Some Sarcasm for the day

[Luck better Skill]

  I want to get a jump on others with my predictions on the Crimean vote to increase my odds of lucrative book deals and paid interviews on my ability to predict the events.

<insert sarcasm>

  Europe and USA enact an embargo on Russia.  Russia counters with its on embargo, mostly oil to Europe. 
  The duct tape/silly putty breaks causing the EU to collapse.  The fallout in the financial markets pulls USA, Japan, Russia and China down, not as bad as Europe but pretty rough.
  The Non-Proliferation Nuclear Weapons Treaty is abandoned after the failure to protect Ukraine.  Iran and North Korea embargoes are lifted. 
  Iran, China, and North Korea start exporting nukes to nations wanting protection from aggressive neighbors.
  Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and the Baltic States form a new alliance that proves to be the growing economic power of the world.

  So I need an agent to get my a $250K advance on the book and some interview spots.

<end Sarcasm>

 I will pay a 10, heck no 20 percent commission to the agent.

 
 
 
 

[Jamesqf]

  The Non-Proliferation Nuclear Weapons Treaty is abandoned after the failure to protect Ukraine.

How has it not protected the Ukraine?  The people in the Crimea have voted to leave the Ukraine and join Russia, exactly as the Ukraine chose to separate from Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.  Seems to me that the rest of the world should just see that the transition is orderly & peaceful, and otherwise butt out.

[Luck better Skill]

  Crimea would likely have left the Ukraine, but when done at Russian gunpoint with pro Ukrainian protestors suppressed hard not to call it a rigged vote.  Had the vote taken place with neutral observers then I can support your argument.
  The treaty Ukraine signed when giving up their nuclear weapons promised the sovereignty of Ukraine, which includes their territory/land.  If Russian can annex part of the country I cannot see how we protected under the treaty.  By taking sanctions we will have honored the letter of the treaty.  Which is a peaceful action (non-troop commitment) enabling the USA to keep credibility.
   
 

[GuitarStv]

How has it not protected the Ukraine?  The people in the Crimea have voted to leave the Ukraine and join Russia, exactly as the Ukraine chose to separate from Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.  Seems to me that the rest of the world should just see that the transition is orderly & peaceful, and otherwise butt out.

Well, the outcome of that vote is a bit suspect.  96.8% for joining Russia . . . when about 40% of the area is historically somewhat to very anti-Russian?  Many polling stations were surrounded by Russian soldiers, and most of the Crimean Tatars didn't vote out of fear.

[Jamesqf]

Well, the outcome of that vote is a bit suspect.  96.8% for joining Russia . . . when about 40% of the area is historically somewhat to very anti-Russian?  Many polling stations were surrounded by Russian soldiers, and most of the Crimean Tatars didn't vote out of fear.

So the appropriate reaction is to insist on a free election (which evidence strongly suggests would be in Russia's favor anyway), not go around saying that the Crimea can't possibly leave Ukraine.  And if they can't, then why could the South Sudan leave Sudan?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudan

[Luck better Skill]

  I am not saying the Crimea cannot leave, it is manor in which it happened.  This could be a blip in the history books or lynchpin event.
  Two possible unintended consequences of this are:  One - this could see the end of the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty;  Two - Europe has De facto endorsed separation by vote.  Both or neither consequence could happen but the separation of nations is likely.  There are several nations with separatist movements in them, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium.  I am sure Russia would be all to happy to recognize those new nations to help validate its actions.
  The political class ineptitude leaves them unable to do more than duct take European economic problems.  The Balkanisation of Europe will be interesting.  It will solve one set of economic problems and introduce another.

[Jamesqf]

Europe has De facto endorsed separation by vote.  Both or neither consequence could happen but the separation of nations is likely.  There are several nations with separatist movements in them, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium.

So what exactly is the problem with that, especially in the context of the EU?  After all, Czechoslovakia separated quite peacefully. 

[GuitarStv]

Well, the outcome of that vote is a bit suspect.  96.8% for joining Russia . . . when about 40% of the area is historically somewhat to very anti-Russian?  Many polling stations were surrounded by Russian soldiers, and most of the Crimean Tatars didn't vote out of fear.

So the appropriate reaction is to insist on a free election (which evidence strongly suggests would be in Russia's favor anyway)

Yes.  It's a pity that nobody's insisting on that.  Not surprising though, given the vote rigging / ballot box stuffing that Putin and members of Russian parliament are known to engage in.


I know what you're going to say next  . . .  "The voting's done, so Crimea river with your complaints."  It's just sad the way things turned out.

[Luck better Skill]

Europe has De facto endorsed separation by vote.  Both or neither consequence could happen but the separation of nations is likely.  There are several nations with separatist movements in them, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium.

So what exactly is the problem with that, especially in the context of the EU?  After all, Czechoslovakia separated quite peacefully. 

  Not a personal problem.  I am sure it will be better for the people of those nations/lands to have more influence and perhaps better governments.  It is the short term ripples in a fragile EU economy that concerns me.  The world will survive it, but I doubt most westerner have any idea the change that might happen.

[Luck better Skill]

Well, the outcome of that vote is a bit suspect.  96.8% for joining Russia . . . when about 40% of the area is historically somewhat to very anti-Russian?  Many polling stations were surrounded by Russian soldiers, and most of the Crimean Tatars didn't vote out of fear.

So the appropriate reaction is to insist on a free election (which evidence strongly suggests would be in Russia's favor anyway)

Yes.  It's a pity that nobody's insisting on that.  Not surprising though, given the vote rigging / ballot box stuffing that Putin and members of Russian parliament are known to engage in.


I know what you're going to say next  . . .  "The voting's done, so Crimea river with your complaints."  It's just sad the way things turned out.

  LOL, there is a possible fly in the ointment.  Ukraine is in disarray right now, but that does not mean they will agree to Crimea as a done deal.  I wonder if there is a Napoleon type personality who might come to power in Kiev.  That would be interesting times I would prefer not to see.  I still hope for a peaceful solution.