Ashez

Interesting how strong or weak Turkey will come out - any independent Kurdish state would be a disaster for Turkey, still they are unable to break US-Kurdish alliance. " The US-led international coalition against ISIS has “deliberately” deployed forces from the US army to Manbij in northern Syria, to “reassure” the Manbij Military Council (MMC), an ally of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and “deter aggression” against them, the spokesperson for the coalition said on Saturday. " Does it mean they are deployed to hold Turkey at bay?

Oh I do enjoy Haiduk's military reports too and never question them -I do not have separatist friends to verify his data.

I think you should ask Haiduk to get you passage to Ukraine. Amazing how much you all know without ever being there. Haiduk, btw: are you a member of right sector?

No you are just falling victim to Kremlin propaganda! He is surely Putin's bot. Russian hacked USA elections, hacked power plants, they even seduced your democrat daughters to vote on Trump. God I know what you think when bulb in your basement burns out... Nuland would be pretty pissed you give all the credit to Putin and blatantly try to depreciate her hard work and role in removal of democratically elected president. Bottom line is you should stop this mantra. It's getting old. Everyone pretty much knows your stance on this conflict, no need to reiterate.

'Want' and 'have' are different stories. I think you getting them would lead straight into Russian discovery of 'moderate' talibans and necessity of giving Houthis some better anti ship and anti air capabilities to fend off aggressors. Its ruined economy and poverty. Fixed. http://zik.ua/en/news/2016/11/23/ukraine_sinking_deeper_into_poverty__expert_996187

I will reply in private,

Pretty sad men. And I though he'd prove to be decent and apology...

Sorry, I do not understand. Can you tell me more? I don't know. You want me to give you all my keys?

I am CM player since the beginning on the company. Funny, because everything on this forum which is not military but politicaly related that is said by US or Canadian players on this forum produces unstoppable seizures of laughter for everyone closer to Russia. You try to build impression or Russia using your own standards. Russia in anachronic in many ways but trying to compare it by own social or economical standards is a pure folly and must bring false results, It is same as trying to compare Saudi Arabia chances in 1vs1 confrontation against Iran. And I don't contempt West. I just warn you are far off in your estimations. I do contempt hypocrisy. And your government mastered it to perfection long before Russians learnt it.

Now you try to offend me again? Ar you a kind local jester? How old are you? In case you haven't followed your own elections let me remind you that west and east coast USA is not the same USA as the rest. Don't even make me start on inequalities between rich and poor or just black and white. One act of solidarity during terrorist attack is irrelevant.

I really think you underestimate Russian resilience. The dependencies are mutual, half of Europe depends on Russian natural gas. Economic crisis would be world wide, it would all boil down to question if you can feed your people and keep alive as many as possible. I am sure Russia would survive limited nuclear exchange as a state easily, people in Russia can swallow a lot. USA however would not. All tensions -racial, regional and others -supressed by authorities during the peace time would make the country implode. USA is the single western country where during one natural disaster the rest of the world could see pictures of gangs shooting police helicopters. People in Russia are tougher. It is really hard to break them. You can hurt them but not break. This is why any serious Russian 'opposition' matters only in western media. One more thing about Russian leadership: Putin is predictable. He lies but no more than US dep.of state or so called 'intelligence community'. Russian diplomacy is predictable and respected by everyone outside transatlantic area. I would fear what happens when Putin is out. With Shoigu you may have Russian hawks in power and probable war. And they will not ignore McCain or Graham's insane mumblings, warmongering and hostility.

OK. Things go really nasty - no matter how and who was responsible for escalation. Russia goes nuclear and drops just 2 nukes. One on Warsaw, one on Vilnius. Many people fear USA is the only NATO country that would be ready to do anything other than talk or condemn. NATO can easily draw EE countries into conflict, test where the red line is and then step back.

Again, it is a pure political fiction. And please don't throw Poland and the Baltic States into the same bag, Poland doesn't have Russian minority and the only people that speak Russian in Poland are Ukrainian migrants and students. Poland feels nervous about Russia since always so nothing new here - with politicians being most nervous - as usually. I think only Baltic States may have some legitimate concerns, though military action is unlikely. Belarus is out of question, any influence attempts by NATO countries are likely to provoke war. Don't get fooled by Lukashenko's maneuevers -almost no Belarus citizen would ever act against Russians. Some other concern of eastern europe's NATO countries is fear of a potential local small scale nuclear attack - many people in Poland are convinced NOONE in NATO except USA would ever react in other way than starting immediate de-escalating negotiations.

Sure, as many post colonial laws, where strong enforced their will upon the weak. $7,000,000 a year is much? Are you kidding me? Lease of that part of the land should be worth 100 times that amount. I guess Iraq should be happy about the big fortified US compound in the middle of Baghdad due to how it stimulates their economy too? Not only rock solid legally but even established in accordance with their constitution. Too bad you wrote it. Back to Guantanamo: Platt Amendment was nothing but an instrument designed to control, occupy and exploit Cuba. Legally rock solid - by the standards you set. John, it is pointless to go case by case throughout all the history. All I wanted to show USA is not even a tiny bit above Russia on morality ladder despite what you all claim. Even if you forget all other things, just remember 'Iraqi Freedom". The whole anger about Russia comes from the fact they did what US plannists did not expect. All US government and media propaganda and often hysteria is on borderline with sheer absurd. Don't be like Jen Psaki. BTW: Your new president would agree. O’Reilly told Trump that Putin is a killer. Trump’s reply: ‘You think our country is so innocent?’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/02/04/oreilly-told-trump-that-putin-is-a-killer-trumps-reply-you-think-our-countrys-so-innocent/?utm_term=.815b16c4396e

Sure....Russian majority had to be pointed with guns to vote for joining Russia:-) Especially concerning the average salary gap...*sigh*

I just show NATO double standards. Kosovo (Albanian majority) independence = GOOD. Crimea (Russian majority) = BAD To be honest every land grab is bad, but borders are not set in stone, never were and never will be. Just look at Guantanamo. It has NOTHING in common with a fair deal, lease 'agreement' was forced on Cuba by USA. This is just occupation. You can't just accuse others of what you have been doing yourself since forever.

if you are not aware that NATO stole a piece of historical Serbian heartland to create Albanian enclave there (and NATO base of course), you have some serious modern history...deficiencies.

Oh you overlooked one detail. Russia does it when large Russian ethnic population is involved, in russian - speaking countries and having a long standing economical or political ties with Russia. USA does it all the time regardless of the place on earth.

I quoted latest Gallup poll, you must have overlooked it, and it shows that NATO support in Ukraine is going down again. http://www.gallup.com/poll/203819/nato-members-eastern-europe-protection.aspx?g_source=World&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles Of course Russia annexed Crimea (exactly as NATO took Kosovo) but Russian action (though probably pre-planned) was reactive in nature. And to be honest: if NATO soldier would ever step his foot on Crimea, the Russian leader who allowed it would be portrayed as the worst ever in Russia's long history. Crimea is just too important.

So. Have you decided to offend me because I breached your alleged 'morality advantage'? Because constant meddling in sovereign countries' internal issues is NOT what USA usually does? Or because your own government fuels Saudi genocide in Yemen while Fallon and Johnson speak out their anti- russian catchphrases? Is this forum 'NATO pov only' and everyone who questions its goals is a troll? BTW. War in Ukraine cannot be decided by military action, and there will be no full-scale russian offensive. Sorry to disappoint you transatlantic military fans. Anyone wants to bet?

No....it is plan to install a puppet prime minister in a foreign country discussed by two high ranking US officials. I am pretty confused if you don't see anything wrong about it. Oh. BTW, USA NEVER do it.:

NATO tanks wouldn't do the job. 5 bln $ invested by Nuland and Brennan certainly helped. And doesn't NATO follow US footsteps.? This is how Ukraine's fate was decided and the role USA played: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957 Just disregard naive journalist comments. It is a fact, not a theory. Fact. I gave you bbc source so you feel more comfortable. Not 'undisclosed source' quoted in WP. If you look for conspiracy theory, accusations without single proof, stick to other british media: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/19/montenegro-plot-shows-russias-urge-destroy-reject-imperial-fantasies/

Why? That 'propganda' explanation is a bad excuse. The fact is that NATO is one of the most (if not the most) aggresive military pacts in history with unprecedented military expenditures exceeding in total more than everyone else banded together. Ever expanding, with every year littering more and more countries with military bases. A military alliance in permanent state of war, from aggresion against Serbia and Kosovo land grab, through invading and ruining Iraq (and imposing artificial constitution that will soon make the country implode), invading Afghanistan, ruining Libya and supporting terrorists in Syria. Helping Ukrainians to remove their democratically elected president. And everything of this coupled with hypocrisy of politicians from manipulating own public opinion to outright lies - like in Iraq's case. Russian ship near US coast is 'BAD', US ship in the Black See is 'GOOD'. Russian planes are 'spying', US planes just 'gather intelligence'. Russian planes are 'provoking', US planes 'give a strong message'. Just read ANY US/BR media. The same bias. Daily. NATO is so powerful noone would attack it, and no NATO member was EVER attacked. NATO serves but one purpose: to further military agenda of its members. Why those people view NATO as threat? Not because of Putin's propaganda (what a silly concept that people do nothing but pursue only Putin's media sources)[to be honest Putin propaganda pales in comparison to anti-russian hysteria based on 'trusted sources', unconfirmed and fake news/allegiations displayed in US media]. They view it as threat because people don't want another regime change and civil war in their own country, they are afraid of being invaded and displaced for 'democracy' or because their ruler/dictator is not US own 'son of the bitch'. Russia has its own agenda and ambitions and traditionally its neighbours seek protection among Russia's enemies or just rivals. But they don't spam hundreds of their bases far away from home near US or Canada's borders. ************** "there is no logical way that NATO should be viewed as a threat to anyone" My God. 700.000 dead and displaced in Iraq only. Disfigured children born after depleted uranium extensive usage. Superimposed constitution. Weak government. Raise of IS.War upon war. What kind of hypocrisy and propaganda level it took to call it "Operation Iraqi Freedom"?

Sure thing. But majority of thread participants seem to be unaware of this fact. Time to educate them that Ukrainian citizen with different view is not necessarily a 'pro russian traitor' and there are many millions of them. May 2016? That poll is already old. NATO support is sliding down again and I agree with Gallup people in Ukraine are already tired. I guess they started to realize that war won't be over until Washington allows it. And after all those warlike vows from politicians noone wants to tell people Crimea is lost and not coming back in foreseeable future. They are country citizens, they can still vote. They are not 'potato beetles' (like you call separatists) you can't just shut them down. Sure now when they are free they must watch Poroshenko's own TV channel :-)

With all respect, I meant no offence. This thought provoking idea behind the picture was counterbalance to other profile pictures I saw here freely mocking the head of other country. And hearing some politicians and journalists I know where it is coming from. If Putin deserves a place at someone's avatar so certainly Obama does - means employed by both were a bit different but they strived to achieve similar results-enforce their will on weaker countries and project power. Both of them are responsible or co-responsible for thousands dead and several hundred thousand displaced. It is a shame only president of one country got all the attention. That said, if you feel personally offended I can remove that picture for now.