Another challenge to NATO (yawn)

[lordtiberius]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/16/europe/russia-arctic-military-exercises/

Amid NATO exercises, Russia puts Northern Fleet on 'full alert'

Unlike Ukraine, this is a direct threat to NATO and in our interest to defend.  Whether we defend the North Pole, well, don't expect much.

[Photo Guy]

Since Russia is paranoid about NATO, a UN peace-keeping force should be sent in to Ukraine to secure their eastern border. Securing the border IS a component of the Minsk II agreement.

[calmissile]

Since Russia is paranoid about NATO, a UN peace-keeping force should be sent in to Ukraine to secure their eastern border. Securing the border IS a component of the Minsk II agreement.

I have yet to read where the border is defined.  Does it include Crimea?  Is it the original border in East Ukraine?  Or is it wherever Putin wants to place it?

[Photo Guy]

The signers of the Budapest Memorandum looked the other way. Now what is your proposal for getting Crimea back? How do you deal with a madman?

[calmissile]

The signers of the Budapest Memorandum looked the other way. Now what is your proposal for getting Crimea back? How do you deal with a madman?

You don't really want to know.  You can be sure more political talking and diplomacy bullshit wont' get the job done.

[Boethius]

Since Russia is paranoid about NATO, a UN peace-keeping force should be sent in to Ukraine to secure their eastern border. Securing the border IS a component of the Minsk II agreement.

Russia can veto any UN peace keeping force.

[lordtiberius]

Calimissle and Boethius are right.  There is no border and UN troops would need Russian approval.  Also, peacekeeping troops are really an occupation force with a more limited mandate to operate.

Crimea and the Eastern territories must be taken by force.  Whether that happens through a re-armed Ukraine or an economically impoverished Russia those are the only means by which that can happen. There is no diplomatic solution.

This 'Putin is smart' theory bandied by the Novorossiya supporters took a hit yesterday when their master opened up a new front against NATO in the artic.  We will not see Obama honor NATO but Russia may attack lesser NATO members like Norway and Canada in a war for oil.

This overextends an already overextended military.

Yeah, Putin is smart.