Things are getting real

[RotBaron]

Irrelevant. The US imports oil mostly from Latin America and Canada. However, the price of oil is global so a crisis in any oil producing country will increase oil prices everywhere. If oil production in Ukraine gets disrupted the price of oil produced in Texas will increase.

And all goods and services where oil is required as an input directly/indirectly.

[Plawranc]

[mbailey]

The Ukrainian people will be thrown under the bus for the sake of peace.

Hello Czechoslovakia 1939.

Sad but very true Del.......

[homersipes]

I can't take my cig lighter on an airplane.  Terrorists already won.

  so true right there, and you get basically strip searched when you go through security, flying through airliners sucks now, but understandable........ kind of, wont get any further into that one.  But I have to agree I hope we keep out of this one, heck my 4 year old daughter will be paying for afghanistan war 

[XxDaSTaRxx]

We don't need to be involved. We as a nation can't afford to plop into war after we're trying to put an end to one that has lasted 13 years.

I'm also quite sure that none of us feel like starting another World War.

[ReVo]

We don't need to be involved. We as a nation can't afford to plop into war after we're trying to put an end to one that has lasted 13 years.

I'm also quite sure that none of us feel like starting another World War.

I could go for another World War. It's about time.

[TOMCAT21]

Spot on, Del. I don't think this will disappear off the radar like Syria did.

[NatCigg]

History shows this land has been fought over for years, Ages, forever.   Last check it was a russian puppet state.  From the looks of it now, it was a russian puppet state.  This translates to do you want to fight the russians over land they claim.  Lets recall so past wars when we tried to control land on the Reds door step.  Not good for america to be poking the bear.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I could go for another World War. It's about time.

Or you could just kill yourself if thats what you wish and spare the rest of us the trouble of WW3.

[leon]

We don't need to be involved. We as a nation can't afford to plop into war after we're trying to put an end to one that has lasted 13 years.

I'm also quite sure that none of us feel like starting another World War.

continuing Deliriums' 1939 reference - World War will start without your involvement - either anyway or beacause the involvement is not there when it is needed

to Motherland:

it is not that simple, but not to be overcomplicated as well. Ukraine was ( I hope - was ) police/criminal state by its nature. The clashes are about coming (needed) changes to the way of life, rather than Ukrainians against Russians conflict. De facto unexisting "conflict" is exploited by Putin's propoganda, and quite effective - reaches USA - as far as I see.

[Rich46yo]

Fact, Ukraine is the 2nd largest grain producer in the world. Control Crimea and you control that export. In fact the crisis is already increasing the price of food and oil and gas in the world markets. A thing the Russians stand to gain from. It tightens further the screws they already have over western Europe.

And they do it cheaply to. Some third rate troops backed by a 4th rate little fleet.

This one is about "food". Very important piece of real estate it is.

[PJ_Godzilla]

All the foregoing said, there WON'T be a war over this. Why? Because nobody's going to be foolish enough to take on Bad Mother Russia in their own back yard. This is the other side of Peace through Strength, for most Americans. As for NATO, to the extent it isn't US is also the extent to which it hasn't fired a weapon in anger for three generations now.

Still, the dream of Panzers streaming east is compelling and a bit romantic - but anyone with the yarbles to do it died or was reducated long, long ago.

[Hoplite]

The Ukrainian people will be thrown under the bus for the sake of peace.

Hello Czechoslovakia 1939.

Yup.

The European mainland needs energy.  Russia provides said energy.  The "pragmatists" within NATO realize this (witness the Germans reaction after Putin's last little party in Georgia) and won't do more than make some noise.  Our current Commander-In-Chief prides himself in being a diplomatic "pragmatist" as well and so will push them under the bus so he can go back to creating his domestic legacy here in the US.  Thus the Ukraine is done.  

Don't be surprised when Iran, China, North Korea and some of our lovely friends down in South America start making moves of their own.  Media isn't paying much attention to China's recent saber rattling with Japan.  The Iranian deal was and is a joke meant to further humiliate the US in general and Administration in particular.  Weakness (real or perceived) sends a message to everyone, friend and foe...it's party time.  

It will take years to undo the damage done by this administration's foreign policy...assuming it can be undone and things don't escalate further on the world stage. I'm thinking they will.

I'll stop before it gets any more political...it's difficult to have this discussion without going down the verboten path.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Fact, Ukraine is the 2nd largest grain producer in the world. Control Crimea and you control that export. In fact the crisis is already increasing the price of food and oil and gas in the world markets. A thing the Russians stand to gain from. It tightens further the screws they already have over western Europe.

And they do it cheaply to. Some third rate troops backed by a 4th rate little fleet.

This one is about "food". Very important piece of real estate it is.
(Image removed from quote.)

The Chinese also buy around 30% of their grain.

[PJ_Godzilla]

Yup.

The European mainland needs energy.  Russia provides said energy.  The "pragmatists" within NATO realize this (witness the Germans reaction after Putin's last little party in Georgia) and won't do more than make some noise.  Our current Commander-In-Chief prides himself in being a diplomatic "pragmatist" as well and so will push them under the bus so he can go back to creating his domestic legacy here in the US.  Thus the Ukraine is done.  

Don't be surprised when Iran, China, North Korea and some of our lovely friends down in South America start making moves of their own.  Media isn't paying much attention to China's recent saber rattling with Japan.  The Iranian deal was and is a joke meant to further humiliate the US in general and Administration in particular.  Weakness (real or perceived) sends a message to everyone, friend and foe...it's party time.  

It will take years to undo the damage done by this administration's foreign policy...assuming it can be undone and things don't escalate further on the world stage. I'm thinking they will.

I'll stop before it gets any more political...it's difficult to have this discussion without going down the verboten path.

Suffice it to say, the elephant on the couch is apparent to those who wish to see it. THere is a god-like position that some might assume that says that the appropriate time for leadership has come and gone, that sunset is inevitable. Me, I believe that a good leader knows that he has a dog in the fight. Putin appears to understand this. It's a pity that he operates in an apparent vacuum.