© Barcroft Media
Granted, NATO has been doing anything politically convenient, anywhere, whenever asked. But now, is the world to wake up and take a closer look at NATO? Why did NATO survive the collapse of the Soviet Union? There is a good question.
How many know that Obama and the Gang started this Ukraine Crisis; Putin didn't. Putin caught Obama and the Gang in the process of enticing the overthrow of the Ukraine government. Obviously, Putin is taking full advantage of the situation, but that is nothing unexpected.
From history, here's the deal:
In 1994, Ukraine was added to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in the Budapest Memorandum. Under the terms of that memorandum Ukraine gave up possession of any left-over Soviet nuclear weapons (the third largest stockpile in the world) in exchange protection from nuclear attack.
But, there were certain specific additional conditions which should have favored Ukraine:
The USA, Russia and Great Britain would:
1. Respect Ukrainian independence and sovereignty within its existing borders.
2. Refrain from using economic pressure on Ukraine in order to influence its politics.
3. The USA, Russia and Great Britain would consult with one another, if questions should arise, regarding these commitments.
However, Obama and Biden got caught by Russia attempting to 'revise' the Ukraine government; chronicled by the ENTIRETY of the intercepted phone call between Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland and the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt - infamous for Nuland's "F... the EU" remark and her official apology. Thus, Nuland certified the intercept.
In that conversation, Nuland and Pyatt were discussing the US-preferred players - and those to be blocked - in the new Ukraine government. So much for the provisions of the Budapest Memo. And, so much for the U.S. respecting Ukraine's sovereignty.
While the Budapest Memo did not technically rise to the level of a formal U.S. treaty, it was formally embraced by the United Nations constructively becoming a 'treaty'. Accordingly, the USA had/has no significant say about Ukraine's market deals or their government. Per the requirements of the U.S. Constitution's 'treaty' provisions, the U.S. was bound by the UN Charter to honor the Budapest Memorandum.
However, history is quite clear that Obama and the Gang are devotees to the New World Order or Globalists if one prefers; to the exclusion of the U.S. Constitution, as required. Sadly, few Americans in particular, pay appropriate attention to such obvious details.
At the time of the Nuland call, the last legitimately elected Ukraine government was intact, but not for long. Putin caught Obama interfering in Ukraine, asked him to back off, but Obama didn't. Protesting is not on par with consulting.
Six particular options available for perception
1. The Budapest Memo has the equivalence of a treaty - in which case the U.S. is culpable for violating it in the Ukraine coup planning - particularly for not consulting Great Britain and Russia.
2. While the EU was competing with Russia over the Ukraine market connections, Russia won out in the Ukraine vote of the last legitimately elected Ukraine government. Russia also extended generous loan guarantees to the Ukraine government adding a 30% reduction in the price of Russian-supplied gas to ensure the viability of Ukraine. While Russia was content to allow the Ukraine government to press onward, not so with Obama and the Gang. A revised EU market (economic pressure) deal would only come with the overthrow of the Ukraine government. With the American economy tanked Obama was revising the Ukraine economy?
3. Russia isn't particularly to blame in the Ukraine Crisis given that Obama and the Gang "... drew first blood" in their role in the coup essentially nullifying the Budapest Memorandum.
4. The Ukraine Crimea matter is now the province of the United Nations and international law that is regularly violated by the USA; even in the Ukraine Crisis.
5. With the breakup of the former Yugoslavian (Balkan) states in the background, the Crimean Decision is moot. However inconvenient, it may be to certain Western powers and the New World Order aka Globalists. The associated Balkan states broke away from Yugoslavia; being recognized by OSCE. So, what can be said in the case of Crimea?
6. "Might makes right." Crimea is now a subject state of Russia, as Russia refers to such countries. Who is going to do anything about it?
Ukraine is bankrupt and the IMF loan offered isn't enough to keep Ukraine viable for very long. Add that there is increased infighting amongst the opposition groups who collapsed the Ukraine government. How long will it take to form a potentially successful Ukraine government and hold elections? Come Winter, will Russia sell gas to a rogue government? Ukraine won't become a "Berlin Airlift."
How long will the EU support a fight that Obama started? Obama is on the brink of starting Cold War II. A Western reposturing to isolate Russia would be a massively expensive undertaking. Neither the USA nor the European countries can afford such a fight. And it would start with the collapse of the EU; now fighting to keep alive. Global financial nerves could precipitate the collapse of so many financial institutions as to effect a crippling and unaffordable depression.
In the immediate future
Will the price of Russian gas and other raw materials to the EU increase; and the cost of transportation to the Space Station?
Will Putin comparably sanction the business assets of the EU countries located/deposited in Russia?
Alternately, could the EU countries be re-inspired with a lower price for Russian gas and raw materials? The Russians could also sweeten business deals for EU countries just by expanding opportunities.
Independently of Obama and the Gang, the EU countries and Russia enjoy great economic potential. Among other deals, England, Germany and France depend heavily on Russia for titanium for such as jet engine and rocket parts. How much titanium do the EU countries have stockpiled or alternately have available at what price?
With the first IMF check delivery, no doubt Russia will be holding out their hand for first-draw payment of the Ukraine past-due gas bill; advising as to the consequences for the lack of timely payment. Russia has already announced increased gas prices for Ukraine. Ukraine also depends on Russia for support of their nuclear electric plants. What could be in store for the EU prices for Russian gas, raw materials and tangible goods?
If Ukraine needs their previous Crimean port facilities, there is going to be the need to negotiate a lease. Can Ukraine compensate for the loss of their collective Crimean assets, physically or financially; including the loss of income from the Russian lease on the Sevastopol Navy base?
In the attempt to form a new government, Ukraine is now faced with competing political groups; each with its own agendas and passions. Will there be any major divisive street battles between the major factions? Russia has already forced Kiev to come down on the Far Right. Will that effort alone cause a major internal disruption to the new government formation and elections? When will the Ukraine actually get their hands on any IMF money? AND, what is the West going to do about Ukraine's defaulted loans? Or is the IMF loan package supposed to protect those defaulted loans?
It must also be asked how much of a state of crisis now exists in the Ukraine military relative to so many "traitors" who didn't engage the Russians? Any discarded Ukraine troops make many skilled "rebels", but who would they fight for?
In the near future, it's assured that Putin will quickly build some roads and railroad bridges between the east Crimean coast and Russia, ensuring a transportation route just for Crimean agricultural products, with China as the final destination. Could Ukraine get offered a similar deal, getting better prices than from the EU? (There may be an associated transportation Crimean/Russian "tariff," but... )
Will the Ukraine segment of the Russian gas pipeline to be rerouted through Crimea or Belarus? Or, will Russia find it necessary to send in Russian troops to protect the pipeline from thieves and saboteurs?
In the distance, does Putin have control over the critically needed airspace and land routes in and out of Afghanistan - desperately needed by NATO? The American troops, in particular? Is the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan facing a Dunkirk style panic - "Calling all helicopters!"
How much more assistance is Putin capable of providing certain countries/groups in the Middle-East - to the disdain, nigh unto horror of those such as Israel and the usual US-preferred corporate benefactors?
In the background history, Obama conned Putin into withholding Russia's objection to limited assistance of the Libyan Arab Spring, only for Obama to then de-limit the assistance making a fool out of Putin, a derelict nation out of Libya, to the benefit of U.S. and British oil interests, at least for the moment.
While not particularly obvious in the news media; what did the recent Libyan requested U.S. Navy SEAL takeover of a rogue oil tanker in international waters signify? Can anyone imagine a U.S. Navy SEAL team being utilized as third-party state-sponsored pirates? It happened, but what list of international laws were violated? What should the U.N be saying about that operation?
In the Libyan background, the Obama administration left the U.S. ambassador and others to die in Benghazi, but the recent Libyan request for help (oil) was immediately answered? How much did that SEAL raid add to Obama's image as a tyrant versus a statesman? Obama has presented himself as an untrustworthy tyrant, at that. Collectively, what does the EU make of Obama in the proverbial back rooms?
Currently, the US-preferred Libyan government is unstable with the well-armed and well manned "rebels" now determined to overthrow the government. Will Putin back the Libyan "rebels" with intelligence and arms as Obama and the Gang did during the Arab Spring? How much tyranny can Obama get away with? No doubt, Putin has a well-calibrated idea of Obama's limits.
Then, there's Putin's support of Iran and Syria, with Iraq getting increasingly desperate for help in fighting back the "al-Qaeda" elements. Obama is providing token assistance. Will Putin help out via Iran?
In this Ukraine Crisis, Obama and his pals have essentially given Putin a mandate. Aiding Ukraine is one thing, punishing Russia is another. However rough the interim may be on Russia, what are the odds that Putin will lose just in the Ukraine Crisis? It's getting time for the EU countries to hedge their economic and political bets, but will the EU survive in the process? Will the EU interdependence with Russia spell the dissolution of NATO?
It appears that Putin is just getting started and Obama is looking at being finished. So, will the EU hitch their wagon to Obama's falling star? The EU countries are now taking careful stock of the potential backlash of Obama's demanded sanctions. Again, too many of the EU states have critical economic ties to Russia including Germany and England. Essentially, Putin already has the EU by the throat and that's highly unlikely to change in the next twenty years, at least.
The screaming and hollering drama continues with Putin currently being disturbingly low key. What could be on his mind? There's a question for Obama, in particular.
Very well-researched article Skydrifter. You bring up some very interesting points.
It's incomprehensible that Britain and Germany would cut off their noses to spite their faces. But psychopathic elites are rarely, if ever, rational or reasonable. All they could see was a Ukraine ripe for the pickings, never considering the Russia factor.
Obama et al seem to be overdosing on stupid pills.