Putin rebuffs Obama as Ukraine crisis escalates

"The most serious East-West confrontation since the end of the Cold War"

Yeah, yeah. And things are working out pretty well for the US. Typically, Germany balks, and France hides behind Germany, at least Poland and the Baltic Countries know where their bread is buttered, and draw closer to the US and NATO. And what did Russia get for its trouble?

Nothing, but the base in Sevastopol that no one was trying to take from them.

So, yeah, Putin is right about one thing: there is a boomerange here, and its headed right at Moscow.

So, yeah Putin is right about one thing: there is a boomerange here, and its headed right at Moscow.

First, do not get sucked in. This is a classic response from Russia we used to deal with in cold war period.

I believe Europe will get hit heavily as they depend on Russian oil and gas while US does not. As a matter of fact, by 2015, US will become the top oil/gas producer in the world. We just need to sit back and analyze the situation very carefully. Just do not bite these threats coming out from Russia. Stay cool.

European Union leaders and Obama said the referendum plan was illegitimate and would violate Ukraine’s constitution.

Obama, more concerned about the Ukrainian constitution than the American one.

Obama says, "Please Mr. Putin, don't be cruel to Ukraine! Treat them like we treated Vietnam! Uh, no, not like treated the American Confederacy! No, uh Afghanistan?"

Watch how this will blow up on the American people, have we forgotten how it got involved looking for WMD? Has any of these countries that America has been involved in gotten any better? Just when did democratically elected president is over thrown by thugs and snipers supplied by the West be right?

One thing. Notice how the American media is avoiding mention of Crimea. Crimea is predominantly Russian and they want out of the Ukraine. This being practically ignored by the American media. This is a far cry when the US was pushing for Kosovo independence from Serbia and supporting the murderous Islamic KLM. The Crimean push for rejoining Russia has been going on since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

As I wrote elsewhere, that Putin did a stupid thing in occupying Crimea because, for one thing, he raised expectations of Russian annexation not only in Crimea but in Russia proper. Now he cannot back down, even if annexation was not his intent but only protection of the Black Sea Fleet.

This is a mess. What about the Tartars? What about the Ukrainian fleet?

This is going to require intelligent negotiations. One thing we do know now. Threats do not work on Putin. Russia is not weak little Serbia. Crimea is not Kosovo.

One last thing. The Western capitalist nations are dealing with the Russia they wanted. Russia is integrated into the world capitalist system and is nominally democratic. The Russian Orthodox Church controls the spiritual life of the people, not Leninism. Putin was once the man of the hour who kept Russia from falling Into chaos. And, oh yes, those Russian flags you fluttering in Crimea are a throwback to the old Czarist flag. This truly is our Russia, where we can sell Fords and Seiko watches and where our airliners can fly without fear of being shot down. We need bright diplomats to defuse this mess.

“Russia cannot ignore calls for help and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with international law,” he said.

This would be funny if it wasn't causing so much trouble and it didn't havd the potential to cause a whole lot more trouble and misery.

"One thing. Notice how the American media is avoiding mention of Crimea.This being practically ignored by the American media. "

Ever hear of Google? Suggest you visit the US world news site.

Putin ought to just say it. Black Sea fleet. The US would do the same in Okinawa if there was an unfavorable change in Tokyo.

kabukilover: One thing. Notice how the American media is avoiding mention of Crimea.

Washington Times front page: "Crimea"

LA Times front page: "Crimea"

New York Times front page: "Crimea"

The Wall Street Journal front page: "Crimea"

USA Today world front page: "Crimea"

Chicago Sun Times world front page: "Crimea"

Dallas Morning News world front page: "Crimea"

Fox News World front page: "Crimea"

CNN world front page: "Crimea"

May I ask where you are getting your information from?

Russia cannot ignore calls for help and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with international law

Really? So explain this:

On Friday evening, armed men entered a Ukrainian missile defense post in Sevastopol and took control, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene.

At what point is seizing control of a missile defence post using armed men considered "full compliance with international law"? That's an extremely hostile action, and can be construed as an act of war. Seizing control of another country's defence assets is a violation of international law.

China, often a Russian ally in blocking Western moves in the U.N. Security Council, was more cautious, saying that economic sanctions were not the best way to solve the crisis and avoiding comment on the legality of a Crimean referendum on secession.

Typical China, brown-nose Russia despite them being in the wrong. Just what you'd expect from a fellow country that repeatedly goes against international practice and actively escalates regional tensions. These two are peas in a pod. What does China recommend we do to solve this crisis? Sit back and watch the fireworks, I bet. China has nothing it deems of any value to gain from opposing Russia, but hopes that brown nosing them will benefit them in their feud with Japan. A kind of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" sentiment. Typical.

KabukiloverMar. 08, 2014 - 10:17AM JST

One thing. Notice how the American media is avoiding mention of Crimea

Not avoiding at all. It is everywhere including local news stations. We have nothing to hide and afraid. Russia has a big job to explain to the world why they are there in Crimea.

In Obama's pretzel-logic world, a violent mob overthrowing a democratically elected, legitimate though corrupt president is worthy of international support, but referendum of the citizens' choice is "illegitimate ". Does that also depend on what one's definition of "is" is?

What if a large mob of say one million citizens fed up with the president's willful violations of the Constitution opted to lay siege to the capital and demand his resignation and he fled to ... wherever. Would Obama and his supporters also view that as legitimate? What if Spring were coming to that nation as well?

Jean: a violent mob overthrowing a democratically elected, legitimate though corrupt president is worthy of international support

The Ukrainian parliament voted to strip him of his powers, not a mob.

What if a large mob of say one million citizens fed up with the president's willful violations of the Constitution opted to lay siege to the capital and demand his resignation and he fled to ... wherever. Would Obama and his supporters also view that as legitimate?

Your story sounds great since it ignores the impact of a Dragunov splitting a skull in two. But I can't say I blame you, it's not like you're going to get support by being honest.

What if Spring were coming to that nation as well?

Oh, big boy, you can always dream. Keep that gun next to your bed handy. We need people like you and you're not crazy at all. You are a hero.

Superlib, the media. Crimea is spottily mentioned and rarely headlined. Look above: "Ukraine crisis." Not "Crisis over Crimea" or "Crimean crisis." Your list is very useful. But context would help. If you ever heard an American news commentator began with "The Crisis in Crimea…." let us know. In this article Crimea is given at least economy class space at the end, which, if you know journalist style is where you put the lease important information.

If you, or anyone, sees a sympathetic--or even unsympathetic broadcast let all know.

Meanwhile the party line seems to be that you call this mess "The Ukrainian Crisis" and not "The Crimean Crisis."

At this writing Putin is not trying to take over the Ukraine.

Just go see the Clinton Chronicle on YouTube how US media is a propaganda macihne and it's gotten lot worst since. America's high morale righteousness is false with each foreign covert action has killed over a million people in Irag, Afghanistan, Libya and now right at the door step of Russia. Where is the Nobel Peace prize president who said," I got good at killing people?"

I think Obama should have sit back and stayed quiet in the first place, not getting involved at all, working on trying to look like he knew what he was doing. It's a more realistic response. If he's too loud with the threat but it doesn't work and he can't do anything about it, it makes him look clueless and unreliable, crumbling his competent facade. I already laughed too much from various Obama vs. Putin vids on Youtube.

Kabukilover: Superlib, the media. Crimea is spottily mentioned and rarely headlined. Look above: "Ukraine crisis." Not "Crisis over Crimea" or "Crimean crisis." Your list is very useful. But context would help. If you ever heard an American news commentator began with "The Crisis in Crimea…." let us know.

It's pretty obvious that you didn't take 10 minutes to check out the websites that I listed. All of them have the word "Crimea" in the headline, hence the quotations that I used. Just check it out yourself. Again, I ask, who is telling you that the American media is ignoring Crimea? Give us your source so we can be sure to avoid it in the future.

At this writing Putin is not trying to take over the Ukraine.

Right. What people are worried about is that Putin will try to expand the crisis from Crimea to the East Ukraine.

By the way, how is your "source" reporting the armed men surrounding the military bases? Seems that if the leader of the Ukraine is asking for help that that would include helping out with "non-Russian armed men" surrounding military establishments. If they aren't under Russian command, then the Russians don't seem to mind. Neither does the Ukrainian leader.

How is that being explained?

Super Lib. Those were not websites. Those were media names with the word Crimea after them. No specifics. Ten Minutes? Right.

As I did say later , tCrimea was not headlined. In early reports Crimea iUS mentioned Crimea was mentioned peripherally and not the center of the crisis.

Things have changed with the referendum to be held mid March. Now everyone is suddenly looking at Crimea. Because it is certain Crimea will vote for session.

I expect Crimea to be headlined frequently. How will western media demonize a little and harmless region seeking self determination.

"In a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned against “hasty and reckless steps”

What about Russian hasty and reckless steps in taking over part of Ukraine?

And what is China, the most populous nation, and the nation with the world's biggest military, doing about this?

Russia conquered Crimea in 1783. After World War II, Stalin conducted ethnic purging in the area, making Russians the majority. In 1964, one year after Stalin died, Russia gave Crimea to Ukraine, but it was a largely symbolic gesture, since Ukraine was not independent from Moscow. When Ukraine finally became independent again, after the fall of the USSR, Russia maintained the right to keep thousands of soldiers stationed at its military bases in Crimea.

The USA and the EU have to let Putin know that they are very concerned about a burgeoning Russia, but it is not likely that anyone wants to go to war over an area that has a Russian majority and which has seen large numbers of Russian troops stationed in it for hundreds of years.

Kabukilover: Super Lib. Those were not websites. Those were media names with the word Crimea after them. No specifics. Ten Minutes? Right.

Well if you're refusing to actually to to those websites and see for yourself, then there's not much I can do. But, I'll ask again: Who is telling you that the American media is ignoring Crimea? You've admitted that you haven't checked yourself, so who told you that? There shouldn't be any reason to keep your sources secret.

Russia has thousands "ICBM Boomerangs" hopefully they will not use them.