WORLD WAR 3 AT 3am TOMORROW

[CAM]

Holy pauseballs... Actual shots fired.

 

Russians fired them in response to a column of 300 Ukrainian troops without weapons wanting their army base back and had come to negotiate joint guarding of the site. They are effectively threatening to kill unarmed negotiators which in this case would be tantamount to murder rather then casualties of war. :/

[featured_spectre]

Good thing China are backing the Russians hey?!

 

Russia And China 'In Agreement' Over Ukraine

[pcstru]

On the other hand, Russia is perhaps all that stands between stability in the Ukraine and descent into a civil war which, looking at the body count in Syria, is not a good prospect for anyone's interests but especially a country which shares a large border.

[Trapper]

http://rt.com/on-air/russian-president-putin-statement/

 

The translator is making Putin sound rather camp!

[tech_guy]

And don't get me started on Ban Ki-Moon and the UN - he's useless as well. A glove puppet would do a better job than him. And the UN is impotent, useless. Useless.

[CAM]

So what did you make of Putin's case on RT? I know it's a news channel under state control but Putin is the state!

 

He does make some valid points in my opinion, the profiles of some of those people in power in Ukraine are somewhat shady. I think Russia is more concerned for the security of Sevastapol Bay then anything and taking the whole island will be the strongest defence. But they aren't exactly doing much for calming the civil issues currently in Crimea. Surely a show of Ukrainian and Russian servicemen working together would be a better resolution instead of firing warning shots at unarmed troops?

 

He does claim they aren't Russian troops in Crimea but a self defence force. I find this somewhat hard to believe given the firepower they are packing and their uniformity. Sure, you could buy Russian uniforms in a shop, but a militia will still look rag-tag instead of matching uniforms, matching weapons and APCs/Attack Helicopters zooming about!

 

There are legal trickeries though. As I predicted, Putin is reacting to requests from the deposed president who he recognises as the legal government of Ukraine instead of the interim coalition currently in power. That is where his justification comes from but it doesn't hold sway with international relations who thinks he should stay out of an internal matter. That said, US is hardly innocent when it comes to interfering which I thought on first hearing them twittering on about invasions!

[localzuk]

They are definitely Russian soldiers, an analysis of the weaponry kinda proves they are - weapons in use which are *only* built for the Russian military.

 

I think the situation is very difficult, and Putin is putting out a lot of propaganda, but so are the people in the new Ukraine government.

[featured_spectre]

Its a tough one to call. Troops in the German military and US and British military stationed in Germany have been put on high alert and ready for mobilisation. Poland have pretty much mobilised and are ready to go as soon as needed.

[CAM]

They can't intervene, not now. Crimean parliament have voted unanimously for breaking away to join Russia and a referendum has been set. Short of something causing a spark in a tinderbox, this is now down to democratic process. If the people vote Russia, Crimea goes to Russia.

[featured_spectre]

Thing is, it will likely be rigged in any case as the last time they had that referendum they voted to be Ukrainian.

[localzuk]

I'm not sure the referendum will end up with them going to Russia though, as only 58% of the population is of Russian ethnicity. And from on the ground polls, it isn't all of them who want to be part of Russia anyway!

[Andrew_C]

I wonder what would happen if Alaska "voted" to be Russian again?

[visioN]

Its a tough one to call. Troops in the German military and US and British military stationed in Germany have been put on high alert and ready for mobilisation. Poland have pretty much mobilised and are ready to go as soon as needed.

 

Links?

[Neil-Millgate]

Is it kind of similar to if Spain sent 'troops' to Gibralter?

 

Historically belonged to Spain, some Spanish people living there, some who want it returned to Spain, some who don't.

[sparkeh]

They can't intervene, not now. Crimean parliament have voted unanimously for breaking away to join Russia and a referendum has been set. Short of something causing a spark in a tinderbox, this is now down to democratic process. If the people vote Russia, Crimea goes to Russia.

 

BBC News - Ukraine crisis: Crimea MPs vote to join Russia

A government minister in Kiev said they believe it would be unconstitutional for Crimea to join Russia.

Interesting to see the Kiev administration talking about abiding by the constitution...

[CAM]

I'm not sure the referendum will end up with them going to Russia though, as only 58% of the population is of Russian ethnicity. And from on the ground polls, it isn't all of them who want to be part of Russia anyway!

 

It will all come down to the result of the referendum. The biggest concern will be who manages it, something tells me corruption may be rife in the poll since the Ukrainian government can't tell it's arm from it's leg and the Crimean government may well be biased. Add in the lawlessness of protestors running round intimidating people like animals and there will be debate after the result as to the referendum's legitimacy.

 

Either way, the West will be unlikely to intervene for fear of being accused of interrupting democratic process.

[featured_spectre]

Links?

 

Sorry, I missed this.

 

I have no links to give, I am going by information given by my cousin who is stationed in a British base in Herford, and another cousin who is stationed in Bayern-Kaserne in the German Military.

[featured_spectre]

As for Poland mobilising their forces.

 

Russian troop invasion encircles Crimea’s capital as Ukraine PM declares the nation to be on ‘brink of disaster’ | News.com.au

[featured_spectre]

Pretty much sums up Crimea right now

 

http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a09E32X_460sa.gif

[CAM]

Shots fired! This time they hit.

 

BBC News - Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'

 

Further reports that Pro-Russian forces have also been killed. It isn't clear exactly what is going on but it is suspected that someone is attempting to destabilise the area by attacking both sides. Bear in mind that there were rumours of sniper fire aimed at both Police and Protestors in Kiev from the same rifles.

[localzuk]

Russian agent provocateurs?

 

Who else would try and cause it to kick off? There's only really Russia that could gain from it.