Sarah Palin Was Right

Palin On Ukraine: I Told You So -- CNN

(CNN) - Sarah Palin may be having a bragging rights moment.

In 2008, when she was the GOP vice presidential nominee, Palin questioned in a speech whether then-Sen. Barack Obama would have the foreign policy credentials to handle a scenario in which Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.

"After the Russian army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama's reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence – the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin to invade Ukraine next," she said in Reno, Nevada on October 21, 2008.

Read more ....

My Comment: And the Washington political - media establishment told us that she was the stupid one.

Breaking News: Pro-Russian Demonstrations And Riots Are Breaking Out In South And Eastern Ukraine

Armed servicemen wait near Russian army vehicles outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava March 1, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Baz Ratner

WNU Editor: The AP is now reporting that pro-Russian demonstrations have broken out in major cities in eastern and southern Ukraine. I can confirm this from my relatives who live in Donetsk and in Kharkiv (Kharkiv is worrisome .... the Russian and Ukrainian population is evenly split).

Sabra Ayres's analysis (yesterday) for the Christian Science Monitor .... Is it too late for Kiev to woo Russian-speaking Ukraine? .... is spot on in pointing out that the new government in Kiev has lost support in the Russian speaking community in the south and eastern parts of the country.

The below video shows the Russian flag replacing Ukrainian flag in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

BREAKING NEWS: Russia's Parliament Has Approved President Putin's Request To Use Military Force Against Ukraine

Russian Parliament Approves Use Of Force In Crimea -- The Hindu/Agencies

Russia’s Upper House of Parliament on Saturday approved the use of armed forces in Ukraine’s Crimea, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the Federation Council to approve the use of armed forces in the Crimea “until the normalisation of the socio-political situation in that country.”

Russian lawmakers had urged Mr. Putin to take measures to stabilise the situation in Crimea and protect the Russian-majority population.

Read More ....

Update: Russia could send troops to Crimea: upper house speaker -- AFP

My Comment: This now all but guarantees a massive Russian military incursion into Ukraine. The only question that now needs to be answered is .... is Crimea the only region that will be flooded with Russian forces, and if not .... where will these soldiers stop.

Russian President Putin Asks Parliament To Use Military Force Against Ukraine

Putin Asks Parliament to Approve Military Action in Ukraine -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 1 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has requested approval from the country’s upper house of parliament to move armed forces into Ukraine, according to the Kremlin’s press service.

The move comes after reports of large Russian troop movements in the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, and a week after the opposition swept to power in Kiev when President Viktor Yanukovych suddenly left the city.

Read more ....

More News On Russian President Putin Asking The Russian Parliament To Use Military Force Against Ukraine

Ukraine turmoil LIVE UPDATES -- RT
Putin asks parliament for the right to use Russian military against Ukraine - live updates -- The Guardian
Ukraine live: Putin submits proposal to parliament on sending troops into Crimea -- The Telegraph
Ukraine Live Blog -- Al Jazeera

Putin requests senators’ approval to send troops to Crimea -- RT
Putin seeks Ukraine troop deployment -- BBC
Putin Asks to Deploy Troops in Ukraine -- Wall Street Journal
Putin seeks permission to use Russian military in Crimea -- FOX News
Putin Asks Russia’s Senate to Use Military Force in Ukraine -- New York Times
Putin calls for use of troops in Ukraine -- CNN
Putin proposes to send Russian armed forces to Ukraine -- Reuters
Putin Set To Send Russian Military Into Ukraine -- Time
Putin asks parliament's approval to use Russian troops in Ukraine -- AFP

Ukraine crisis: Crimea leader appeals to Putin for help -- BBC
Crimean leader asks Putin for help -- The Telegraph
Crimean Leader Appeals to Putin, Confirms Russian Troop Presence -- RIA Novosti
Pro-Russian leader in Crimea asks Putin for help -- CBS
Pro-Russia leader of Crimea claims military control, appeals to Putin for assistance -- Washington Post

Amid Escalation Fears, Russia Says Kiev Sent Fighters to Crimea -- RIA Novosti
Russian Lawmakers Urge Putin to Help Crimea -- ABC News
Russian Parliamentarians Call on Putin to Act in Crimea -- RIA Novosti
Russian 'invasion' of Crimea fuels fear of Ukraine conflict -- The Guardian
Crimea crisis: threat of full-scale Russian intervention mounts -- The Guardian
Ukraine crisis in maps -- BBC

WNU In China July, 1988

Russian President Putin Is Holding All The Cards On Ukraine

On Ukraine, Putin Holds All The Cards And Dictates The Timetable -- Haaretz

If Russia invades Ukraine, the timing may be determined by the situation on the ground in Moscow more than the streets of Kiev and Simferopol.

When will we know the Russians have invaded Ukraine? We won’t. Unlike the summer of 2008 when paratroop brigades crossed the border into Georgia’s sovereign territory under the pretext of aiding the Ossetian minority, marines of the Russian Black Sea Fleet are already stationed on Ukrainian soil. The agreement between the two countries not only allows warships to be based at the port of Sevastopol, but also for Russian military vehicles to traverse the Crimean peninsula.

Read more ....

My Comment: Putin's most important card is economic. Ukraine is facing default now .... while Russia can just bide it's time. But Russia will need to be careful in not overplaying this hand .... a worst case scenario of Ukraine becoming a "failed state" will have long term implications on Russia .... and none of it good.

My Analysis On Today's Remarks By President Obama On Russian Intervention In Ukraine

WNU Editor: I am underwhelmed by this speech .... and I have zero confidence in President Obama's assurances and promises. Bottom line .... there is no U.S. strategy, no U.S. vision, no U.S. direction, no U.S. leadership, and definitely no White House desire to get involved in Ukraine .... a viewpoint that is probably shared by about 90% of the U.S. population.

Update: Charles Krauthammer's comments on President Obama's speech on Ukraine are spot on.

Update Saturday 1:00 EST: I am watching Russian TV (I speak Russian), and the commentators are mocking President Obama's remarks. Sighhh .... this is not good.

Update #2: Obama's threats to Russia are empty: expert -- Josh Rogin, New York Daily News

President Obama Issues A Warning To Russia To Not Intervene In Ukraine

Obama Warns Russia Of 'Costs' For Intervention In Ukraine -- Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned Russia on Friday that military intervention in Ukraine would lead to "costs," as tension with old foe President Vladimir Putin rose in a Cold War-style crisis.

"We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine," he told reporters.

Obama and European leaders would consider skipping a G8 summit this summer in the Russian city of Sochi if Moscow intervenes militarily in Ukraine, a senior U.S. official said. The G8 includes the world's seven leading industrial nations and Russia.

Read more ....

More News On President Obama Issuing A Warning To Russia To Not Intervene In Ukraine

Obama warns Russia of 'costs' in Ukraine -- AP
President Obama blunt in warning Russia not to intervene in Ukraine -- L.A. Times
Ukraine crisis: Obama warns Russia against intervention -- BBC
Barack Obama warns Russia against any military intervention in Ukraine -- The Guardian
Obama warns Russia: There will be costs to any military intervention in the Ukraine -- Haaretz/Reuters/AP
Obama: 'There will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine' -- CNN
President Obama warns Russia to stay out of Ukraine or face 'costs' for military intervention -- New York Daily News
Obama warns against intervention as Russian troops move in Crimea -- CBS
Reports of Russian military activity in Crimea prompts stern warning from Obama -- Washington Post
Obama expresses deep concern on Ukraine, may skip G8 summit -- AFP
Putin Might Face G-8 Boycott as Obama Warns Russia on Ukraine -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Obama may cancel Russia trip amid Ukraine crisis -- The Hindu/AP

BREAKING NEWS: Russian Military Forces And Russian Military Contractors Are On The Move In Crimea.

Ukraine's Fury As Russia Sends Troops Into Crimea: Gunmen Take Over Airports And Surround Border Post -- Daily Mail

* U.S. and Britain have held crisis phone calls with Russian President Putin
* Told him not to intervene in Ukraine's Crimea as tensions in region rise
* Today 10 Russian helicopters flew into Crimea airspace, reports suggest
* Servicemen blockading port city of Secastopol, Kiev border guard claims
* Country's new interior minister branded the act an 'armed invasion'
* 2,000 troops are private security hired by Russian military, reports suggest
* 'The U.S. is deeply concerned about Russian military movements' - Obama
* President warned 'there will be costs' for military intervention in Ukraine
* Comes as UK and U.S warn citizens against all travel to Crimea

Ukraine accused Russia of an ‘armed invasion and occupation’ in Crimea yesterday as it was claimed 2,000 troops had been flown into the region.

The military moves, which saw access blocked to two major airports and the taking over of a border post, came as ousted president Viktor Yanukovych appeared in public for the first time since he fled from Ukraine to Russia.

The 63-year-old claimed he had been forced from power by ‘nationalist, pro-fascist gangsters’.

Read more ....

More News On The Rising Tensions In Ukraine

Ukraine latest - The invasion begins: armed Russian-speaking gunmen with Crimea in their grip as Barack Obama warns Moscow -- The Independent
Ukraine: Night Wolves and unidentified military men seize key Crimea sites -- The Guardian
Ukraine accuses Russia of deploying troops in Crimea -- BBC
Russia tightens grip on Crimea despite Obama’s warnings -- The Australian/AFP
Russians Enter Crimea with Planes, Helicopters, Troops -- NBC
Russia says Crimea deployments based on agreements with Ukraine -- Reuters
Russia interested in Ukraine stability, acts within existing agreements – UN envoy -- RT
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Invading Crimea as West Reacts -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Ukraine accuses Russia of invading Crimea -- AL Jazeera
Ukraine's Acting President Tells Putin to Stop 'Provocations' in Crimea -- Voice of America
Russian 'invasion' of Crimea fuels fear of Ukraine conflict -- The Guardian
Russian stealth in Crimea leaves ethnic Tatars, Ukrainians on verge of panic -- Toronto Star

My Comment: This is a "limited invasion" .... and a test for the new Ukrainian government. This military grab is also an unwanted distraction for the new Ukrainian government .... they are on the brink of default and the last thing that they need right now are fears of war while they are negotiating financial assistance from international lenders.

Russian Military Contractors (Not The Military) Are Rumored To Be The Ones Who Have Taken Over Two Airports In Crimea

Exclusive: Russian ‘Blackwater’ Takes Over Ukraine Airport -- Josh Rogin, Daily Beast

The troops who have taken over two airports in Crimea are not Russian military, but they could be security contractors working for the Russian military, and they are there to stay.

Private security contractors working for the Russian military are the unmarked troops who have now seized control over two airports in the Ukrainian province of Crimea, according to informed sources in the region. And those contractors could be setting the stage for ousted President Viktor Yanukovich to come to the breakaway region.

The new Ukrainian government in Kiev has accused Moscow of “an armed invasion and occupation” in the Crimean cities of Simferopol and Sevastopol, where well-armed and well-organized troops with no markings or identification have taken control of the airports. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Secretary of State John Kerry over the phone Friday that no Russian military or marines have been deployed outside of the base of the Black Sea Fleet, which is anchored nearby, officials in both governments said.

Read more ....

My Comment: I concur with this analysis. Those uniforms are not standard Russian military issue. My cousin's son .... who had just finished his tour in the Russian military .... has just told me that Russian Special Forces do have uniforms that look like that, but he thinks that those men are contractors. In fact .... when you look at some of the videos, some of these "soldiers" are too fat for their uniforms (definitely not special forces). But this is all semantics. Everyone knows that these "contractors" are employed by Moscow .... and their masters reside in the Kremlin.