France has entered into a material agreement to sell Russia an aircraft carrier. This would be a NATO aircraft carrier. France, consistent with its traditions, surrendered before the war began.

I am still hoping to wake from this nightmare, so I will not try to contemplate the actual details of a war between Russia and Ukraine. If you think majority of Russians living in Ukraine will consider themselves Russian and be happy to be invaded, remember this: national identity is formed by 2 components (not ethnic, but national). These components are a legend of a traumatic event and a history of blood sacrifice. Russia is now supplying Ukraine with both. Whatever their ethnic denominations are, the ethnic Russians living in Ukraine will take pride in being Ukrainian citizens who stood up to the aggressors. If you don't think that's possible, just remember that Russia now is what Germany was in WWII. And the Germans who opposed the Nazis did so proudly and fervently. So will the Russians who oppose Russia. Let me put it this way. I never gave a damn about having been born in Ukraine. It never meant anything to me. I shared the common Russian view of Ukraine as being overly folksy. Until now. Nothing makes people prouder than righteous indignation. And for all the giddiness that Russians feel about their self-ascribed military superiority, Russia will be fought because it's the right thing to do. There is no longer an option for a peaceful resolution left to the world. Russia is quickly becoming the monster to be vanquished.

I especially enjoyed the bit about the Kiev controlled press. Russia has, by all accounts (on slashdot alone) has re-instituted the censorship levels almost to the Soviet levels.... almost. Kiev-controlled press. That's fantastic. That the people behind this unprovoked military aggression would try to accuse those who are defending themselves of being sinister. That's chutzpah.

If the reports are, in fact true, and the Russian troops have crossed into Ukraine, there are no good choices left. It's regional war now or World War later. Putin has been positioning to break NATO for the past few years. If he takes Ukraine, he'll put it into full military production mode (it's a large producer of steel). And once he can steam roll over Balkans, he will have invaded a NATO member. France has entered into a material agreement to sell Russia an aircraft carrier within the past 6 months (effectively surrendering in this war before it started... France does have its traditions). Which means France will not honor its NATO obligations. Germany will surrender (out of guilt if nothing else... they will not want to fight a war against Russia). Who's left? Spain? Portugal? Italy? Poland? Actually, Poland might save Europe again. It'll be a tough fight, but if it gets that far, it's already a World War. Regional war now or World War later. No good choices left.

Not impossible, maybe. Don't count on it being a walk on the beach though. Every domino will fall after if this happens, but don't expect it to be another Georgia.

"How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks here because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing. It seems still more impossible that a quarrel which has already been settled in principle should be the subject of war." --Neville Chamberlain, 1939

I mentioned in a previous comment that if this aggression is not stopped NOW, then it would not stop until a nuclear exchange. If Russia is allowed to take Ukraine, they'll keep going until the world decided that this is for real. I don't think anyone believes it just yet.

Also don't forget the keyword "corrupt". Once a leader is thoroughly corrupt, he has put himself outside of the restrictions of the rule of law. His removal becomes both legal and illegal (and so does his staying in power) because the rule of law no longer applies. But, of course, the last straw was his ordering of shooting of peaceful unarmed protesters. It's a tall order to prove that a leader rules by law (rather than by force) after such an act.

Technically, he left the country on his own accord. But he only did so because he was no longer credible as a civilian leader after forcing police to shoot scores of peaceful unarmed protesters.

Been asleep for 10 years, have you? Russia is now the sole owner of the largest Oil company in the world. It is also the largest member of OPEC. It has fallen behind in the aviation technology, but it has (in the past few years) renovated it's military industry. It has already learned Western logistics methodologies. The hardware they use is mostly outdated. But you are kidding yourself if you think they can't switch to the military mode. If they take Ukraine, they'll increase their population by 1/3rd overnight. They will also retake the main steel production centers (currently owned by Mittal). Moscow is the 2nd largest WiFi hub in Europe (Frankfurt is the 1st). Still don't think they can roll through Europe? Is Europe united? Can it master a defense? Can it be conscripted for the purposes of defense? You think professional army is enough? I hope you are right. Because from everything I read (in Russian), they are giddy about the prospect of a war.

No, the current regime of Russia is a text book Nationalist Socialist regime. Russia is currently a text-book Nazi state. So the factions in Russia which are Nazi are not minor. They are the government.

Ukraine is responding to military attacks by the Russian military personal calling itself "separatist forces" who are led by a "former" KGB officer. The civilian blood of the people whom Russia is using as human shields is on the hands of Russian aggressors as is all blood of all human shields used by terrorists everywhere.

Removing elected officials from office because of their corruption is not contrary to the rule of law. And Yanukovich was a corrupt Russian puppet. Eastern Ukraine was not cut off from the vote. That's a lie. Not that it would matter. The winner of the election got 53%. The next highest runner up (and there were a few) got less than 20%. This election was about as clear-cut as they ever get.