The Presidents of Russia and the USA were on the phone discussing further sanctions when the missile hit Malaysia Airlines 17. Evidently, President Putin knew immediately as it happened. Considering his military was in the area mentoring whoever fired the missile it isn't surprising Russia had the inside track on information.
While every nation in the world has had enough of Russia's policies of aggression and disregard of international treaties, it is time the Russian government take ownership of this tragedy and end the conflict along the border with Ukraine.
This level of weapons within the striking distance of Europe and in the hands of extremists is more than any other nation should tolerate. If President Putin will remember there is a treaty that once was intact providing for a sovereign Ukraine whereby peace was GUARANTEED. No country was to interfere in Ukraine's economy or politics. Ukraine was basically a neutral country. That treaty alone also guaranteed Europe was a peace partner in the region. This sudden reality of extremist armament has shattered that peace.
The argument can be made the Ukraine insurgents have obtained armaments from old stocks left in the country post treaty, but, there has been dearly little agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end the extremists ability to war. It is time for Russia to work with Ukraine to end the military build up at the Ukraine border. That build up is not in the national interest of Russia. Playing Russian politics with "I double dare you," has cost the lives of 285 people from many, many nations globally. Russia cannot expect to come out of this unscathed in it's reputation.
Russia is becoming it's own problem now because of the politics of aggression and nationalism. There is no leadership by Vladimir Putin to reign in the extremists and change the tone of Russia in an international theater.
The passengers and crew of Malaysian Airlines 17 are lost forever. There is no waiting to find out the outcome of the plane. There is nothing for the airlines to do, but, to settle financial affairs with families. This event is as bad as it gets. The Malaysian government is demanding the perpetrators be found and held for trial. What are the chances of that happening?
Even if the perpetrators are found, will Russia allow their apprehension or chalk it up to the slings and arrows of war?
This event has completely disrupted the world's sense of potential to peace, it's alliances, it's economic strengths and the potential of isolating Russia from the capacity of carrying out this extent of aggression ever again. If Russia doesn't exhibit leadership by delivering Ukraine radicals to The Hague and settle border issues with Ukraine this land between the two countries will become a no man's land similar to the DMZ between North and South Korea. Is that what Russians want for their country? Do they want to be isolated, alone with a deteriorating economy into impoverishment without potential for the future?
Does Russia become the post WW I Germany that will eventually seek to destroy those that simply wanted the end to the causalities and chaos or war. Does Russia believe it's ability to remain sovereign is so delicate it cannot become a global leader to peace?
Shake off the communists, they are destructive to their own outcomes. Eastern Ukraine is not a unique region of the world with cultural differences, language practices about to disappear off Earth to warrant protectionism in the way of separatism. The insurgents in Eastern Ukraine are about power. They will serve Russia's purpose of an expansive eastern border to act as a 'place holder' between Russia and The West.
Russians have little to fear when it comes to Ukraine. They had even less to fear before Russian nationalism delivered a shattered peace in the way of treaty violations. Now, there are 285 dead innocents. Russia needs to lead to end these tensions, otherwise, it is my best estimate it will begin an isolation it will regret in the not too distant future.
July 17, 2014
By Neil MacFarquhar and Andrew E. Kramer
While every nation in the world has had enough of Russia's policies of aggression and disregard of international treaties, it is time the Russian government take ownership of this tragedy and end the conflict along the border with Ukraine.
This level of weapons within the striking distance of Europe and in the hands of extremists is more than any other nation should tolerate. If President Putin will remember there is a treaty that once was intact providing for a sovereign Ukraine whereby peace was GUARANTEED. No country was to interfere in Ukraine's economy or politics. Ukraine was basically a neutral country. That treaty alone also guaranteed Europe was a peace partner in the region. This sudden reality of extremist armament has shattered that peace.
The argument can be made the Ukraine insurgents have obtained armaments from old stocks left in the country post treaty, but, there has been dearly little agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end the extremists ability to war. It is time for Russia to work with Ukraine to end the military build up at the Ukraine border. That build up is not in the national interest of Russia. Playing Russian politics with "I double dare you," has cost the lives of 285 people from many, many nations globally. Russia cannot expect to come out of this unscathed in it's reputation.
Russia is becoming it's own problem now because of the politics of aggression and nationalism. There is no leadership by Vladimir Putin to reign in the extremists and change the tone of Russia in an international theater.
The passengers and crew of Malaysian Airlines 17 are lost forever. There is no waiting to find out the outcome of the plane. There is nothing for the airlines to do, but, to settle financial affairs with families. This event is as bad as it gets. The Malaysian government is demanding the perpetrators be found and held for trial. What are the chances of that happening?
Even if the perpetrators are found, will Russia allow their apprehension or chalk it up to the slings and arrows of war?
This event has completely disrupted the world's sense of potential to peace, it's alliances, it's economic strengths and the potential of isolating Russia from the capacity of carrying out this extent of aggression ever again. If Russia doesn't exhibit leadership by delivering Ukraine radicals to The Hague and settle border issues with Ukraine this land between the two countries will become a no man's land similar to the DMZ between North and South Korea. Is that what Russians want for their country? Do they want to be isolated, alone with a deteriorating economy into impoverishment without potential for the future?
Does Russia become the post WW I Germany that will eventually seek to destroy those that simply wanted the end to the causalities and chaos or war. Does Russia believe it's ability to remain sovereign is so delicate it cannot become a global leader to peace?
Shake off the communists, they are destructive to their own outcomes. Eastern Ukraine is not a unique region of the world with cultural differences, language practices about to disappear off Earth to warrant protectionism in the way of separatism. The insurgents in Eastern Ukraine are about power. They will serve Russia's purpose of an expansive eastern border to act as a 'place holder' between Russia and The West.
Russians have little to fear when it comes to Ukraine. They had even less to fear before Russian nationalism delivered a shattered peace in the way of treaty violations. Now, there are 285 dead innocents. Russia needs to lead to end these tensions, otherwise, it is my best estimate it will begin an isolation it will regret in the not too distant future.
July 17, 2014
By Neil MacFarquhar and Andrew E. Kramer
MOSCOW — The double game (click here) that the Kremlin has been accused of playing in
eastern Ukraine for weeks — publicly endorsing peace talks while
surreptitiously supporting the separatists with arms and men — suddenly
appeared less crafty than possibly disastrous on Thursday after the
crash of a civilian jetliner in a Ukrainian field.
What
brought Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tumbling out of the sky, killing
all 298 people aboard, remained uncertain. But given the immediate
suspicions raised in Kiev and Washington that a sophisticated missile
ripped it apart, the crash brought the question of who was responsible
right to the doorstep of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
“It
is an extremely awkward moment for the Kremlin,” said Dmitry Trenin,
director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. “Everyone in the West and in
Ukraine is already pointing their fingers at the Kremlin. They are not
waiting for an inquiry — they are blaming Russia today.”...
It would be a prudent step in resolving these hostilities to secure the area where the jet fell to Earth and begin an investigation to answer the questions of nations. The sooner that begins, the sooner productive dialogue can occur to end these hideous, but, necessary tensions.
It is too late to point fingers, President Putin. Too many are involved now and it is far more than enemies and allies. Neutralizing terrorist networks is where the global focus needs to be, not fighting Old World grudges.
It would be a prudent step in resolving these hostilities to secure the area where the jet fell to Earth and begin an investigation to answer the questions of nations. The sooner that begins, the sooner productive dialogue can occur to end these hideous, but, necessary tensions.
It is too late to point fingers, President Putin. Too many are involved now and it is far more than enemies and allies. Neutralizing terrorist networks is where the global focus needs to be, not fighting Old World grudges.
