Now Crimea Has “Voted” To Join Russia
So I guess we’re all good then, right?
(Reuters) – Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia on Thursday and its Moscow-backed government set a referendum within 10 days on the decision in a dramatic escalation of the crisis over the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula.
The sudden acceleration of moves to bring Crimea, which has an ethnic Russian majority and has effectively been seized by Russian forces, formally under Moscow’s rule came as European Union leaders gathered for an emergency summit to seek ways to pressure Russia to back down and accept mediation.
The Crimean parliament voted unanimously “to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation”. The vice premier of Crimea, home to Russia’s Black Sea military base in Sevastopol, said a referendum on the status would take place on March 16.
Democracy flowing from the barrel of a gun.
Military Thingies, Politics, World Stuff | Mr. Bingley | 
March 6, 2014 7:11 am
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It’s hard to object. I’m a staunch believer in self determination. If the Crimean people want this, they should get it.
This area has been predominantly Ethnically Russian for centuries. If the Ukraine had had a better government, they probably would want to stay. But given the choice of chaos from an ousted government and the devil they know in Russia, it’s not a clear choice.
The Ukraine had an opportunity to form a government that fostered freedom and the rule of law and they blew it. It’s hard to say they are necessarily the good guys.
I’m not being pro Russian, I’m saying I don’t much care, so long as Russia doesn’t try to take all of the Ukraine.
Well, I think only if you define “centuries” as since the 30s when Stalin shipped everybody else off to Siberia, no?
Breaking News:
The predominantly Arab population of Ann Arbor, Michigan have voted to make the city a Muslim State.
Film at 11.
Skyler, I concede that there’s little to be done about Russia, but shrugging this off with rationalization of a bad idea is merely denial.
Not to mention, Mr. Bingley is correct. All of this is a facade so that Putin looks good while grabbing territory.
I really don’t know if splitting off Crimea is justifiable, or not, but it certainly shouldn’t be happening unlawfully and at gunpoint from a foreign aggressor.
It would mean a lot of people there would suddenly be living in Russia against their will, including the Tatars. Sevastopol might have a huge number of Russians keen to expand the empire but Crimea is more than just Sevastopol.
It always starts small. Today Crimea, tomorrow the Ukraine, next week Moldovia etc…
One man, one vote, one time.
“All those in favor of seceding and joining Russia signify by saying Da. All those desiring an all-expenses paid trip to beautiful Siberia signify by saying Nyet. The Da’s have it.”
The thing is that it is too late to do anything about it short of all out war. The time to have protected Crimea was two decades ago. We don’t seem to be good at appreciating those that would like to side with us against the Russians. We should have moved our army and air force out of its comfortable quarters in Germany and moved them over to Poland and Azerbaijan and the Ukraine back in the late 1990’s.
I’m with Skyler on this (both posts).
And I’ll note that “with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation” is well, imperialistic? “Subject”?
Slaves are subjects. One of the reasons I’m not a (BIG L) Libertarian is that I’ve noted that people will happily sell themselves into slavery, given the chance.