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NATO concerned about further Russian intervention
By Mick Krever, CNN
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview on Monday that he is “concerned about Russian military activities along the borders of Ukraine.”
Amanpour asked Rasmussen if he was worried that Russia may be “stirring up trouble” in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for intervention. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday warned of “continuing provocations” in Eastern Ukraine.
“Absolutely,” Rasmussen said. “That is a possibility, that is a clear risk that would further deteriorate the whole situation.”
With more than 20,000 Russian soldiers in Crimea, according to the interim Ukrainian government, Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to leave Ukraine and join Russia.
Crimea's Moscow-backed leaders declared that an overwhelming 96.7% voted in favor of being annexed by Russia, in a vote that Western powers said was illegal. Turnout was 83%.
“It is a Russian attempt to redraw the map, the European map, to create new dividing lines in Europe. So a lot is at stake.”
Rasmussen reiterated that military intervention is not a solution to the crisis. Ukraine is not a NATO member.
“To be very honest about it, right now I don’t see any de-escalation. On the contrary, I see Russian military build-up and this is a matter of concern.”
@camanpour on Twitter
The problem here is that the US , the single super power has no moral high ground to oppose Putin's move. Having unilaterally changed regimes in Iraq and Afganistan under its anti terrorism policy, the world has seen how destructive these moves have been to those people. The US can never ever wash away this past and now blame Russia. Technically, what Crimeans have done seems organized , swift move that took every one by surprise , though they were militarily backed by Russia. Also the west must remember that it is paying the price for supporting the overthrow of an elected government in Ukraine by some people organized with the help from various Westen governemnts. That move was very wrong. How can an elected government be replaced by some street protesters? Again, the West led by US has absolutely no moral ground to fight , but can only make some feeble voices...Move over the US, the time has come for other countries to assert their role in International arena.....the likes of Russia, China, India etc.
Suresh... exactly!
Deffenetley would prefere to be invaded by Russia, one warning shot, I can do without the carpet bombing shock and awe invasions.
Western governments organized NOONE, what happened in the Ukraine is obviously beyond your comprehension. As for moral high ground, Russia has little, the west has plenty. Unfortunately fear of war is a greater issue and Putin the gay hater will push this to the hilt.
Moral High Ground ? The US has the "M : correct but it stands for " STUPIDITY" nothing more
At this moment RUSSIA is quite organised, and i understand Putin have pressed the nerves of West to get into domination. I would say what Putin have done is quite organised. West are in the trap now, either they may lose business or would spend billions in stabilising UKRAINE. US & EU must learn through the mind and souls of USSR which is still alive in CRIMEA.
I have never believed that "the west engineered it" thing. The people have to want it all, you cannot just orchestrate such a thing.
Some people in Ukraine wanted it of course. But who is the majority, those who want or those who don't want?
For that you have elections, not a revolution!
It doesn't matter anymore of West has orchestrated the coup in Ukraine.
But West has obviously supported the revolutioners and recognized them as a government.
The Crimean people also want it. They want to be part of Russia. Therefore the west should stay out of it.
I see that Putin bloggers are the most active commenters here as well. Whatever you say, it's still ridiculous.
I keep seeing this about 'the US [...] has no moral high ground' and variations of this bait and switch routine, and am baffled as to how anyone could think it a reasonable justification.
I mean even if we grant the initial premise that the US / EU / West has no moral high-ground or transgressed before, well how the heck does that make any subsequent abuse by another state okay? It simply does not follow that if state 'A' misbehaves, therefore state 'D' may also misbehave in like fashion, that's absurd. Russia under Putin – who alters the law to remain in power – is being a regional bully 'again' and shouldn't be given a pass on international opprobrium merely because some other state you don't like may have also done wrong in the past. All this pious finger pointing at the US / EU / West serves is to hide the wrongs of one now by focusing on the less than relevant past of others. I don't know whether it's cognitive dissonance or willful ignorance but some seem remarkably keen to gloss over Russia's current transgressions by crying about everyone else. However, Russia is still in the wrong and no amount of past transgressions by others will alter that.
'Move over the US, the time has come for other countries to assert their role in International arena.....the likes of Russia, China, India'
Well at least you have identified what's truly important in all of this, which team is top of the league.
I mean even if we grant the initial premise that the US / EU / West has no moral high-ground or transgressed before, well how the heck does that make any subsequent abuse by another state okay?
The saying goes 'he who seeks equity must come with clean hands'. Practice what you preach. Simple! US is a kind of 'do as I say, not as I do'
I keep seeing this about 'the US [...] has no moral high ground' and variations of this bait and switch routine, and am baffled as to how anyone could think it a reasonable justification.
I mean even if we grant the initial premise that the US / EU / West has no moral high-ground or transgressed before, well how the heck does that make any subsequent abuse by another state okay? It simply does not follow that if state 'A' misbehaves, therefore state 'D' may also misbehave in like fashion, that's absurd. Russia under Putin – who alters the law to remain in power – is being a regional bully 'again' and shouldn't be given a pass on international opprobrium merely because some other state you don't like may have also done wrong in the past. All this pious finger pointing at the US / EU / West serves is to hide the wrongs of others now by focusing on the less than relevant past. I don't know whether it's cognitive dissonance or willful ignorance but some seem remarkably keen to gloss over Russia's current transgressions by crying about everyone else. However, Russia is still in the wrong and no amount of past transgressions by others will alter that.
'Move over the US, the time has come for other countries to assert their role in International arena.....the likes of Russia, China, India'
Well at least you have identified what's truly important in all of this, which team is top of the league.
Well said Suresh. Look at how many people have been killed as a result of the Americans overthrowing foreign governments. The Crimean situation is nothing like what the Americans have done. They have no right to lecture anyone.
Maybe Obama is dreaming of a Hollywood western cowboy movie ending?
The US has not yet realized that people in other nations still cherish morality. The EU and US can only impose symbolic sanctions after all the noise from Obama and Kerry on some individuals in Russia many of whom have come out to say they dont even own personal assets or bank accounts in US.
Even the western media took a bashing on their Ukraine position from around the world and seen by many as western govts foreign policy promotion agents, the violation of UN resolutions recently in Libya promoted as 'humanitarian bombing' by the western complicit media has not helped the image of the US to really convince the world to condemn Russia in Crimea
It is correct. The USA and European countries would have to eventually fight terrorism from Asia, Africa, Europe. The terrorists or countries with nuclear bombs can invade other countries. If USA or European countries are not friendly with Russia, China and India. USA and European countries have been fighting wars in other countries without any result. Countries that can give problems are Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Pakistan, Libya, Afghanistan, etc. USA and European countries are showing their helplessness in fighting wars against terrorism towards Russians. If USA or European countries becomes unfriendly towards Russians, they are losing the war against terrorism. If NATO provokes Russia, they may get provoked. No country has ever won a war against Russians, because they are very patriotic and are also powerful and orgniised.. Let us be friendly and fight terrorism.together.
Russia, China and India,
NATO is a JOKE, (50 years history,the only succes is war in Kosovo)
USA lost its reputation as the most powerfull nation on earth since BO became president.
Putin is playing balls with all.
Conclusion (so far...) Putin vs The others 1 : 0
Ummm, USA is the most powerful nation on earth.
Winning a war against Grenada& Panama doesn't make the US the most powerful country.
Please, stop repeating these numbers 83% turn-out, 97% for Russia. Where do those numbers come from? Were there any independent monitors? Were there any independent exit-polls or any kind of opinion polls? These numbers are made up! By repeating them western media gives this sham an appearance of legitimacy.
There's a ton of evidence that pro-Ukrainian people were intimidated, journalists were threatened, there was military everywhere! Please make it clear that these numbers are absolutely bogus and meaningless.
Exactly
Do you have any proof that these numbers "are made up"? Or it is just your wish?
You simply cannot accept that somewhere else people think differently.
Please don't call yourself democratic nations then.
Its easy to work out that they are false. The tarters make up more than 17% of the population and they boycotted the sham election there for 83% turnout was not correct.
In my opinion Vladimir Putin reputation is good enough high he is protecting russian citizen every country should respect culture and the language and he is doing right the choice of people of crimea to become a part of russia. It is their choice
"choice" does not come from gunpoint and jackboot. Especially from mr putin.
Hey! you need to go take your medicine. The Crimeans have decided, you cant push your agenda through this forum. Days of lying about Saddam throwing babies from incubator and possessing WMD and Gaddafi feeding Libyan Soldiers with viagra to molest women are over.
You cant use your media to fool the people anymore as western media is now viewed more as propaganda than truth around the world. Who listens to arranged paid 'experts' on Ukrainian affairs from Kennedy Center or whatever center discussing pre-arranged lines of thought on TV anymore?
NATO is so hypocritical. What about AMERICAN-EURO intervention that caused this crisis in the first place!
American Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs Victoria Nuland said the USA had [past tense] invested "more than 5 billion dollars" to "help" Ukraine get "the future it deserves."
Unfortunately, this "future it deserves" Victoria spoke of also included the orchestrated removal by coup d'état the legitimate President of the country (that happened to be pro-Russian) and replaced him with illegitimate yes men the USA now call the "legitimate leaders" of the country.
Ukraine was once part of the USSR. Geograhically, Whatever one may assume of Ukraine, the people are still one socially for Russia. It is the political rivals that don't share the same ideologies, some being backed by the west for the West's best interest. That of the current Ukranian leadership is temporary. Look at Crimea. The people held on for sixty years and their Russian root remains strong. Now, what of US and other West interests would sway the mind and souls of the original race in that region? US must remember their history and learn from it.
This goon said Assad in Syria only had a few weeks left – 2 years ago. He has no credibility on anything.
NATO "worried"? Yes they should be. Russia is not Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, etc., where they can act with IMPUNITY. Of course they should be very "worried" by an angry, nuclear armed BEAR.
Philippines is the greatest nation in the world. we should be included in command and conquer generals
HANDS OFF THE SOVIET UNION – THE WORLD'S GREATEST, FUKKKKING PIGS GRINNGOS AND NIGGGERS! IT'S OUR TERRITORY, OUR COUNTRY, SO WE HAVE TO DECIDE ASTO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ON OUR LAND. NEXT TIME WE ARE GONNA ANNEX ALASKA, THE RUSSIAN TERRITORY!!!
i love putin and i always support him because hate the idea of gays and leisbeans which makes no sense at all.
Now we will see that the next move by Putin (aka Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, Jr.) will be to send in the tanks, so that all of Ukraine can be "peacefully reunited" with Mother Russia..
After all, Volodya's favorite cheer is:
"Send in the tanks!
Send in the tanks!
We'll kick 'em in the nuts
When we send in the tanks!
Yaaaaay,TANKS!"
And another cheer which was once Volodya's favorite, but has been determined to have too much of Ioseb's stink on it:
"Send in the tanks!
Send in the tanks!
We'll throw 'em in the gulag
When we send in the tanks!
Yaaaaay, GULAG!"
HAH!
All my posts were deleted because they were politically undesirable.
GJ CNN!
Very energetic blog, I enjoyed that a lot. Perhaps there is a part 2? deaceebeagcgbkca