A cool conspiracy theory I just read online about The Ukraine...

[luckytxn 2,264]

Putin would never allow U.N. forces anywhere in the Ukraine. That would be all out war and the EU or the U.S. can bluster all they want but they can't win a war against Russia. Russia wins.

it should be a Ukraine decision, the international community should stay out of it...

the Ukraines in the north and Kiev want stronger ties to the EU, while the Ukraines near Crimean want stronger ties to Russia..

the protests and riots were all done in Kiev and the population who live there...

so if riots and protests start near Crimean, if they protest the new government... then what.???

Russian soldiers in southern Ukraine and UN forces in northern Ukraine.???

[luckytxn 2,264]

He will be all in. No one will risk a war with Russia. Everyone is all too weak now. Putin knows this and is going to take at least the Crimea and the rest of the Ukrane if any troops from anywhere go in. U.N. is impotent here.

Beyond that, Putin's backed into a corner here already. If he bends over on this, he's done politically in Russia. So unless he's thinking about retirement, if push comes to shove, he's going to be all in on this.

[Dakine10 5,452]

And if he goes all in, will the Western leaders be able to stand by, without losing all foreign policy credibility themselves?

I'm not sure. Which western leader has any credibility left to worry about?

I don't want to come off sounding like a Putin fan here because I'm not. He might be lacking in tact, but he is not lacking in credibility. If he's says he's going to kick your ###, we all know he's going to kick your ###. Which current western leader do we know of that Putin is scared to call their bluff. You have to hope Putin is scared of economic sanctions, cause that's all we're going to see.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Exactly. He also controls most of Europe"s fuel they need to survive. Sanctions would hurt him financially if they embargo the pipelines I guess but I can't see how Europe would survive long with no fuel.

I'm not sure. Which western leader has any credibility left to worry about?

I don't want to come off sounding like a Putin fan here because I'm not. He might be lacking in tact, but he is not lacking in credibility. If he's says he's going to kick your ####, we all know he's going to kick your ####. Which current western leader do we know of that Putin is scared to call their bluff. You have to hope Putin is scared of economic sanctions, cause that's all we're going to see.

[Pooky 3,791]

Exactly. He also controls most of Europe"s fuel they need to survive. Sanctions would hurt him financially if they embargo the pipelines I guess but I can't see how Europe would survive long with no fuel.

If the pro-EU Ukraine requests military assistance, can the West refuse?

Or could this be one great big plot by the US and Russia to sell American oil and gas in Europe, when the embargo on Russian oil goes into effect?

[luckytxn 2,264]

We are pulling out of the Middle East the last I looked. The west will bluster but not do anything. We know Obama can't do anything.

If the pro-EU Ukraine requests military assistance, can the West refuse?

Or could this be one great big plot by the US and Russia to sell American oil and gas in Europe, when the embargo on Russian oil goes into effect?