ATLASCUB Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:28 am
It's a provocation to show they mean business.
Russia has been playing from a position of weakness and thus these clowns have rightfully calculated that Russia will not try to escalate the situation. Putin has shown his hand numerous times.
If some shithole country did this to the Americans, they would blockade the whole thing, call an urgent meeting at the U.N to condemn it, and demand the boat be released or face the military consequences over it. The americans could give two shits about what China, Russia, Cuba, Iran or any of its enemies, including its allies who would quickly fall in line (despite whatever reservations) think or say, or how the media from these countries portray it.
That is power, and the willingness to use it. It sends a clear message to everyone else in the group of nations.
What's Putin camp rationalizing about now? Someone in the SBU, from the Poreshenko guard, before getting "replaced" is having their last hurrah - at least that is the narrative the channels will put out. You can bet on that.
The second I read such a muted response from Russia, with stale, run of the mill condemnations is the second you understand that the Ukranians were right in their calculations. Instead of trying to elevate the issue, it's downplayed - keeps expectations low. Russia has a lot to learn about political theatrics at the world stage.
The world keeps on going. "It's not a Russian lake after all" - an american says with a grin in his face.
As for Garry's comments. It's not impossible to stop this from re-occurring. It all depends on what message Russia sends. Like the saying goes... give an inch....
They even release the hostages to show how benevolent they're, unlike the Russians holding "ours". Perfectly played.
I don't think the message being sent right now will stop these and future provocations from re-occurring. Russians better hope Kolomoyskyi is in Putin's bag or he somehow came to an understanding with Putin and gang - though I doubt it, unless he appears magically in Russia somehow. The second Americans come to the conclusion that Koloyskyi is lost and non-negotiable - the second he'll have to run.
Russia has, for some reason, been trying to keep the appearance that they are not at war with Ukraine. But they're, they're at war with cancerous elements in Ukraine that are holding millions of people, RUSSIANS, hostage. It can't run away from the fact, or pretend it's not.
Like Putin rightfully says, "we're one people, the same".
Last edited by ATLASCUB on Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:01 am; edited 10 times in total