@alvis said:
@mike lucey said:
From what I have read about the situation in Ukraine, both the build up from 1990 and what we now have, I feel no one should really be surprised about what is happening currently.
It seems that The West needs an enemy, if for no other reason than to justify the huge military budgets and the Military Industrial Complex. Now Germany has jointed this complex with 2% of their very considerable GNP. The figure will run to €100,000,000,000 plus!
As for the Russian Federation, they are stuck with a man that feels cornered. He is acting the way I expected considering his KGB training. Doesn't every person with basic common sense know that if you corner a dangerous animal, it will launch a vicious attack against the perceived threat.
It seems Russia asked to join both the EU and NATO at various times and each time they were laughed at....
russia has never sought NATO and the EU. A country that has not found its identity in any way. Whether to go to Asia or Europe.
You live very far from russian propaganda and you don’t know much.You did not live in the soviet union, and you do not know much.
Hi alvis,
I fully appreciate that you probably know a lot more about living under a communist regime than I, you being from Lithuania.
However, I have learned quite a bit about the current Ukrainian situation from research, mostly online but also from talking to friends now living here in Ireland that have come from countries that were under the USSR yoke.
I suggest you check out this article,
'Ex-Nato head says Putin wanted to join alliance early on in his rule'
Ex-Nato head says Putin wanted to join alliance early on in his rule
George Robertson recalls Russian president did not want to wait in line with ‘countries that don’t matter’
the Guardian (www.theguardian.com)
The Guardian article is very credible with facts that appear to back it up. Also the mentioned David Frost interview with Putin carries a lot of weigh.
The interview in question,'BBC BREAKFAST WITH FROST INTERVIEW: VLADIMIR PUTIN MARCH 5TH, 2000' transcript may be found here, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/breakfast_with_frost/transcripts/putin5.mar.txt
The relevant excerpt reads,
DAVID FROST:
Is it possible Russia could join NATO?
PUTIN:
I don't see why not. I would not rule out such a possibility - but I repeat - if and
when Russia's views are taken into account as those of an equal partner. I
want to stress this again and again. The situation that was laid down in the
founding principles of the United Nations - that was the situation that obtained
in the world at the end of World War Two. All right, the situation may have
changed. Let's assume there is a desire on the part of those who perceive the
change to install new mechanisms of ensuring international security. But
pretending - or proceeding from the assumption - that Russia has nothing to
do with it and trying to exclude it from this process is hardly feasible. And
when we talk about our opposition to NATO's expansion - mind you, we have
never ever declared any region of the world a zone of our special interests, I
prefer to talk about strategic partnership. Its attempts to exclude us from the
process is what causes opposition and concern on our part. But that does not
mean we are going to shut ourselves off from the rest of the world.
Isolationism is not an option.
As mentioned in my previous post, Ireland is a neutral country and I stand by this status as its neutrality is part of our constitution and cannot be changed without first a referendum allowing the change. There are always two sides to every conflict, maybe not equal in credibility but nevertheless each side should get an equal hearing. If this is not to be the case there will be little if no possibility of an equitable solution...... ever!
