IF RUSSIA SWALLOWS UKRAINE, THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM IS FINISHED



I don't really buy the conclusions of this editorial, and CNN (unusually) preceded it with a blazing disclaimer.

But an interesting perspective, though.

I grow tired of overly dramatic comparisons to Hitler (Saddam Hussein was like Hitler in 1990, W. Bush was compared to Hitler, Obama is compared to Hitler, and now Putin is portrayed as identical to Hitler, etc.)
There are similarities, and the argument of invading to defend ethnic Russians is definitely similar, but there are obvious vast differences beyond that.
I still argue that Russia is a dying superpower with a waning population and diminished military that will soon have trouble preserving its existing borders. They may be able to take Crimea, or all of Ukraine, and hold it for a period, but they will not be able to keep it.

And --I hope!-- this is a warning flare to EU nations, to re-arm so they are in a position to resist Russian military force. And to diversify their feul suppliers so they are not as dependent on Russian gas and oil in a year or two.