US marines have landed into Crimean port of Feodosia

[banana republican]

In the night on May 28-29, uploading of military transport Adventure Vessel began in port of Feodosia. The vessel brought to Crimean peninsula marines platoon, transport, light armament and other equipment. In such way, preparation of planned ‘Sea breeze – 2006’maneuvres began, which are to be conducted in summer 2006. 40 countries are invited to take part in them.

As REGNUM earlier reported, Crimean inhabitants were blocking gate of Feodosia sea port during 48h, including the night time, protesting against uploading of the US military vessel. Observing the uploading, local residents held a spontaneous rally. They were exasperated by facts that they did not know anything about aims of the Americans’ visit, as well as that the foreign troops arrived without a permission by the Supreme Rada. “Of course, there is no Ukrainian Supreme Rada’s permission for the NATO vessel to visit port of Feodosia. But, in accordance with the Ukrainian constitution, it must have been. I do not exclude, that ‘orange’ forces have promptly postponed Supreme Rada’s session for July 7 also in order that the Supreme Rada could not react, hinder NATO plans in Crimea,” Chairman of Ukrainian Orthodox Believers Valery Kaurov said to a REGNUM correspondent.

http://www.regnum.ru/english/647867.html

[existentialist]

1. Holy shit.

Are we going to be doing nation building in the Ukraine too?

Good thing that Bush and the neocons hate nation building so much, isn't it?

[Marie26]

3. Or Iran.

Which is just a hop & a skip away from the Black Sea. If Turkey gives them clearance, they could invade that way. OR maybe it's nothing at all.

[beam me up scottie]

2. Any nation who hosts American forces now might as well paint a bullseye on

themselves.

There are many different reasons for not wanting us in their backyard, but that would be right at the top of my list.

[Igel]

4. Uploading?

"Offloading" -- разгрузка.

Sounds like routine wargames.

As for Constitution:
85. The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine comprises: ...
23. approving decisions on providing military assistance to other states, on sending units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to another state, or on admitting units of armed forces of other states on to the territory of Ukraine; ...

I can only wonder about the 'oranzhevye' comment. Possible, but must be local politics (which would also account for Kaurov's seemingly strange approval of the NATO plans).

Politics in the Crimea ... too many partial reversals to follow since 1991.

[Vidar]

5. Recreating the "Charge of the Light Brigade"?

[LostinVA]

12. First thing I thought of... then Gallipoli...

[legin]

6. This has happened before in 1997 (at least)

Ships from five countries, including the United States, arrived at Ukraine's Crimean peninsula on 25 August 1997 to take part in naval exercises opposed by Moscow. The exercise in Ukraine was the first PFP exercise to be held on the former Soviets' base ever. In other words, the first in an area that was once part of the Soviet Union.

The ships from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and the United States arrived at Donuzlav naval base in western Crimea. Russia, whose Black Sea fleet is based nearby in the port of Sevastopol, rejected an invitation from Ukraine's Defense Ministry to take part in the Sea Breeze 97 exercises, but agreed to send observers. The exercise simulated a humanitarian mission, not the originally-planned combat operation. But the maneuvers annoyed regional power Russia, which bases its Black Sea fleet nearby. The Russians boycotted Sea Breeze 97 because they considered the original scenario -- NATO forces assisting Ukraine to counter armed separatists -- to be provocative.

(more...)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/sea-breeze.htm

[legin]

7. I can't help thinking this is intended to piss the Russians off n/t

.

[Swede]

9. I agree.

But what does pissing off Putin accomplish?

[legin]

10. Could be it's intended to make Putin look weak ???

The Russian military leadership could be saying:
"look at the u.s. struting around in our backyard, and what does Putin do about it ? Nothing that's what..etc.. etc.."

It's a guess.

:shrug:

[Swede]

11. But Bush needs all the allies he can get.

With Putin on his side in Iran etc.

[cantstandbush]

18. Might backfire and make Russian more unified. Gather more allies.

The US is fast becoming the pariah among nations and soon many will be distancing themselves from us. We are no longer the model democracy.

[legin]

8. There was a 'Sea Breeze 2001'

(mentioned in the article)

Could be a semi regular event, bit like a pop concert. Nice place for it too.

Still must annoy the Russians though.

[wordpix]

13. these BushCo chickenhawks love to parade their war toys worldwide while

creating chaos in Iraq. What a bunch of dangerous morons.

[gauguin57]

14. What year is this? 1950? 1960?

Just reading the title of the thread gave me the creepity creeps.

[Bormann]

15. from Russia

so you think Russia says nothing?

What do you really want from us????
Yanky, GO HOME!!!
Eat your amburger!!!
We don't need your mamafuka marines or somethin!!!!

Get out from Russia and Ukraine!!!


______________________________________________
www.proff-design.com

[bushmeister0]

16. It's not an invasion, we're just there to build some stuff.

According to the Detroit News:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=7128

"HARRISON TOWNSHIP -- More than 200 Marines from Selfridge Air National Guard Base are among U.S. military personnel being targeted by protesters in the Ukraine on Friday, base officials said.

The marine reservists are working in Simferopol, a city near the Crimean Mountains in the southernmost portion of the country. They are there as part of engineering project -- Seabreeze 2006 -- to help build structures for the Ukrainian government, according to a Selfridge spokesman.

Several media outlets Friday reported the troops were confined to a hotel due to protestors demonstrating outside."

See, they're just there to "build structures" for the Ukrainians, no biggie. You think they would be of more use in New Oreans! But, why do they need armered vehicles?

[whistle]

17. Beginning of Cheney's new war with Russia