[quote=FlyerInHi]Seems to me like this is a European problem. Why are we taking ownership of something that was created in Brussels? Let the Europeans lead with the sanctions and sacrifices to their economies.

The Russians want a first among equals position to be eventually integrated into a greater Europe. But the western Europeans were seeking to draw Russia into Europe under their own terms rather than Russia’s.

So now we have a Russia that will seek its own way forward.

The Crimean pensioners doubled their pensions under Russia. Seems like a good deal for Crimea so far.[/quote]
It is on Europe’s borders, but it is also on NATO’s borders which is a US inspired entity. I’ve not heard that Russia wants to be integrated into Europe and there would likely be problems with that.

But whatever, it is amazing that after two world wars, followed by the Cold War, there are still these tensions and flare-ups. The Soviet threat has gone, Russia is no longer a super-power, and there seems to be a wish for a return to the good old bash Russia days. I’m not saying Russia is guiltless. I’m saying we are all complicit. We vote these politicians into power and they act like children; unable to resolve their differences, creating tensions, misleading, and then holding the electorate and tax payer to ransom. How dare they! They are public servants. We are the public and that makes them the servants. We pay their wages. And then there’s the problem of knuckleheads …is that part of the human condition as well? May be it all is ..I give up.