over the very thought.Sebastianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14648225987293475835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-29468010592492083572014-03-01T12:37:48.057-05:002014-03-01T12:37:48.057-05:00Never mind Taiwan or Australia, they are China'...<i>Never mind Taiwan or Australia, they are China's when the Chinese want them.</i><br /><br />My solution to Taiwan is to quietly arm them with nukes. I don't think the Chicoms will trade Beijing for a shot at Taipei.<br /><br />But Australia we'd have to go to war over. Same with Japan. If we let the Chinese just walk off with either the game is over. Time to hunker down and threaten to nuke anyone who makes a play for US territory.Sebastianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14648225987293475835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-22817574301977130272014-03-01T12:17:18.941-05:002014-03-01T12:17:18.941-05:00Well, there is that treaty thingy... Bot to call a...Well, there is that treaty thingy... Bot to call a certain Archduke about 100 years ago... Or the Sudetenland... <br /> <br />Hopefully, Putin will limit the troops to quelling possible riots/massacres, and not interfere with Ukrainian politics otherwise. John Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00801684602403824157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-19957134127234475332014-03-01T11:48:59.978-05:002014-03-01T11:48:59.978-05:00BRITS WOULD CHARTER FOC CRUISE SHIPS
NOWADAYS PRIN...BRITS WOULD CHARTER FOC CRUISE SHIPS<br />NOWADAYS PRINCESS CRUISES ? OTHERS<br />NOT MUCH OF THE RED DUSTER FLEET OR THE ROYAL NAVY LEFTNAVIGATORnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-80235015533504608832014-03-01T11:38:45.287-05:002014-03-01T11:38:45.287-05:00That's the point. We don't even NEED to pr...That's the point. We don't even NEED to present.oghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07551049745184408924noreply@blogger.com