Uber-Putin surrenders to Obama's weak chin and furious blinking.

[Daverino]

Putin has renounced his right to invade the Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels agree to ceasefire
Peace talks begin in the Ukraine

I find this all unbelievable. The limp-wristed American-driven foreign policy of isolating Putin and his supporting oligarchs politically and economically has forced the Russians to back down in Eastern Ukraine. They allowed the pro-Russian forces there to be overwhelmed and cut off by the Ukrainian military. And the mere *threat* of economic sanctions has stopped the Russians from a second military buildup on the border. We made no threats, launched no drones, and dropped no bombs. Yet we know that the Russians and certainly Putin only respect bravado and strength. That the only way to confront them is with muscle, violence and iron-will.

How were we so wrong about Putin and the Russians? Why would they bend the knee to the West without a threat to destroy them?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I'll withhold my opinion until I read Dick Cheney's response comparing Obama to SatanHitler.

 

[Genx87]

Darth Cheney probably would had invaded Iran to teach Putin a lesson.

Anyways this is a foreign policy victory in some regard to Obama. While Crimea is gone for good. I believe putting the screws to Putin's backers pushed him into a corner and required him to back down.

 

[cubby1223]

I will believe the ceasefire when the firing has ceased.

I will believe Putin when his reign over Russia has ended.

 

[JEDIYoda]

How were we so wrong about Putin and the Russians? Why would they bend the knee to the West without a threat to destroy them?

It is a known fact that Putin likes Bazooka Bubble Gum!! All Bubble Gum in Russia is imported!! They do not make Bubble Gum in Russia!!
Obama threatened to stop the import of Bazooka Bubble Gum!!

That is why Putin caved!!

 

[werepossum]

I will believe the ceasefire when the firing has ceased.

I will believe Putin when his reign over Russia has ended.

Meaning dead men don't lie? 'Cause they kinda do little else.

Score one for Team Obama anyway, even if it's just Putin pretending to be reasonable. Reasoned diplomacy + moving stealth bombers to the area = sound policy.

Now for the 2 in the 1-2 punch as Michelle launches her sad #Bringbackourcrimea tweet.

 

[Jaskalas]

Heh, they still have Crimea, and there's little reason to believe that the pro-Russian east won't get what they want, someday.

 

[K1052]

Darth Cheney probably would had invaded Iran to teach Putin a lesson.

Anyways this is a foreign policy victory in some regard to Obama. While Crimea is gone for good. I believe putting the screws to Putin's backers pushed him into a corner and required him to back down.

The uncertainty and even very limited sanctions wiped out their projected economic growth for the year. It's easy to ignore when whipping up the nationalism but after a while the bills start coming due. The Russian central bank recently indicated that it may revise it's forecast up....which can only be accomplished if there are no further military adventures and they deal with Ukraine/EU/US on the level.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Putin has renounced his right to invade the Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels agree to ceasefire
Peace talks begin in the Ukraine

I find this all unbelievable. The limp-wristed American-driven foreign policy of isolating Putin and his supporting oligarchs politically and economically has forced the Russians to back down in Eastern Ukraine. They allowed the pro-Russian forces there to be overwhelmed and cut off by the Ukrainian military. And the mere *threat* of economic sanctions has stopped the Russians from a second military buildup on the border. We made no threats, launched no drones, and dropped no bombs. Yet we know that the Russians and certainly Putin only respect bravado and strength. That the only way to confront them is with muscle, violence and iron-will.

How were we so wrong about Putin and the Russians? Why would they bend the knee to the West without a threat to destroy them?

Perhaps Putin is 'crushing' on Obama and thinks this will get him a date?

 

[brycejones]

Perhaps Putin is 'crushing' on Obama and thinks this will get him a date?

If they get gay married how will Texashiker react? His man crush would be off the market.

 

[IronWing]

How were we so wrong about Putin and the Russians? Why would they bend the knee to the West without a threat to destroy them?

Floridation baby, floridation.

 

[Thebobo]

Putin has renounced his right to invade the Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels agree to ceasefire
Peace talks begin in the Ukraine

I find this all unbelievable. The limp-wristed American-driven foreign policy of isolating Putin and his supporting oligarchs politically and economically has forced the Russians to back down in Eastern Ukraine. They allowed the pro-Russian forces there to be overwhelmed and cut off by the Ukrainian military. And the mere *threat* of economic sanctions has stopped the Russians from a second military buildup on the border. We made no threats, launched no drones, and dropped no bombs. Yet we know that the Russians and certainly Putin only respect bravado and strength. That the only way to confront them is with muscle, violence and iron-will.

How were we so wrong about Putin and the Russians? Why would they bend the knee to the West without a threat to destroy them?

We? How about just you Tonto.

 

[cubby1223]

Meaning dead men don't lie? 'Cause they kinda do little else.

Score one for Team Obama anyway, even if it's just Putin pretending to be reasonable. Reasoned diplomacy + moving stealth bombers to the area = sound policy.

Now for the 2 in the 1-2 punch as Michelle launches her sad #Bringbackourcrimea tweet.

No. Meaning known liars cannot be trusted on their word alone, they must prove through their actions that they mean what they say.

 

[kage69]

Props to Obama and his British and German counterparts, I thought this would take longer and involve a few more oh shit moments before Putin reigned in his ego.

Here's hoping he got the hint and these expansionist fiascos dry up.

China's turn!

 

[Bitek]

What the GOP was wrong about everything again?

I thought they were the foreign policy party, which of course means bombing whenever possible, and handing out arms to the enemies of our enemies when it's not.

 

[Zebo]

I don't understand why Chimera is gone. Why won't same instruments used to get him to back off work on Chimera?

 

[theeedude]

Crimea is gone because Ukraine didn't want to fight for it. Just like the Confederate South would be gone if the North didn't fight a civil war to keep it in the Union. You can't claim sovereignty over something you aren't willing to fight for.

 

[Vic]

I don't understand why Chimera is gone. Why won't same instruments used to get him to back off work on Chimera?

Because all Putin wanted was the Crimea. His biggest problem was how to keep it without having the US lose face. Well played, sir, well played.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Because all Putin wanted was the Crimea. His biggest problem was how to keep it without having the US lose face. Well played, sir, well played.

Don't think for a minute that he's given up on the South-Eastern Ukraine yet. Russia was watching/studying the Serbs work in the ex-Yugoslavia back in the 90's *very* closely. They've been following the templates almost perfectly to this point.

 

[Zebo]

Because all Putin wanted was the Crimea. His biggest problem was how to keep it without having the US lose face. Well played, sir, well played.

I don't see how that answers my question. Who cares what Putin wants he's breaking international law. And he's shown to be responsive to sanctions or else he would have taken east Ukraine too.

Sanctions worked to get him to back off Ukraine.
Sanctions should work to get him to give chimera back.

 

[Vic]

I don't see how that answers my question. Who cares what Putin wants he's breaking international law. And he's shown to be responsive to sanctions or else he would have taken east Ukraine too.

Sanctions worked to get him to back off Ukraine.
Sanctions should work to get him to give chimera back.

Sanctions only work up to a point. Everything has a risk/reward ratio. Putin (and Russia) want the Crimea. I (and the average American) don't give a fuck.

 

[Bitek]

I don't see how that answers my question. Who cares what Putin wants he's breaking international law. And he's shown to be responsive to sanctions or else he would have taken east Ukraine too.

Sanctions worked to get him to back off Ukraine.
Sanctions should work to get him to give chimera back.

I'm not so sure. Taking Ukraine and taking Crimea are two different scales, plus it sounds like there is quite strong ties to Russia in Crimea culturally and politically. Not to mention how Ukraine ended up getting dominion over Crimea.

The Ukraine forces are formidable enough to cause difficulty for Russia without being in open war with Ukraine, which would invite a strong international response. Ukrainian forces may be able to move into Crimea at some point if they secure the east, but I cannot imagine Russian forces will go passively.

So do they move in just to lose, does Putin lose all credibility and myth by letting Crimea go without a fierce fight... Don't think so

 

[Sonikku]

He controls the oil and so long as everyone else needs oil, he doesn't need to hold all the land to exert control.

 

[cubby1223]

Now think of all the pro-Russians in Eastern Ukraine who were led to believe Putin had their backs, that mother Russia would be there to protect all ethnic Russians, would work towards annexing those territories and it's population into the mother country.

Oh well. They're not economically viable people. So long!

 

[Victorian Gray]

Now think of all the pro-Russians in Eastern Ukraine who were led to believe Putin had their backs, that mother Russia would be there to protect all ethnic Russians, would work towards annexing those territories and it's population into the mother country.

Oh well. They're not economically viable people. So long!

Something to remember, while the Eastern Ukraine might have a linguistic Russian majority, the ethnic Russian population is a rather small minority except in the South East where they are still under 40% of the total population.

I suspect the main draw for Russia in the South East is the fact that roughly 30% of Russian military equipment/replacement parts, including for their missile force is supplied by factories in that area of the Ukraine.

Destabilization of the Ukraine at large is a bonus.