Comment Re:I love the snark here (Score 1) 81
I guess we both agree that it's humiliating for all participating parties to let it have come to this and both hope that the situation won't escalate further.
Regarding Crimea, and after looking at what is happening in the east, I fully support Russia's sending in of troops to avert the coup-powers treating the Crimean peoples as "subhumans". Besides, the only issue, where they've overstepped their boundaries is exactly that: overstepping the boundaries of their bases' perimeters. Russia was allowed to have a *lot* of troops in Crimea (AFAIK up to 50k or so). So it's not as black and white as you seem to understand it.
"they weren't given the chance to tell us openly"
Crimea (and Sevastopol) was an autonomous region of Ukraine with a predominantly Russian population (which has been so since Catherine the Great). They chose to secede.
Tell me, if you were distinguishable as a foreigner and the Ku Klux Clan/Nazis/whatever would take over the Hill, wouldn't you want to make use of your autonomy as fast as possible to declare yourself independent of them? Because that's what happened there. Somehow, though, the "international community" wanted them to wait and see what would happen. (Hint, look at Odessa, Donbass and other examples and you can have an idea of what would have happened.)
[In the 1991 Ukrainian independence referendum, btw, Crimea (and Sevastopol) voted with only ~56% for the independence of Ukraine (turnout at 60%). Also, on 01/20/1991, there was another referendum in Crimea (and Sevastopol) about its reinstitution as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the participants of the union agreement (i.e. the USSR) in which ~81% of the Crimean population voted affirmative (i.e. to become part of the union as an autonomous republic again.) and, though previously existing as an an ASSR only as part of the RSFSR, it was instead integrated into the Ukrainian sphere of influence. (Crimean ASSR)
I think this is also an interesting and often forgotten tidbit in the argument about where Crimea belongs.]
there was no Scottish style referendum where the people were given the option without being asked at gunpoint.
You mean a Scottish style referendum, where the BBC was used to sway public opinion in London's favor? What happened to the promises of greater autonomy for Scotland? Regardless of these rhetorics, I haven't seen any conclusive indication of the 2014 Crimean referendum being held at gunpoint. What I did see is that the (western) media didn't have issues accepting the transparent ballot boxes during the Ukrainian election, while the same containers were heavily criticized during the Crimean refendum.
Regarding NATO, again, it should have ceased to exist together with the Warsaw Pact, instead NATO builds anti-missile systems in Europe that point you know where.
"Why is it bad when the US funds NGOs but okay for other nations to fund GOs?"
First of all, what's the difference, whether you fund the opposition directly or indirectly?
And second, the extortionist methods of the US using economic blockades, briberies and corporate takeovers of other countries together with the installation of puppet governments stands in absolutely no comparison to the (also embarrassing) actions of any other country including Russia. The dollar imperialism along with might projections to subjugate other nations and countries is just wrong by any (untwisted) ethical measure.
"far right National Front"
Just look at who's in power in Kiev. Same shit. Probably worse; one word: "Subhumans."
"it's nonsense to keep criticising the US and to defend Russia"
Both sides are bad^h^h^hterrible, but the truth is what matters. And it is being twisted in many ways. I've seen many times how the media presents single data points as common practice, totally distorts reality or makes up things to suite their current policy. Seen this in and with the USSR, Russia, Ukraine, Austria & Germany, Britain, Greece, US,
Seen this happen so many times that I just don't believe a word without double and triple-checking them for facts.
The more a side seems to be bashed on, the more I try to understand their position. Be it Microsoft or Russia. There are exceptions (e.g. SCO).
I believe we should all step back and work together as people/humans, not as governments. That's the only way we can focus on our similarities and achieve peaceful synergies. Vying for domination is a zero-sum game at best and I prefer a multi-polar world over a unipolar any day.