Thursday, February 27, 2014

Realpolitik

BREAKING: Polish army troops have attacked the radio tower at Gleiwitz!

I'm sure the EU is busily writing a condemnatory resolution that informs Putin in no uncertain terms that if he doesn't knock it off, they'll draft an even stronger resolution.

So it seems like while a majority of the people of Ukraine want to join the free-trade union that is run by finance ministers, deputy ministers of the interior, community organizers, and other student government types, the minority of the people of Ukraine want to join the insular trade organization that is run by the ex-KGB light colonel. And the minority seems to have most of the guns. And the backing of the ex-KGB guy, who is no longer constrained by having to participate in the International Civilized Nation Lookalike Contest down in Sochi.

Good luck Ukraine, you bunch of crazy dreamers.
When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse.” -Osama bin Laden
"America... (w)herever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own." -John Quincy Adams
Sorry, guys, but we're all warred out right now.

Interesting times, indeed.
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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The way this is going down is literally bumming out my view of 2014.

I'd just like to think that somewhere (anywhere), freedom isn't getting its ass kicked.

Old Radar Tech said...

Into the valley of death rode the 600...

Anonymous said...

I guess we may find out if the Ukraine is still good armor country.

Gerry

Reno Sepulveda said...

I knew we were in for a rough time in Ukraine when I heard Chuck Hagel casting aspersions on the A-10 and scoffing at the notion of us ever having to attack Russian tanks.

Cincinnatus said...

Hagel and Biden ... the mind suts down from boggle overload.

Old Radar Tech said...

And Tam thinks we can't visualize alien life...

Anonymous said...

"the notion of us ever having to attack Russian tanks."

I think you and I (and Vladimir, as well) both know we can not afford to shoot at anybody's tanks, and continue to fund our Welfare State ..... and we can not stomach not continuing to do that.

This is the very same Chuck Hagel that announced last Friday that we are going to make some pretty massive cuts to the Army .... The Ukrainians are as on their own today as the Hungarians and Czechs were in the middle of the last century .....

-jimbob86

Kristophr said...

Very interesting times.

Unlike Georgians, the Ukrainians have nukes.

Lewis said...

Has Johnny McCain announced that we're all Ukrainians now, yet?

(Um, all "the good sort" of Ukrainians, now, I mean.)

Geodkyt said...

Kristophr -- and a damned nice tank factory, IIRC. Along with a decent chuck of a well-balanced arms industry as well, because the Soviets couldn't imagine the Ukraine EVER being independant. . .

global village idiot said...

I have an online acquaintance in Kiev whose wife works in the Minsitry of Something-or-other. He's dialed-in, and "has a plan." I trust it.

I have a Soldier in my Platoon whose wife is still there. I'm doing everything I can to get her to the U.S. in a safe and timely manner but there's only so much a Platoon Sergeant can do.

Besides these two things, I don't have a dog in the fight and truly couldn't care less. If I need borscht and pierogies that badly I'll go to Whiting.

gvi

Kristophr said...

Oh, and the Russian Black Sea Fleet poses no threat to the Ukraine ... 'cause they said so!

I do hope cooler heads prevail here.

Anonymous said...

Oh, there's always room for one more war. Besides, maybe we can finally win one against the varsity. The ol' win/loss record could definitely use some sprucing up.

Or, alternatively, maybe it's time to have a war we can just drive to, rather than having to boat/plane/muleback our way into, before retreating in ignominius defeat, much like the "warrior race" Klingons constantly get their nobby butts handed to 'em by pretty much everybody.

How's that for a cross-thread tie-in? ;-)