I agree in essence. Letting Russia occupy Crimea or Ukraine by force would open a terrible precedent for other nations to illegally occupy whatever they think belongs to them.

Its important to make sure that everyone understands that international law and agreements are to be respected.
And yes i know, that there are economic interestes and bad exemples from the US, but that doesnt make Russia right. Two wrongs dont make a right, despite beeing completely different. As anexation and intervention are not the same.

It does make what Obama said wrong, though. For long the US has showcased that only might makes it right, as it always have been throughout human history, no matter how much they claim otherwise (as anyone can easily testify just googling the "democracy meme"). This year Russia is going to claim top spot as the largest GDP PPP on Europe, and has modernized her army over the last decade all the way to top three status worldwide.

Unlike as late as ten years ago, the US can be challenged by both Russia and China on the international scenario, thus ending its status as the world's sole leading hard power it had since 1991. You might think the US dropping democracy is funny, and Russia or China doing the same is scary, but back 30 or 40 years ago many countries actually messed with international politics like that. It's no different this time around, we just aren't used to it.

In time, the Crimean question will be no more of a "terrible precedent" than Indonesia annexing West New Guinea, or Turkey invading Cyprus, or North Vietnam annexing South Vietnam, or the PRC becoming the real China and Taiwan being sidelined by almost everyone.  Again, the illusion who arose after the end of the cold war that things on the 21st century are going to be any different politically, or better...

well said. What really irritates me about Obama's stance though, it is all about international law and respecting borders, something the US absolutely does not do. It never seems to be about what is best for the Crimean people or what the Crimean people want (as obviously that goes against his interests). I am certain Russia's main interests are protection of its miltary ports rather than the people but at least they are actively supporting the Crimean people as there interests align. I very much doubt the view and more importantly the polital motivations in saying this is Russia leading up to be an agressor. Simple facts are Ukraine is a basket case, they had an uprising, Russia has critical military interests in Crimea and the Ukraine was turning to an anti Russian stance. Russia did about the only option they really had open to them and did it with the support of the Crimean's.

Like Israel?

America needs to back down and take care of it's own problems. The thought that it feels the need to police the whole world is insane. I know that all the press is for Crimea pyrimids and a N.W.O.

His speech if you missed it;.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVZWLqkBtf0


Like always he is good in giving a speech....But yeah that is basically all he is really good at, it makes me sick...

Honestly this whole situation is gonna have massive repercussions. If Russia presses any further into the Ukraine, and Europe doesn't actually try to stop them, the whole EU system could come tumbling down...

We really need to stop countries, that actually kill people in different countries by remote controlled vehicles. Oh wait, that are the 'good guys'. Can't eat enough as I want to vomit about the propaganda of this murderer.

Ignoring it is exactly what he is doing. Russia have made it clear they consider the existing sanctions a joke.

Thank goodness Obama had a foresight to scrap the missle defense system.. Things might be a bit different with that system in place. Obama will piss and moan, but Russia knows he is a weak leader.