Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell: If Putin Wanted To He Could Take A Third Of Ukraine

FORMER DEPUTY CIA DIRECTOR: If Putin Wanted To He Could Take A Third Of Ukraine -- Business Insider

Former CIA deputy director Michael Morell said Sunday that with the tens of thousands of troops Russia has amassed on the Ukrainian border, Russia could take "one-third" of Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin "wanted to."

"The capabilities of those troops would be to take perhaps a third of Ukraine if Putin wanted to, but it would be very difficult for him to hold," Morell said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday.

"What would happen very quickly is an insurgency would grow up and those troops would be attacked. It would be a very nasty situation. I don't think Putin wants that."

Morell said he believes Putin has built up the troop presence along the border to strengthen his hand in diplomatic negotiations, as any incursion into Ukraine would likely be met with a long, protracted, and bloody resistance. Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia, said last week further Russian escalation into eastern Ukraine could lead to years of guerrilla warfare.

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Update: Putin seeks diplomatic leverage with troop buildup, intel experts say -- CBS

My Comment: I would say that if they wanted to .... the Kremlin would be able to take even more than one third that is mentioned .... especially if the Ukrainian central government cannot get their political and economic act together. But for the moment everyone is adopting a wait and see position .... especially on who will be the victor when Ukraine holds it's elections in May,.