Gordon Taras about an hour ago . My assessment: Putin is using the Ukraine situation as an opportunity to break out from #4 status (US, Europe, China) with limited international influence. He sees Russia as falling behind China in the establishment of international trade. He is pushing the west for sanctions so that he has an excuse to break away from western position in the Syrian and Iranian negotiations and setup direct alliances with these two countries. This opens his door for further international trade and being open for alliances / business with any other regimes facing western sanctions. If he can get North Korea to play along, he will establish world-wide trade routes. Clinton is close in recognizing that Russia is using Sudetenland tactics, but I dont believe Putin is after a land-grab in Europe. He is after re-establishing Russian dominance ala the Soviet Union, but not with a socialistic agenda, but rather a strong-arm agenda. Watch for him to start setting up alliances with warlords.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:43:53 +0000