If the Russians didn't get involved, I would have to say no. However, Putin has already landed troops in the Crimea and is openly supporting Yanukovich's reinstatement. Still, I don't think America should act alone in this; this requires a full response by NATO as Russia has belligerently invaded Ukraine.
America just needs to stay the fuck away from this. Russia and Ukraine will do whatever they do, and after that we'll see what should happen. Police will most likely use violence if they seem fit. And Protestors will act accordingly. Putin will do what his advisors advice him to do.
There was a report floating around about a Russian armored vehicle breaking through the gates of a Ukrainian military base in the Crimea, if it's true, they're demanding surrender from everybody inside around now. Crimea and Russia's legislatures are both trying to make Crimea's secession from Ukraine a reality, which would bring sanctions from the United States, which they have threatened would "boomerang" on us.
I still think that Russia has no business moving more military groups into Crimea. That's a Ukrainian issue, and the region is a part of the Ukraine. Obviously, if those people were all Russian citizens (which they aren't, they're just ethnically Russians), and they were being threatened, then I'd see that being okay. But regardless of that, Ukraine isn't threatening the security of the Crimean people in anyway; in fact, I'd argue that Russia's actions are placing them in more danger than Ukraine's pro-European uprising did.But yes, I'd agree that NATO isn't going to stand idle should Russia declare war on Ukraine (which they technically already have done by moving troops onto Ukrainian soil). Russia did almost exactly the same thing in Georgia back in 2008, and that wasn't connected with Europe at all. Ukraine, however, is a much more local issue, and I highly doubt that NATO/the EU are going to sit back and pick daisies while Russia plays around in the sandbox that is Crimea. Sanctions are a start, but honestly, if WWIII were to happen, this could be a very legitimate place that it could start.
Quote from: Lone Wanderer <??"? on March 08, 2014, 02:14:53 AMI still think that Russia has no business moving more military groups into Crimea. That's a Ukrainian issue, and the region is a part of the Ukraine. Obviously, if those people were all Russian citizens (which they aren't, they're just ethnically Russians), and they were being threatened, then I'd see that being okay. But regardless of that, Ukraine isn't threatening the security of the Crimean people in anyway; in fact, I'd argue that Russia's actions are placing them in more danger than Ukraine's pro-European uprising did.But yes, I'd agree that NATO isn't going to stand idle should Russia declare war on Ukraine (which they technically already have done by moving troops onto Ukrainian soil). Russia did almost exactly the same thing in Georgia back in 2008, and that wasn't connected with Europe at all. Ukraine, however, is a much more local issue, and I highly doubt that NATO/the EU are going to sit back and pick daisies while Russia plays around in the sandbox that is Crimea. Sanctions are a start, but honestly, if WWIII were to happen, this could be a very legitimate place that it could start.The Georgian war of 2008 was similar, but not the same. Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared their independence from Georgia and Russia guaranteed that independence, which resulted in Georgia invading both.Also, even though those russian ethnics are Ukrainian citizens, that means nothing to them. They feel the government does not represent them and that they should be a part of Russia. There isn't really any "New World" issue that I can use as an analogy, but the closest I can come is to suggest that Miami no longer wants to be a part of Florida and, instead, wishes to consider itself a New Jersian city.Not only does the majority of the Crimea and eastern Ukraine support the Russian invasion, they've gone so far as to physically drag/throw Ukrainian officials out of local government buildings. My aunt is a Russian-Ukrainian and I've been planning to ask her for her opinion of the crisis.