Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Latest Minsk Ceasefire
It hasn’t yet begun, but the markets are buoyant. Poroshenko apparently nearly walked out, but I assume 50 tanks, 40 missile systems, and 40 armored vehicles crossing into eastern Ukraine focused his mind wonderfully.
Let’s take a poll: Will it even be implemented? If so, how long will it hold? Place your bets, we’ll check again in a week!
Published in General
AIG, you know full well that a CAP would have been about more than just MiGs .. it’s academic, so, if your scenario doesn’t work, you’re going to have a lot of splainin’ to do – I think you might be selling it too hard.
AIG,
Apparently, you are so frightened of Vietnam & Iraq that no use of the American Military as a deterrent will ever be justified again. Ridiculous garbage. These are the Obama administration talking points that have brought us to this. When Ukraine is mutilated beyond recognition we will have lost all deterrent credibility. Which means when the inevitable full scale attack happens WW3 will be guaranteed.
The victim is halfway down the tiger’s throat and you are still manufacturing hopelessness.
Regards,
Jim
Claire –
it has just evolved like a dangerous virus does. We are only disagreeing about semantics and imagery as it seems. Yes, they are good, dangerously cunning and relentless at being evil, vile, base and undermining. As many here I have observed this, argued, and acted against this for a long time, repeatedly and whenever an opportunity avails itself. I have stressed this before, we need to sober up and face the opposition.
Kind regards from Tallinn.
Whilst I am sure that many will have seen the news alert already, the fall of Debaltseve, how it fell, and how Ukrainian command, politicians and we failed to act with logic and commitment is reflected here. I believe both reports merit a careful read rather than a brief scan.
A frustrated conflict reporter noted at 3:31 p.m. CET:
http://conflictreport.info/2015/02/17/fool-me-twice-russian-troops-take-large-parts-of-debaltseve/
Earlier today, but late to the action at 4:42 p.m. EET – KyivPost reported:
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/thousands-of-soldiers-endangered-in-debaltseve-pocket-380978.html
Reverting back to the initial poll as to the time the cease fire would hold:
It did not last a minute and its farcical make-up lost all coverage by now.
No, no, it’s lasting fine, and any place in which it’s not lasting doesn’t count. Meanwhile, you’ve heard about a bit of a dustup in Libya, I assume, and I’m trying to explain why it seems to me a bit of a waste to have the French military wandering around lost in Paris, given that we have a some much higher all-hands-on-deck situations–and these guys are not supposed to be for decoration.
I’m going to go have my fifteen minutes of wallowing in despair. I’ll be back.
No panic. We certainly live in much more interesting times with a lot more capabilities, know-how, and possibilities for us than our ancestors during the gruesome, cold, harsh, terrifying ’30 years war’ 1618 – 1648 prior to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution which shaped and still influences Europe today. We shall be blessed. Not despair required. Persistence, continuous communication in public, and unrelenting discussions with as many decision makers we can reach.
Pity that Carthage and its ruins can never be left alone, Tunisia and Libya are certainly one bridge too close to us. Unless my history fails me it will be a first that both Albion and Marianne will be on the same team as whoever leads Egypt’s armies. Glad that the U.S. navy certainly is strong and influential enough to rule the Med.
When you have a moment, have a quick look at the reprint of the article from the local Russian ‘Ekaterinburg Online’ (in English translation, if required I can dig up the original Russian) from Dec 26 on Kyiv Post, a Kiev domiciled online association with contributing papers and journalists. Note, EO is domiciled in Russia proper. The interview is just one of many comparable, some of which have in the meantime vanished from the web as they became too graphic. Putin’s operations include a wide net of instigators, some more closely, others more loosely connected.
https://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/head-of-sverdlovsk-special-forces-veterans-union-i-help-to-send-volunteers-to-war-in-ukraine-376160.html
Ukraine needs proper help. Not just materials. By now I am sick of all the fearsome voices. Deterrence starts by a show of force and if required punches.
Poland, Romania, France, Germany, Netherland can start. The Baltics need their troops but would be keen to go. Whether the battle hardened, but exhausted U.K. should and could before the election who knows, but then Cameron and Miliband might join up to actually defeat UKIP and the SNP with it. Spain’s government could use some distraction. In any event, it’s time to show that Putin cannot beat a large coalition of European democracies – because he cannot. And, yes, someone needs to tell Hollande to hand the ships to someone who is an ally. Sarko and Merkel should take him aside.