To: Maurice Winn who wrote (105899 ) 4/29/2014 3:57:15 AM From: Hawkmoon Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 218043 ob, we ordinary minions dont control the mainstream media enabled US driven imperial narrative which ominously looks just like what preceded WW1. Not sure we'll survive this one There's going to be a lot of propaganda, positive and negative (there are two kinds) being spewed around by everyone, including you and I, arguing the various issues involved.. And none of it is going to be "black and white", because EVERY country is diverse, with various groups vying for social, political, and economic influence. But look at the reality.. the only time we're seeing people "willing" to join Russia, and become Russian citizens is when Russia sends in the troops.. IF things had been so bad over the past 25 years for the Russian speaking people of Ukraine, logic would dictate that they would have elected to move to Russia.. But apparently it's been fairly bearable until now. It's the RUSSIANS who are fleeing their country and begging for asylum. And it's the Tartars of Crimea who are, apparently once again, seeing Red "X"s painted on their doors, a painful reminder when 200,000 of them were ethnically cleansed from Crimea by Stalin after WWII.. nydailynews.com I don't think there's anything wrong with offering foreign assistance and investment if we want to create new markets for US and European products. And there is nothing preventing Putin from doing the same thing if he wants influence. He should offer "Honey" (in the form of Money), not thousands of "green men" hiding behind masks and carrying guns.. Offer them a mutually beneficial partnership, not a future of being exploited by Russian Oligarchs. But then again, maybe Putin doesn't have any honey to offer.. The Ukrainians are not some angelic people.. Never would assert such a thing. But it's pretty clear to me that they are sick of Russian domination and being treated like some kind of colony for Russia.. Putin claims he's not receiving any respect.. But then again, how much respect has he shown towards the Ukrainians? Or the Latvians.. or Lithuanians.. or Estonians.. Why are these countries CHOOSING (desiring) to join NATO when it would be to their economic advantage to be neutral between Russia and Europe and reap the benefits of trade with both economic blocs? Hawk