Interesting what people do when they disagree with their government. Some listen to talk shows. Some go have it out.
Interesting what people do when they disagree with their government. Some listen to talk shows. Some go have it out.
It's been interesting watching a social media network I'm on and viewing pictures shared by a Ukrainian friend who works for independent [read: not state] news media. The pictures he's tossed out to the world have been startling.
SHORT STRAWS TO THE FRONT!
You mean tip of the sword. Yes? 
N Sperlo wrote: SHORT STRAWS TO THE FRONT!
Is that the Boston PD?
Chicago
I was curious as to what exactly they would actually accomplish with the protests, other then let everyone know they were upset (i.e. Occupy Wallsteet).
Apparently they did represent what a reasonable percentage of the government / legislature felt because eventually they are the ones that turned against the President.
I am curious (but pretty sure it was) if the timing of the protest was planned to be during the Olympics. With the worlds eyes focuses in the general area and Russia / Putin in a bit of a spotlight, he would be very unlikely to do anything rash.
P.S. The protesters that were bringing pellet guns to shot at the police were either being way beyond stupid, or very clever. That is likely some of what inspired the police to break out the guns (the Molotov cocktail were likely the prime motivator), and the guns seemed to be the turning point against the Pres.
In reply to aircooled:
The square was occupied by the protesters for 3 months prior to this. The more impressive thing is that there is no looting, and the demonstrators themselves are now guarding things.
It strikes me that the Ukranians have something to be legitimately concerned about, while the Occupy Wall Streeters were just kinda looking for something to bitch about.
What, you mean corruption of government by monetary gain?
I'm not real up to date on the whole thing, but I'm pretty sure the protests started over the ousted presidents desire to tie himself and the country up even closer to Russia. The folks who remember Mr Gorbachev and the struggles to separate themselves from the USSR did not like that idea one little bit.
The protests started back in November when the president tossed out the EU association agreement that had been months/years in the works. The first protests were mainly students who wanted Ukraine to join the European Union. The protests went on for quite a while but were fizzling out by Christmas time. (This is in Kiev by the way) The president wanted the Maidan Square cleared of students so he could put up his big Christmas Tree, so he called the riot police. This is what escalated it, it had been totally peaceful until now. The police were attacking Ukraine's own people (mainly young students), and this is where everyone else joined in to defend their kids and their fellow citizens. In response to the increased protest the President passed laws outlawing protests, and other such laws like "no helmets allowed at protests." These have since been rolled back.
Then on Feb 21 Ukrainian/Russian snipers were called in and were specifically shooting for the head, neck, and heart and 100s were killed over a couple days. Thats when E36 M3 really started blowing up.
This is a good article too. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/mar/20/fascism-russia-and-ukraine/?pagination=false
So did Russian military forces just invade Ukraine?
Also this video from Jalopnik is nuts:
http://jalopnik.com/this-helicopter-armada-in-ukraine-is-absolutely-terrify-1533287720
Seems like its getting extra serious over there.
How would you like to be the riot cop that winds up face to face with an angry Vitaly Klitschko? 
crankwalk wrote: So did Russian military forces just invade Ukraine?...
Wait for it. They apparently have already taken over some airports near Sevastapol (not officially of course) which they might be using to fly in troops etc.
Apparently they lease the ports there (historically a major USSR port city) to give them Black Sea and Mediterranean access, so there is already a pretty good presence there.
Seems likely Ukraine is soon to be split in two (at least). Putin's likely to do a bit of land grabbin'
This reminds me a lot of what I've read about Hungary's fight for independence in 1956. Started essentially the same way (students upset at the govt. and the Soviet's influence started protesting in the capitol city).
In Hungary it escalated to the point that civilians armed themselves and drove the Soviet forces out of Budapest. The Hungarians asked "the west" for help and when "the west" made it very apparent that they had no intention of stepping in, the Soviet army over-ran the Hungarians (who fell under Soviet rule until 1989).
It seems that Ukraine has more of "the west's" attention, but I wonder if we're seeing history repeat itself.
In reply to aircooled:
It was a large Russian Empire holding before the soviet union.........they won it from the turks long ago, and beat a British invasion there. 
Reports claim 90% of the people in the already autonomous Crimean area are Russian descent, so even if that area is annexed by Russia, chances are the people there are all for it anyways. An invasion of the Ukraine itself is a different story.
This whole thing is turning into a 500-pound bag of Not Good. 
Massive flounder on my part here... But I am going to do it anyway.. Since she was fiercely ridiculed for it..
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/sarah-palin-ukraine-russia-104110.html
Quote from 2008.
"After the Russian Army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama's reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence, the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin to invade Ukraine next."
ronholm wrote: Massive flounder on my part here... But I am going to do it anyway.. Since she was fiercely ridiculed for it.. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/sarah-palin-ukraine-russia-104110.html Quote from 2008. "After the Russian Army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama's reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence, the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin to invade Ukraine next."
Duh... You can remember to say anything if you write it on your hand.
ronholm wrote: Massive flounder on my part here... But I am going to do it anyway.. Since she was fiercely ridiculed for it.. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/sarah-palin-ukraine-russia-104110.html Quote from 2008. "After the Russian Army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama's reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence, the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin to invade Ukraine next."
And, of course, Tom Clancy predicted this years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvVZRwlwebo (For those who don't care to click, its the opening movie for the original Ghost Recon video game) The only thing I'm pretty sure he was wrong on is that the U.S. and NATO actually intervene to do anything about it.
Dang youre right. Tom Clancy you beast.
ronholm wrote: ...the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin to invade Ukraine next."
My question is: Exactly what measures do you think would prevent Putin from doing whatever he wants? Economic sanctions (I do not believe we have much trade with Russia). Get the toothless UN involved, which Russia has a veto of. Perhaps drops some bombs? Throw some troops in there?
For me, I'm f'n glad we didn't "get involved" just as I am very happy we did not "get involved" with Syria as some people seemed to be very certain we should.
We should have had some Marines in the Ukraine teaching them boys how to fight.
There are still some Americans who remember how to do it... and haven't been castrated by this kinder, friendlier, PC Army bullE36 M3.
Despite huge Russian numbers, and the piss poor media coverage... The Georgian Army, a good percentage of which was fighting along side us in IRAQ, delivered a pretty good beating to the Russians on their way down...
Just a small increase in the efforts we gave to support Georgia would have netted a very different result.
They gave us a lot with their efforts in Iraq.. and IMO, we left them a bit high and dry when the E36 M3 hit the fan.
All we needed to do was give Gen. Patton a few more gallons of gas and the world would be a much safer place right now...
Semper Fi!
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