Live from Kiev

homeagain wrote: But Arlen, walk down history lane.....(NYTimes piece posted on another Kiev thread)....the
actions requested might NOT be the appropriate move for THIS moment in time....(Syria,is/was
a DEFINING moment....ACTIONS were required then.....) presently,perhaps, a measured approach
is more preferable....JMO

Syria is a small country, Russia is a big country. Obama treats Syria with weakness. What can we expect of Obama in his treatment of Russia? Putin thinks Obama is a coward based upon Obama's past dealings with the world.

I expect to see an apology from Obama very soon about something....anything!

One thing Obama can do. Sochi is supposed to host the G8 summit. He could boycott the meeting. IIRC, Canada is already considering it. If you aren't going to defend the Ukraine, you can at least ostracize Putin.

FredHayek wrote: One thing Obama can do. Sochi is supposed to host the G8 summit. He could boycott the meeting. IIRC, Canada is already considering it. If you aren't going to defend the Ukraine, you can at least ostracize Putin.

Decisions anout the G* are already being made...

After suspending preparations for an upcoming Group of 8 summit in Sochi, the administration began canceling lower-level diplomatic and economic meetings with Russian counterparts. And senior administration officials warned that Russia could be booted from the G8 altogether and that its economy would suffer because of Putin’s decision to occupy the Crimean peninsula following the ouster last week of Ukraine’s pro-Russia president, Viktor Yakunovych.

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs ... ed-nations

That's a good move although I don't think Putin gives a damn.

I think Putin would mind if the rest of the world ostracizes him, especially if they cancel Sochi, but I think he cares more about reclaiming Sevastapol.

FredHayek wrote: I think Putin would mind if the rest of the world ostracizes him]/b], especially if they cancel Sochi, but I think he cares more about reclaiming Sevastapol.

I don't think so. You're looking at him with a western mindset as if he is some narcissistic, self absorbed, ideological western leftist. He's not. And he is smart enough to have already taken economic consideration into his game plan. He's been planning and making his moves ever since November 2013 when the protest in Kyiv started.

Think paying big bribes to get the Olympics in Sochi wasn't a vanity play?
Partly it was a business play to develop the resort and hand out big contracts to supporterrs, but I think there was a lot of ego involved too.

FredHayek wrote: Think paying big bribes to get the Olympics in Sochi wasn't a vanity play?
Partly it was a business play to develop the resort and hand out big contracts to supporterrs, but I think there was a lot of ego involved too.

I guess I will have to have the Washington Post explain it to you from their editorial "These men will not be deterred by the disapproval of their peers, the weight of world opinion or even disinvestment by Silicon Valley companies. They are concerned primarily with maintaining their holds on power."

It was a power play. You're thinking like a westerner again.

Have to agree with RR. Obama underestimated Putin. Putin could care less what anyone else thinks on his continued quest for power. Doubt any kind of sanctions or 'don't cross this line' will stop Putin. Have to wonder what Putin will do to Obama as a major snub, besides what he is doing at the moment, to show him who is boss. Would love to be alive many decades from now when they reveal Obama documents probably showing him having temper tantrums about being dismissed as the most powerful leader in the free world. He should have stuck to group organizer.