NATO Chief Rasmussen: Russian Troops Are Fighting Inside UkraineRussian troops are involved in "direct military operations" inside Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Friday. "Despite Moscow’s hollow denials, it is now clear that Russian troops and equipment have illegally crossed the border into eastern and south-eastern Ukraine," he said in a statement. "This is not an isolated action, but part of a dangerous pattern over many months to destabilize Ukraine as a sovereign nation."
Also on Friday, Ukraine said it would work towards becoming part of the U.S.-led security alliance, a move that looked set to inflame tensions with Russia. Prime Minister Minister Arseny Yatseniuk also said that his country still sought to become a member of the European Union. The toppling of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovich by protesters calling for closer ties with the West earlier this year helped precipitate the current crisis, with separatist forces besieging much of the east of the country and the Crimean peninsula being annexed by Russia. Ukraine has accused Russia of bringing tanks, artillery and troops to support separatists in eastern Ukraine, which Moscow denies.
That's a major turning point. The Russians are no longer just supplying "separatists" inside Ukraine, no longer supplying them with training, weapons, missiles, logistics and leadership. Now they are fighting inside Ukraine.
While the Russians limit themselves to a limited supportive role to Ukranian separatists, Ukraine has the chance to defeat the Russian-led "separatists".
But when it becomes Russia's military vs. Ukraine's military, it's game over, and Ukraine doesn't have a chance. And if Ukraine falls, it's a certainty that Russia will extend its territorial ambitions to Moldova, Belorussia, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania as well.
SPECIFIC THINGS THAT OBAMA COULD DO TO STOP THE CONFLICT AND DETER RUSSIA'S EXPANSION:
1) Provide military supplies to the Ukranians, guns, artillery and aircraft, so the Ukranians can defend themselves. Provide them with satellite, intelligence and logistical support so they have the best knowledge possible of Russian troop and support movements.
2) organize a unified resistance and shared troops among Ukraine and its neigbors, so Ukraine is not facing Russia alone
3) IMMEDIATELY ramp up U.S. oil and natural gas production, to lower the global price of oil and gas that is feeding the Russian war machine, and would allow European nations like Germany and Poland to more vigorously oppose their Russian suppliers, knowing they can buy the fuel they need from the U.S., and no longer dependent on Russia.
But instead Obama and his Puss Force do absolutely nothing. It's not necessary for the U.S. to militarily intervene, although that option as well should not be taken off the table. But these steps alone would make the price too high for Russia to continue its assault on Ukraine.
