War in Ukraine

A fair chunk of that will, I suspect, go straight into the pockets of politicians. Another large chunk will go to Gazprom to pay the national fuel bill.

And the ordinary Ukrainians will be squeezed dry to repay it.

That sounds about right, Bonny. Well, you have got to share the money around haven't you? Make things equal and fair?

The disagreements have hit an all time low or is it high?

Russia tells the US to take astronauts to the International Space Station 'with the help of a trampoline' in Ukraine sanctions row


'The United States introduced sanctions against our space industry... We warned them, we will reply to statements with statements, to actions with actions,' he wrote on Twitter.
'I propose that the United States delivers its astronauts to the ISS with the help of a trampoline,' he added.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617111/Could-American-astronauts-left-STRANDED-International-Space-Station-Space-row-intensifies-Russian-officials-warn-Nasa-transport-astronauts-trampoline.html#ixzz30QHLfmFn
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That's getting their attention isn't it?    

What did Obama expect to happen when he merrily poured petrol on a bonfire? Impeach the lot of them for treason!

We do need a completely clean slate.

http://news.sky.com/story/1252895/ukraine-conscription-back-amid-violent-demos

Ukraine: Conscription Back Amid Violent Demos
Protests turn "very, very violent" in the eastern city of Donetsk as separatists attempt to storm the prosecutor's office

Oh, that should help no end. I hope conscripted teenagers remember to thank Obama, Nuland, Kerry, etc., nicely as they're called up.

Right now, I should think the residents of Crimea are thanking God they got out of this appalling mess. And can look forward to being paid their pensions and salaries, keeping the roof over their heads, putting food on their tables, etc.

What a complete and utter clusterf*ck our leaders have created.

What? Oh yes, this is courtesy of .............. the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, the year he got in office.

Maybe Nuland can hand out cookies to the conscripts as they queue to be drafted? I'm sure that will make it all worthwhile for the poor kids.

Feel heart sorry for the kids.

I'm sorry for all the ordinary Ukrainians caught in this mess which is not of their making, and there is no betterment ahead.

Absolutely, Bonny. So much misery everywhere.

Is that what is important to them?

They don't care, Lily. Their children will never be conscripted, their families will never go without food or heating, they whisk from crisis to crisis in private planes and helicopters.

You are right, Bonny. They will know one day.......

The unelected Kiev president has torn up the Geneva agreement.

Sky version:

http://news.sky.com/story/1253586/ukraine-in-military-assault-on-slavyansk

Two pilots have been killed after pro-Russian separatists used anti-aircraft weapons to shoot down helicopters during an attack by Ukrainian forces.

Separatists in Slavyansk said they were fighting back against a "large-scale operation" to retake the city.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov confirmed a pilot had been killed and urged local people to stay indoors during the "anti-terrorist operation".

Posting on Facebook, he said the city was "tightly surrounded".

"Against Ukraine's special forces, terrorists used heavy artillery, including grenade launchers and portable anti-aircraft missile launchers," said Mr Avakov .

A Reuters photographer reported seeing a military helicopter open fire on the outskirts of the town.

Mr Avakov said the raid had begun at 4.30am, with soldiers seizing control of nine checkpoints on roads around Slavyansk.

"The goal of our anti-terrorist operation and, at the same time, our demands to the terrorists are simple," he posted.

"Free the hostages, lay down weapons, vacate administrative buildings and get municipal infrastructure back to normal."

The action in Slavyansk, if confirmed, would mark the first significant military response by Kiev.

Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the insurgency-appointed mayor of Slavyansk, said self-defence forces had shot down two helicopters and taken one pilot hostage.


'Terrorists' my ar@e. No doubt if Scotland votes for independence, we'll be getting called 'terrorists' next year.

Russian version:

http://rt.com/news/156292-slavyansk-army-special-operation/

Ukrainian troops begin special operation in Slavyansk

The Ukrainian army has begun a special operation against pro-autonomy activists in the eastern town of Slavyansk. The city is now blockaded by the Ukrainian military, with 20 helicopters reportedly deployed to crack down on self-defense forces.

Follow live updates on the special operation in Slavyansk

Two more helicopters have been shot down by self-defense forces, according to reports. Earlier, two helicopters were reportedly shot down, with one pilot dead and another one captured, RIA Novosti news agency reported. This information was confirmed by Ukraine's coup-appointed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.



A Ukrainian military helicopter flies near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine May 2, 2014 (Reuters / Baz Ratner)

BBC version:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27250026

This attack may be connected to this:

http://www.infowars.com/imf-demands-ukraine-risk-world-war-3-in-return-for-bailout-money/

The IMF has told Kiev that if it doesn’t defend eastern areas of Ukraine against pro-Russian forces, or in other words risk going to war with Russia and starting World War 3, that a planned $17 billion dollar bailout package will have to be “redesigned”.
IMF head Christine Lagarde said that the global body would “check regularly” to see if Ukraine was keeping up with its commitments on which the loan deal is dependent. One of those commitments includes a vow to use military forces to repel Russian influence in the east of the country.
The IMF has told Kiev that the money spigot could be cut off if Kiev “loses control over (the) East of the country”.
“Which, roughly translated, appears to mean go to war with pro-Russian forces (and thus Russia itself if Putin sees his apparent countrymen in trouble) or you don’t get your money!,” notes Zero Hedge.

The first casualty of war is, as usual, truth.

A none too happy Ms Merkel is off to Washington today, possibly hoping to retrieve the file NSA have on her. She's also apparently clutching a note from German businessmen telling Obama to wind his neck in and for all parties involved in the Ukraine to sit down and talk.

We are getting to see who really runs the world now.

This one isn't really going to plan, though, as the bulk of the world's population isn't listening to the State Department's version of events any more. I find it hilarious watching serial liar Kerry accusing other people of lying, when billions of people have seen the proof of his own lies.

This round-up of polls is interesting:

http://www.infowars.com/polls-americans-are-sick-of-the-war-on-terror-war-on-drugs-and-all-of-the-other-failed-u-s-wars/

Good for them - Americans aren't stupid, whatever their president thinks of them. They can see the US is no longer the world's greatest economy, they can see the debt mountain, they know they're only one paycheck away from disaster - if they're even working.

They can especially see their president arming Al Quaeda and want their own country sorted out before they start meddling elsewhere.

     

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/02/obama-warns-russia-may-face-broader-sanctions-as-ukraine-unrest-flares/

Following another round of U.S. sanctions earlier this week, Obama said the next step will be sanctions aimed at sectors of the Russian economy, including the energy, arms and finance sectors. Obama said he hopes not to have to use such sanctions, but will if Russia's disruptions threaten Ukraine elections scheduled for May 25.

The president spoke alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Rose Garden following a meeting with his German counterpart. Obama said the two allies are "united" in support for Ukraine and "unwavering" in their commitment to defending NATO nations.

They spoke as Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian separatists clashed violently Friday in key cities. At least two helicopters were shot down, and the interim president said "many" pro-Russian rebels had been killed.

Obama voiced support for the Ukrainian government on the day of its first major offensive aimed at driving out the insurgents occupying government buildings across the east. He said Kiev is moving to "restore order."

"The last thing we want is disorder and chaos in the center of Europe," Obama said.

But turning tanks and helicopters on civilians is OK? He seems to forget, we can all see the 'insurgents' - grannies, elderly men, etc.

And why on earth would Russia disrupt the elections? I should think Putin wishes they were tomorrow.

There already is disorder and chaos in the centre of Europe, mainly caused by Washington. NATO bombed Gaddafi's troops for using tanks on civilians, why isn't it bombing the Ukraine government?

Residents gather to speak to Ukrainian soldiers at a checkpoint in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of Slavyansk, on May 2, 2014 (AFP Photo)

Who's the aggressor there?



A civilian holds a sign reading "We are peaceful people" in front of Ukrainian troops at a checkpoint near Slavyansk on May 2, 2014 (Reuters / Baz Ratner)

More terrifying insurgents.

This is mega business. They gotta keep the money coming in. There are many people there with their hands out.....

What's Obama going to do when the south-east area of Ukraine makes it clear they want nothing to do with Kiev? Send in US troops to force them to stay?

What would people in, say, Texas do, if they were embroiled in a row with Washington and Washington sent tanks in to enforce its will? THEY WOULD DO EXACTLY THE SAME AS THOSE CIVILIANS ARE DOING.

Obama seems to have forgotten that these days, people can see for themselves what's going on at ground level.

A horrible problem is that too many people have been dumbed down or are overly busy with their own lives to see it, Bonny. Sad but true.

Also, just to show how upside down everything is, when Justin Bieber was arrested, they interrupted a program to bring this live and important news.

I think Obama can forget any notions about Ukraine staying as one country now. When a government uses tanks and helicopters against its own citizens, it's lost the debate.