For the RVFers in Kiev - be safe!
- Clint Barton
Quote: (02-18-2014 06:50 PM)Roosh Wrote:
BBC Story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26249330
I think this is a sign that the movement is actually over. The oligarchs and their puppet president have reached an agreement and now force can be used to return life back to normal. Understand that nothing happens without the consent of the oligarchs, so if force is finally being used, than the protest no longer serves their interests. The only exception is if massive crowds spontaneously rise up to stop the demolishing of the encampment.
Quote: (02-18-2014 07:13 PM)Roosh Wrote:
If the army is needed, but it's split just like the country, then this may turn into something that neither the government or oligarchs can control.
Quote: (02-18-2014 07:13 PM)Roosh Wrote:
Yeah the police alone may not be able to put it down:
If the army is needed, but it's split just like the country, then this may turn into something that neither the government or oligarchs can control.
Quote: (02-18-2014 08:44 PM)unbowed Wrote:
Interesting article on the US involvement in Ukraine:
http://www.voltairenet.org/article182188.html
I wonder what kind of response Putin has in store after the Olympics.
Quote: (02-18-2014 05:37 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:
Streaming from various POVs:
http://rt.com/on-air/ukraine-central-kiev-protest/
Quote: (02-18-2014 10:48 PM)Blunt Wrote:
Yanukovich has continually shot himself in the foot. At every lull in the protests his security forces provide some sort of provocation for events to once again spiral into riots.
The only smart thing that he has done so far is to close the roads to Kiev, which he should have been doing every weekend starting back in December. Controlling traffic is something that he could have gotten away with in the eyes of the West and it would have severely limited the size of these protests.
Now that the ultras are fighting alongside the nationalists I see no chance of de-escalation. I've met a few ultras and these are kids who have nothing to live for except getting drunk and fighting at football games. I'm sure this is already well known to most EE veterans but ultras (extreme football fans) devote their attention into organizing mass brawls instead of watching football. In other words, these guys are pretty hard.
The nationalists will likely continue to take advantage of the relative complacency of local security forces in Western Ukraine to amass arms which will causes further escalation, especially now that both sides are openly shooting each other.
The only silver lining for Yanukovich is that it will make it easier for him to call a state of emergency, with deaths in the police nearing double digits. However, this many deaths will only strengthen the West's resolve to remove him from power and he will have lost legitimacy with less interested observers. Putin will have to come to a decision soon of making a strong show of support for Yanukovich's actions or washing his hands clean. While Russia certainly doesn't want Ukraine to drift west, I doubt that the oligarchs or Putin will continue support him in office for much longer even if this mess clears up, given how he is universally disliked and mistrusted.
Quote: (02-18-2014 11:37 PM)NY Digital Wrote:
Just curious, is there any chance or sense in Western Ukraine joining Poland as a type of commonwealth?
In the past, Ukraine was a part of the large country known as the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Quote: (02-19-2014 12:03 AM)Saga Wrote:
Quote: (02-18-2014 11:37 PM)NY Digital Wrote:
Just curious, is there any chance or sense in Western Ukraine joining Poland as a type of commonwealth?
In the past, Ukraine was a part of the large country known as the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth.
I'd say practically no chance. Western Ukraine's history with Poland isn't a happy one...there was bitter fighting between Ukrainians and Poles at the end of WWI and I doubt it's been forgotten. Anyway, I think that if western Ukraine was going to break from the east, they'd absolutely want full independence and nothing less...coming into union with Poland would be seen by nationalists as a big step backwards from the status quo.