Read this quick summary of events in Ukraine over the last 100 years.
There's certainly a culture of chaos.
Today, Pro-Russian forces are protesting in eastern Ukraine. Some protesting is the takeover of government buildings and police stations using violence.
Here is the perspective from The Voice of Russa: Crisis in Ukraine: tensions in the country's East continue, Live Updates (note the signs in the photo..."USA! EU! Your media lies!")
Here is the perspective from The Voice of America: "In Eastern Ukraine Anti-Russian Activists Emerge From Shadows"
Bottom line...Old habits die hard, and in the face of bad economic times and security concerns, for many going back to what they know must seem like the fastest and easiest road to relief...corruption, violence, protests, apathy, and overthrow.
Putin's fingerprints are all over the current crisis - he and his thugs are using the chaos to foment even more chaos until the people cry out for peace and quiet, which Putin will be quick to offer in the form of his increasingly regimented Soviet Union-like Russia. It's bad enough what he did in Crimea - just walking in and taking over - this is over the line, for sure.
And there's nothing we can do because Putin doesn't care about peaceful relations between the United States and Russia. I don't think he wants a war, but he's more willing to go right up to the line than the US is because his popularity in Russia increases when he asserts a strong and formidable Russia (sounds like the times when Reagan was running for President. His slogan was 'Morning in America'. USA was feeling battered and bruised from the 70's and Reagan promised a rebirth.)
Sadly, I think we have to be on the sidelines. Or, we have to be covert. Which I wouldn't be against.
As long as it's a really kick ass secret spy operation. Otherwise, it just makes us look bad.
Those are my thoughts on Ukraine today.
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