It is resolved. It's a done deal. There is no cost to be imposed. Don't wish to do what "acting like a competent global power again" entails. My family has no interest in fighting another Crimean War. It's theirs, they paid for it in blood. I have never met a Ukraine that was worth shit to piss on. If Russia wants them back they can have them with my blessings. Wrong venue, wrong time, Russia has not aggressed against USA. I have no ethnic, religious or family ties to eastern Europe. A ruined $ will kill off most of this country's population in six months.

Ok, what would you think in the following scenario. America is flat broke and actually acknowledging the fact after building up their debt and having 10 times their debt in unfunded liabilities. At this point, America not only has to stop bankrolling its own citizens but also has to stop policing the world and propping up their puppet governments around the world, which at this point they've been doing for the better part of a century. Other world powers, whether it be the UN or Russia or China realize the opportunity they now have. They, along with the rest of the world, stop using the dollar as the world reserve, and the American economy completely tanks. At this time, lets use Russia as the example since it would seem fitting right now, Russia covertly organizes a group of rebels to overthrow the American government. When the American government fights back against these Russian backed rebels, Russia starts an international campaign against America for humanitarian violations and imposes sanctions on America. Eventually, after months of international pressure and threats of being bombed to dust, the government gives control over to the Russian backed rebels. Americans are now ruled by a faction loyal to Russia and not to their own interests. So at that point, are Americans obliged to be loyal to their new government?

Dude, I very rarely count anyone IN these days. No worries there. Something must be done to prevent history from backsliding. I too am Tea Party. I held Conservative ethics well before it became popular. As a cold war veteran I can assure you regardless of our finances the long term cost of doing nothing will be far worse than decimating our economy and beginning OUR recovery now (it must occur if we are ever to get on solid ground again). How does this issue with Crimea/Russia get resolved? With the stranglehold our politicians have placed this country in, I can't honestly say. But there must be a severe cost to to the Russians for such aggression and its high time we started acting like a competent global power again.

You go stop Russia. Count me out. They will destroy your $ and still be there in 50 years. You simply won't be. You sanction Russia, they destroy the $. Use force, you lose.

I never said engage in violence. As for enlistment and national service I HAVE...you? I understand the rammifications of any action with the place we've been put in. Unlike you, I see that SOMETHING must be done to stop the spread of Russian influence. Communism is not dead with Russia, it never was. If we are not very careful we will be an island on this earth and facing extinction as a people. Please do not pretend that you have even an inkling of what I think or what I know outside of what I say here.

I'll sure take it in a New York wink. You go fight your war, may I suggest you enlist in the Light Brigade? How about the 27th Lancers? Not me, not my sons. Get in touch with reality. Want your $ turned to trash by one announcement? Putin holds four Aces, you hold a pair of 3s.

You want to fight on the Eastern Front? Go to Kiev and enlist with them. Ain't my fight. They voted, they got it. You put NATO on Russia's border and heads of state make jokes about them. You will get all the war you want and then some. They hold all the cards. They Can destroy the dollar with one announcement. This is not a parlor room bull session. Get out of fantasy land.

This war was fought before, in the mid 1850s by Western Europe. The Euros left, badly bloodied, and the Russians stayed put. They fought the Germans for it in 1943, 10 months worth. The Russians are still there, Germans left. They will fight for it again, if you want. They will still be there 50 years from now.

Crimea is part of Ukraine. We're it not for Russia's influence it would have been handled in Ukraine's government. Do not deny the strategic and financial significance of Crimea's geography in Russia decision to act.

Why?

I don't think the part about you personally really needs a response, but as far as the south... sure, I think they did. If a government no longer represents your interests, why shouldn't you have a right to decide it's not the government for you. If the Ukranian government was more or less overthrown by covert western funded operations, with the intention of replacing a pro-Russian government with a pro-western government, why should the people have to recognize the new government as their own? Why shouldn't they be allowed to reject it?

Crimea asked for help, Russia's help.

Consider: you walk by a house being ransacked by a bunch of thugs. A family is calling to you from the window for help. You are armed and full capable of dispatching the thugs.

See the analogy? Crimea is 1000x worse and there is no one to help them.

I don't think I agree. Can one call a nation that has been overtaken by a political coup sovereign? We backed the Egyptian coup, which we also helped to orchestrate and what have we there? We made all sorts of tactical mistakes in Ukraine. I do not want our guns and soldiers fighting for our foreign policy disasters no matter how badly I do not want to see Ukrainians part of a police state. But they voted for that corrupt govt in the first place.

The influence of American culture on the rest of the world, for better or for worse, cannot be denied. While we are definitely flirting with being the worlds police, we have not been - not entirely anyway. The US has protected its interest globally and has an obligation to do so. It also comes to the aid of its allies AND just about anyone who asks for help. We conquer, we rebuild quite a bit, we help establish a government, and we leave. Cancer? Hardly. I do worry though that we are quickly becoming the world police.

Communism is a cancer and its evil in a moral and even biblical sense (if that floats your boat).

Countries who view themselves as the world police and believe they have a right to dictate the governments of the world are a cancer.

Ever see a slip knot work? 2000 miles of ocean is no longer sufficient protection. it is in our own national interests to prevent the spread of socialism and communism in the world. Does that mean we war with everyone, no. But it does mean we actively work to stop this cancer before it surrounds us an chokes us out.

I served during the Cold War. I've known people from the USSR, IRAN and one who lost his nation and family to the spread of communism in Venezuela. Communism is evil, soul crushing, and the decimation of the individual spirit. Long term sounds great in theory except to those in our future and those who have to suffer now.

That is a long term good thing. The lesson Europe needs to learn from this is the USA is not your protector. If the end result is the removal of US bases from Europe with the understanding they are responsible for defending themselves, I'm all for it. If freedom is so important to these people, why did they think it wise to outsource the protectors of it?

Does Crimea have the right to self determination?