Read President Putin's Speech on Ukraine and Crimea

If you want to really understand what is going on in Crimea and the Ukraine, read Putin's full speech here: http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/6889 -- excerpt below --

President of Russia: Vladimir Putin addressed State Duma deputies, Federation Council members, heads of Russian regions and civil society representatives in the Kremlin, March 18, 2014 ...."Dear friends, we have gathered here today in connection with an issue that is of vital, historic significance to all of us. A referendum was held in Crimea on March 16 in full compliance with democratic procedures and international norms. More than 82 percent of the electorate took part in the vote. Over 96 percent of them spoke out in favour of reuniting with Russia. These numbers speak for themselves. To understand the reason behind such a choice it is enough to know the history of Crimea and what Russia and Crimea have always meant for each other. Everything in Crimea speaks of our shared history and pride. This is the location of ancient Khersones, where Prince Vladimir was baptised. His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the overall basis of the culture, civilisation and human values that unite the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The graves of Russian soldiers whose bravery brought Crimea into the Russian empire are also in Crimea. This is also Sevastopol – a legendary city with an outstanding history, a fortress that serves as the birthplace of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Crimea is Balaklava and Kerch, Malakhov Kurgan and Sapun Ridge .... I would like to reiterate that I understand those who came out on Maidan with peaceful slogans against corruption, inefficient state management and poverty. The right to peaceful protest, democratic procedures and elections exist for the sole purpose of replacing the authorities that do not satisfy the people. However, those who stood behind the latest events in Ukraine had a different agenda: they were preparing yet another government takeover; they wanted to seize power and would stop short of nothing. They resorted to terror, murder and riots. Nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites executed this coup. They continue to set the tone in Ukraine to this day...." (read the full transcript at the link above)

There's a lot more to this story than what the mainstream media and current regime in Washington D.C., would have you believe.

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Russia, Crimea, American Mainstream Media Lies

The Crimean peninsula was controlled by, or actually part of, Russia from the 18th to 20th centuries until it became part of an independent Ukraine following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"Ironically, US media portrays the actions of Putin to Hitler. The reality is right-wing Hitleristic goons now occupy key posts in Ukraine. Even the generally-liberal Huffington Post recognize that fact. Please consider The Neo-Nazi Question in Ukraine. The Obama administration has vehemently denied charges that Ukraine's nascent regime is stock full of neo-fascists despite clear evidence suggesting otherwise." (source infra)
Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: Was Russia's Annexation of Crimea Illegal? Who Has the Right to Decide? Transformation of Mainstream Media: " .... Take Your Pick: Story A or Story B

Story A: Crimea has historically been a part of Russia for centuries. Russian troops in Crimea were there by agreement. Thus, Russia did not invade Crimea. The US [government] fomented trouble in Ukraine (and got it, but did not like the result). Crimea voted overwhelmingly to rejoin Russia. There is no legitimate reason to disavow that vote, whether we like the result or not. The US reneged on promises to not let NATO expand into Eastern bloc countries. Obama and US officials lie through their teeth, even to the point of supporting neo-nazis now running Ukraine. The IMF is now poised to wreck what remains of Ukraine.

Story B: Russia invaded Crimea. The vote for independence was illegal. It doesn't matter that the US reneged on promises not to put NATO in Eastern Europe. Any force Obama wants to apply to Russia is valid. Sending US missiles to the Czech Republic and Ukraine makes sense. Freedom fighters now run Ukraine.

I Vote for Story A...."

Read more at http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/was-russias-annexation-of-crimea.html#x4mxGRXMFuFjRVgj.99

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Obama Blew It, Secession of Crimea from the Ukraine

Russia Has Legitimate Interest in Ukraine: Klau: Video - Bloomberg: "March 6 (Bloomberg) -- Thomas Klau, Senior Policy Fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the historic relationship between Russia and Ukraine, and possible actions from the EU amid the crisis. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “The Pulse.” (Source: Bloomberg)"

Russians Back Secession of Crimea and Pressure Kiev - NYTimes.com: "Leaders of both houses of Russia’s Parliament said on Friday that they would support a vote by Crimea to break away from Ukraine and become a new region of the Russian Federation, the first public signal that the Kremlin was backing the secessionist move that Ukraine, the United States and other countries have denounced as a violation of international law."

I am disappointed and amazed at the sophomoric Obama administration, particular the White House staff who think they are somehow being smart or cute by ridiculing President Putin. Putin is no Mitt Romney. And Obama and his administration have made a big mistake and repeated miscalculations in their handling of the Ukraine issue, particularly Crimea. The Russian naval base on Crimea is the equivalent of the US naval base at Pearl Harbor before Hawaii ever became a state. Crimea was part of Russia long before the Soviet Union came into being. It was nominally made a part of the Ukraine by Soviet Union premier Nikita Kruschev (himself a Ukrainian) but that had no practical effect since the Ukraine was then part of the Soviet Union. The majority of people on Crimea are ethnically Russian and speak Russian. Does Obama really think Putin is going to allow Ukraine, with Crimea in tow, to join the EU and NATO and take away Russia's Pearl Harbor--even when the majority of Crimeans want to be allied with, or part of, Russia? For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimea and here.

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