US to help Georgia boost its defenses

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — In the face of growing aggression by Russia, the United States and Georgia moved Sunday to expand their defense relationship — including the possible sale of U.S. Black Hawk helicopters to the former Soviet bloc nation at the crossroads of eastern Europe and Asia.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to annex the Crimea region of Ukraine has further isolated Moscow.

"It has done a tremendous amount to coalesce NATO and Europe to come together recognizing what President Putin's actions have wrought, the danger that that represents to all of Europe," Hagel said during a press conference with Georgia's defense minister.

Ukraine and Russia signed a cease-fire two days ago, but there have been explosions near the airport in Donetsk, raising concerns the agreement may be on the verge of collapse.

FULL story at link.



Russian President Vladimir Putin waves to people in the city of Gorno-Altaisk, Siberia, Russia on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service)



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140907/eu-united-states-georgia-b6f38c57f9.html

[otohara]

1. Another Guns Everywhere Georgia

Weapons R. USa

[FairWinds]

2. As the U.S. Empire expands eastward, seemingly inexorably . .

I can't help but recall historian Gwynne Dyer's analysis
of the looming world war in the 260's BC
between the Roman and Carthaginian empires,
"The potential for war became the reason for war."

[newthinking]

3. I keep looking for any actual evidence that Putin intends what the narrative says

and I have yet to see any.
Russia's actions have either been somewhat defensive or interest based reacting to the west's moves.

It seems to me that the evidence is in the other direction; that we are continuing the path setup in the neocon PNAC documents during the Bush administration. Expanding our capabilities and economic interests (well, really our oligarchs interests).

[hack89]

4. So the west made Putin annex Crimea? Didn't know that. nt

[newthinking]

5. I have said this many times. History not narrative. Crimea was ANNEXED by UKRAINE not the lie you

hear.

The events in May simply restored the will of the people there.

Here is the actual history. Look it up and then back up your claim against it.

*When the USSR was discussing the breakup Crimea fought against being Ukraine and wanted to stay with Russia.
*This was recognized and the compromise was the "Autonomous Republic of Crimea" with it;s OWN CONSTITUTION and it's own Parliament. Sevastopol was a "Federal City" (like DC) with further autonomy from Kiev.

*During the depression/Mafia years, Ukraine replaced the Crimean Constitution (corruption) effectively annexing Crimea fully and removing it's independence. This was against the will of the Crimean government and the Crimean people. They were unhappy but there was little they could do during this time about it.


Regardless of Russia securing the Republic of Crimea (which the Crimean Parliment Requested), what happened there makes perfect sense.

The narrative is contentious because it does not reflect history. Once you understand Crimea's history many things become clearer.

Such as the two options in the referendum: One was to return Crimea's status to the original constitution.

It was the situation that drove the population to select Russia over the original constitution. That was unfortunate and the blame is clearly with the coup and Ukriane. If the coup had not occurred people may have felt different. If Ukraine had not marginalized and left Crimea's constitution alone then there would have been no need to declare anything, they could have effectively protected and governed themselves autonomously until things calmed down.