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Berlin Expat

(958 posts)

12. Good question as to

Mon Mar 3, 2014, 03:14 PM

Mar 2014

whether it was a strategic decision or just one of those uncanny coincidences, but yes, it's good to have it as a bargaining chip with the Russians now, especially given their new and far more aggressive expansionist policy.

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Baltics Want NATO ‘Safeguard’ if Ukraine Situation Worsens [View all] steve2470 Mar 2014 OP

NATO will be what ultimately stops Putin if he has bigger designs. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #1

Ukraine had already worked out a non-member cooperation with NATO. They were doing training okaawhatever Mar 2014 #22

Romania already has a deal Baclava Mar 2014 #2

I can't help but Berlin Expat Mar 2014 #6

I think he held back on a missile defense phase, and now it's a new bargaining chip-- TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #8

Good question as to Berlin Expat Mar 2014 #12

There were several things happening during the next year or two that would have put NATO and okaawhatever Mar 2014 #23

Like to guess who will be asked to pay for an almost useless . . . another_liberal Mar 2014 #17

If I recall correctly, Kyrgyzstan was kicking us out because Putin TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #7

Yes, that's the case. Russia allowed it for a while because they're enemies with Afghanistan and the okaawhatever Mar 2014 #24

Are Europeans Upset about Putin? chuckstevens Mar 2014 #3

They want and need Russian natural gas. Laelth Mar 2014 #10

Good Point chuckstevens Mar 2014 #11

Actually, the U.S. is a natural gas exporter now. The Stranger Mar 2014 #19

Feel free to built a pipeline. dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #25

I think they liquefy and ship it. The Stranger Mar 2014 #33

They do / are able to do so dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #35

Because if the Ukraine dissolves into civil war then Europe gets to pick up the bits fedsron2us Mar 2014 #16

Quoting the Rupert Murdoch's "War Street Journal" without comment? rdharma Mar 2014 #4

of course I am steve2470 Mar 2014 #5

Thanks, and we should make, elleng Mar 2014 #14

Depending on the source, news coverage and analysis are often pretty much the same. rdharma Mar 2014 #18

Yes, of course. elleng Mar 2014 #21

I visited Lithuania in 1995, and was able to talk to quite a few Lithuanians. amandabeech Mar 2014 #13

I was in Latvia and the same holds true. tavernier Mar 2014 #45

Thanks for posting. amandabeech Mar 2014 #46

Everyone says it is his KGB background. tavernier Mar 2014 #48

We can only hope. amandabeech Mar 2014 #49

But you've recommended articles from Russia Today. Do you think Russia Today is a legitimate okaawhatever Mar 2014 #28

"Murdoch doesn't own the WSJ" rdharma Mar 2014 #40

Yes, actually I was confused for a minute. I was thinking of WaPo. But why do you trust Russia Today okaawhatever Mar 2014 #42

More detailed info on what is going on in Ukraine. rdharma Mar 2014 #43

Bear in mind dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #9

"The scam didn't go too well with Russia." EX500rider Mar 2014 #29

so you know more than missile defense experts? You're the ultimate voice in whether the okaawhatever Mar 2014 #30

Didn't go down to well dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #32

that wasn't the point you made. You called it a "joke" and a "scam". What makes it a joke, or okaawhatever Mar 2014 #36

The selling line for it dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #38

That's what the first three phases were for. It was the fourth phase that was questionable due to okaawhatever Mar 2014 #41

The Baltics Have A Reason To Fear Russian Expansionism DallasNE Mar 2014 #15

How much worse can the Ukraine situation get? The Stranger Mar 2014 #20

Much worse? EX500rider Mar 2014 #26

A civil war shouldn't be a likely outcome. Ethnic Russians only make up 17% of the population. It okaawhatever Mar 2014 #37

A few minutes ago on CNN, either Anderson Cooper or his guest, amandabeech Mar 2014 #27

Merkel is the one who would be least likely to make that statement. Remember, Germany sided with okaawhatever Mar 2014 #31

I found the story in the Guardian, but frankly, I'm so upset that I can't seem amandabeech Mar 2014 #34

Wow thanks for that. There's nothing more dangerous than someone okaawhatever Mar 2014 #39

I'm seeing coverage on CNN, Al Jazeera, WaPo, NYT at British papers. amandabeech Mar 2014 #44

Indeed scary... Deep North Mar 2014 #47