Article

2014-02-22 Europe

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-02-22 11:24|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 At this point, perhaps if we had a real president and Sec State we could whisper into Putins ear that we would not oppose the Eastern (Russian) part's secession and plebiscite to become part of Russia, providing they leave the western part alone (with pipeline security guaranteed for Gazpom) and keep Crimea separate and neutral (a la WW2 Finlandization). The rest of it can either form up or split off into Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, etc, leaving a rump republic for the ethnic Ukrainians.

This has been brewing since the a Orange revolution and the backlash that followed.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-02-22 19:46|| 2014-02-22 19:46|| Front Page Top

#2 I see a split as almost inevitable. Hence the sooner the better.

Russia will do whatever it takes to hang on to its Crimea naval bases.

Posted by phil_b 2014-02-22 20:56|| 2014-02-22 20:56|| Front Page Top

#3 Black Sea bases staying Russian is pretty much a given. Being realistic about it, there will have to be an "accommodation" there regardless of what else happens.

Resolving this would be a possibility if we had a decent diplomatic corps and an adept SecState. Problem is we have neither. Foggy Bottom is a rats nest of leftys and poseurs, and Jon F'n Kerry is an empty suited gigolo who hasn't a clue how to perform his function as SecState.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-02-22 21:20|| 2014-02-22 21:20|| Front Page Top

#4 State can't support a partition cause the question will arise, why not here too?

Posted by Procopius2k 2014-02-22 23:16|| 2014-02-22 23:16|| Front Page Top

23:45 Omavising Ebbemp9815
23:37 Baby Boomers
23:16 Procopius2k
22:15 Omavising Ebbemp9815
21:46 Zenobia Floger6220
21:44 Barbara
21:43 CrazyFool
21:23 Bright Pebbles
21:20 OldSpook
20:56 phil_b
20:49 Alaska Paul
20:38 Rob Crawford
20:36 Rob Crawford
20:31 Rob Crawford
19:55 OldSpook
19:52 OldSpook
19:46 OldSpook
19:44 Omavising Ebbemp9815
19:24 trailing wife
19:18 Pappy
19:16 Barbara
19:14 Pappy
18:57 swksvolFF
18:47 mom