Speaking today on state television, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shogu announced additional military deployments along the nation’s southwestern flank with NATO, including the deployment of more air defense systems and ground troops into the Northern Caucasus, and additional troops into the Crimea.
Technically, Russia’s territory in the Northern Caucasus doesn’t border NATO, but is relatively close to Turkey, and has a substantial border with Georgia, which has NATO ambitions. Both Russia and NATO have been escalating deployments on their frontier in Europe, particularly in the Baltics, and this looks to be an extension of that.
The force in Crimea is in a similar state, bordering Ukraine, which also seeks to join NATO. Both Ukraine and Georgia are unlikely to successfully join NATO, however, as each has extent territorial disputes with Russia which would need to be resolved first. In Ukraine’s case, the dispute is over Crimea, which during Ukraine’s regime change in early 2014 voted to secede, seeking and gaining accession into the Russian Federation.
Shogu says the troops in Crimea are now “self-sufficient,” no longer needing direct support from the Russian mainland to operate. The US State Department responded to his announced deployments by insisting Crimea “is and always will remain part of Ukraine,” accusing Russia of occupying it militarily.
The overt comments from the US and the rest of NATO about their opposition to Crimea’s status is likely a big part of the reason for additional deployments, as Ukraine itself, despite constantly predicting WW3 with Russia, has no real capability to contest control over the peninsula.
We are certainly sending lawyers, guns and money to both Ukraine and Georgia. Seems like Ukraine is now up over $1 billion of US taxpayer dollars, plus of course more $$, weapons and ammo through other NATO countries (like Poland), and billions more routed through the IMF. And, this is along with elite troops as ‘trainers’ (from Vietnam to Iraq we know what that means …. usually they are involved in combat). Georgia has started one war with Russia already, and Ukraine has certainly been trying. So, I wouldn’t harp too much on whether the NATO website does or does not officially list either as members.
We support Ukraine and Georgia because they are democracies. Russia is attacking them for the same reason. IF Russia were a democracy, it would not be afraid of them.
Why do you lefties take without a grain of salt statements by a corrupt, self-interested promoter of the Kremlin. Shoigu is not a patriot. He is slime that has risen to the top of the pond.
More troops are headed to the North Caucasus to subdue an incipient rebellion by national groups who have been and are being systematically turned into colonies of an aggressive Great RUSSIAN nationalist empire. It’s the only way Russians know how to govern.
Nice to see the US state department chiming in with their typical lying bullshit paid for with MY tax dollars. We can always count on you government trolls to waste precious natural resources on bullshit while our country falls apart and our politicians sell it piece-by-piece to the highest bidder…
Hardly. I am very happy in the private sector.
You probably pay no taxes. Like all broke-ass hippies.
Read something besides Noam Chomsky. You might learn something.
“Hardly. I am very happy in the private sector.”
So the state department hires contractors to get out of paying for benefits now, huh? Must suck for you to be so disposable to your masters.
“You probably pay no taxes. Like all broke-ass hippies.”
Yawn. Not even fresh talking points, these are straight out of the 90s. Considering how the feds still use 3.5″ floppy discs to handle ICBM fire control that sounds just about right for your level of government douchery.
“Read something besides Noam Chomsky. You might learn something.”
The only people who read Chomsky are bed wetting Momma’s boys collecting government troll checks while posting from their Mommy’s basement like yourself. I don’t follow controlled opposition pogue boys like you do…
The State Department spent 5 billion Dollars to organize the coup in Ukraine. Who is aggressive ? Of course, Crimea didn’t want to be governed by a coup government. They had an elected government ! Democracy is not something the US wants or promotes. 648 missiles in Romania and Poland to defend us from Iran. As you know Iran doesn’t have A-bombs or long range missiles. Stupid bloody suicidal fools in Washington. Ukraine in NATO ? Do they really want war with Russia ? What’s the matter with the crazy suicidal fools in Washington ?
Bullshit.
Meanwhile, Trump would make the US/NATO officially recognize Crimea as part of the Russian Federation, and lift sanctions !
Jul 19, 2016 – Putin: We are not anti-American, but we oppose American neocon imperialism
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there is “respect and love” between Russia and the US, with particular admiration for the American people, emphasizing that Russia does not engage in anti-Americanism, while being interviewed by Swiss channel RTS, in St Peterburg.
https://youtu.be/B4-q63CVnk0
Of course he did. Why do you believe him, though?
I am informed! “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” James Madison
Mar 27, 2016 Paul Craig Roberts-Neoconservatives Driving World to War
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts has a new book out titled “The Neoconservative Threat To World Order.” In it, he talks about the dreadful shape of the global economy and how war might be forced on the world. Dr. Roberts, who is also a former Assistant Treasury Secretary, says, “The Neoconservative ideology is American world hegemony . . . this means you have to subdue the others, and this includes Russia and China.
https://youtu.be/2h16V_cOHOc
Delusion is not knowledge. There are no neoconservatives in the incoming Clinton administration.
You really need to explore this vast world known as the internet by researching anything and everything.
Here is a read for you! Jun 29, 2016 Neoconservatives Endorse Hillary Clinton for President Because They Know She’s One of Them
Neoconservatives like Iraq warmonger Robert Kagan aren’t endorsing Hillary Clinton for president merely because they want rid of Donald Trump, but because she’s one of them, writes Trevor Timm at The Guardian.
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/neoconservatives_endorse_hillary_clinton_for_president_because_they_know_sh/
What some lefty hack in England has to say about US foreign policy or its electoral politics is not especially compelling to me. Look at what they’ve done to the Labor party.
Clinton is reaching across the center to bring in national security-minded Republicans because Trump is manifestly unfit by temperament, knowledge or experience to grapple with these existential issues.
What the hippies think about that is of no concern to me, or to the vast majority of voters in the US.
Just as suspected a stone thrower. Good luck with yourself imposed limits and boundaries!
Hardly. I have advanced degrees in international politics and Russian studies and 20 years working in Eastern Europe.
Putin’s Kremlin must be confronted in order to achieve a peace that protects the sovereignty of the democratic states that are its neighbors.
That sovereignty is constantly threatened by Great Russian imperialism, which is the operative principal in that country’s foreign policy.
Will Europe really commit suicide, just to please America?