Crimea.
I am not a professor of Crimean history or the politics of this spot of land, however I do know a few things and have studied Russian history.
Crimea, a very strategic spot for oil distribution, has been the subject of a chess match for power for a very long time. It was a part of the former USSR most of that time as its importance rose in the early part of this century. Granted, Crimea was an important shipping center prior to the importance of oil, but not as strategic of a location as it is in modern terms.
So is what Russia has done so terrible or are we upset because we are losing access to an important strategic location?
Since the end of the USSR, Ukraine has been the subject of a great tug-a-war between Eastern and Western interests. Crimea was a location that many ethnic Russians had migrated to during the Soviet period. When Ukraine fell apart a month or so ago the area came under anarchy. (Now what caused Ukraine to fall apart, who pushed and who pulled and who set that up is a legit question) While this area was under anarchy Russia saw a land directly on its border with a majority of ethnic Russians in anarchy. They sent in troops and set up an election. The new Ukraine had intended to do the same thing, after rebel factions took extra constitutional action by throwing out their government, they were taking action to set up a vote that would have favored their interests.
So here we sit, to me there is no "moral" side, only the side that is in our best interests. What should we do, press for our advantage, which is the same thing Russia did, or relax and not get involved.
What I hate to see is this ranting about how we have a moral obligation to stop the evil Putin and evil Russia, any action we take is just as biased and self interested as the action they are taking.
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18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
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