Friday, March 21, 2014
War is Inevitable
So says one of Alexander Motyl's friends in Lviv.
And when it comes, Russian forces will use Ukrainian women and children as shields. So says Vladimir Putin. Motyl's analysis of Putin's recent press conference makes this seem very probable.
Here's an excerpt, from the official Kremlin translation:
QUESTION: But there are Ukrainian troops, there is the Ukrainian army.
And when it comes, Russian forces will use Ukrainian women and children as shields. So says Vladimir Putin. Motyl's analysis of Putin's recent press conference makes this seem very probable.
Here's an excerpt, from the official Kremlin translation:
QUESTION: But there are Ukrainian troops, there is the Ukrainian army.
VLADIMIR PUTIN: Listen carefully. I want you to understand me clearly: if we make that decision, it will only be to protect Ukrainian citizens. And let’s see those troops try to shoot their own people, with us behind them—not in the front, but behind. Let them just try to shoot at women and children! I would like to see those who would give that order in Ukraine.
Little surprise, then, that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have all asked for a meeting under Article 4 of the NATO Charter. I wonder how close we are to the invoking of Article 5?
