It's quite clear what's happening .

The Russian military has been amassing troops near
the country's border with Ukraine, sparking a
diplomatic crisis and heightening US and European fears
that Moscow is preparing for an imminent invasion of its
neighbours.

Russia seized Crimea in 2014. A clue to Mr Putin's thinking
came in a lengthy piece last year when he called Russians
and Ukrainians "One nation."

If Russia's only aim is to force NATO away from the area -
it should not have started to amass its troops
there in the first place. Nato's 30 members have turned down
flat any attempt to tie their hands for the future and let
Russia do what it wants. That's how previous occupations
occurred there in the first place and started the cold war.
It appears that history may be about to be repeated.

Russia has denied it is planning to invade (then why the
troops?) but it is continuing to amass more troops. Actions
speak louder than words.

It is also vehemently opposed to Ukraine's efforts to join
NATO. Gee I wonder why? Plus Moscow also wants guarantees
that the US led alliance will stop its expansion into
former Soviet occupied territories. Again - I wonder Why?
Seriously though Washington and NATO have rejected the
demands as long as Russian military continue amassing
near the borders of these countries.

NATO is considering a longer term military posture in
Eastern Europe to strengthen its defences which will be
welcomed by the very concerned countries.

Putin claims that the West promised in 1990 that NATO will
expand "not an inch to the east." But did so anyway. That
claim is not true. It was before the collapse of the
Soviet Union so the promise made to Soviet President
Gorbachev only referred to East Germany in the context
of a reunited Germany. Mr Gorbachev later said that
"the topic of NATO expansion was never discussed at the
time."

As the old placards used to say - "Ruskie Go Home!"
If the Russians would do just that - this crisis
could be settled.

Would Australia listen to China if China demanded
that American troops and military leave our shores
and waters while China continued to amass their
military around our door-step?

Would our government comply if China insisted that Australia
break its ties with the US and its allies?

Or would it let China do whatever it wants?

The same applies to Russia.

Nobody wants a war but giving in to bullies is not an
option.

Chinese warship have been circling Australia
for the past few years. It's a fact well-recorded.
Where would we be without the US and our allies?
So why blame Eastern Europe for being concerned
about Russia's hungry eyes and actions?

This is the article that Foxy lifted (sans attribution) her most recent posts.... http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589

The bits she left out are probably revealing.

Its all very well to say that Russia should be stopped from absorbing all or part of Ukraine. Its quite another to not offer any suggestions as to how that might be achieved if the Russians decide on military action. Just demanding that someone do 'sumfing' doesn't really help.

Personally I don't think Putin sees a need to absorb Ukraine through his military. Given the weakness of the western leadership, Putin believes he can get what he wants without firing a shot. But he will if needs be because he is much more committed to neutralising the Ukrainian threat than the west is committed to defending the rights of a beleaguered nation.

Meanwhile Xi sits on the sidelines evaluating what all this means vis a vis Taiwan.

__________________________________________________________________

Paul,

"where were you at the time of the Vietnam War,"

In Australia. Not quite old enough to be drafted but old enough to ponder the reason for the draft.

"You might consider yourself the Fountain of Knowledge on the Forum.."
Only in comparison to some. No names mind you.

"so many show you up to be a dill on most subjects"
More of your fantasies Paul?

"Pray tell what was Vietnam all about, in your opinion."
Like all wars there are many causes and aims. But primarily it had three causes:

* the thirst for power of the Communist leadership and their Chinese/Russian sponsors
* the desire of the US to stop yet another non-communist and potentially democratic country from being absorbed by that failed ideology.
* the desire to halt the outward expansion of communism in south-East Asia and elsewhere.

Pretty much the same reasons as caused the Korean conflict.

All were proxy wars for the much larger contest between democracy and totalitarianism.

Putin has long viewed Ukraine simply as an
extension of his own nation. However to many Ukrainians
Mr Putin's appeal to a shared history is little but
a hollow attempt to appropriate the country's own
heritage and justify territorial ambitions.

"They stole our past," said Alyona Getmanchuk, director
of the New Europe Center, a pro-Western think tank in
Kiev, "Now they're trying to steal our future."

In 2014 Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea
and fomented a still-running separatist war in the country's
east. Mr Putin has sought ever since to prevent Ukraine's drift
toward the West and has voiced growing anger that the US
is training with and helping arm Ukrainian soldiers.

We shall have to wait and see how far Mr Putin is prepared
to go with his bluffs. Hopefully he will not be allowed to succeed.

mhaze,

Your reasons are straight out of the Yankee Imperialist play book, a cut and paste job. So you were playing in the sand pit at the time of the Vietnam War. Glad you can think for yourself. As I said, Fountain of Knowledge equals dill. You just have to Google harder, or stick to koalas, another subject you know nothing about.
Steele might be along shortly to show you up for the umpteenth time.