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Thus, I ask again where Russia's "regional" (notquiteright's term, post #167) or national security interest are concerned (i.e., protecting their oil pipelines that run through Ukraine or their Black Sea ports they leased to Ukraine), have these assets been threatened by Ukrainian military or militia groups? If not, then IMO Russia has no business sending their military into the Ukraine.
I see the logic. However, for the logic to hold, everyone must agree on the definitions of both terms (threat and Ukraine). Crimea was part of Russia for two hundred years before it was tranfered to Ukraine (conveniently by an ethnically Ukrainian soviet premier). With that in mind, Russia concludes that Crimea is not "Ukraine".
I agree it is not perfect, or even close to perfect. And I do have reservations about the fairness of the referendum.
However, with most Crimeans being of Russian descent and the fact that the Ukraine is a political and financial mess...I have a feeling that Russian troops or no Russian troops, the Crimea would rather be part of Russia then the Ukraine. I certainly would were I an ethnic Russian Crimean.
There was a referendum twenty years ago ( a fair one) and most locals went for Ukraine. Likewise, the census data showing Russians in a strong majority is 13 years old - and large numbers of indigenous Tatars (pro Ukrainian) have returned to the area as well as the possibility of ethnic Russians having left. Even the Russian definition of "Russian" might be stretched. A certain number of the Russians are Russian gypsies and might not be inclined to vote along stretched ethnic lines.
If independence is an option (something the Russians dont want on the ballot), then the referendum gets even more cloudy. With all this, one can see why the Russians dont want to take chances with even remotely fair referendum.
I do, however, agree with your point about hypocrisy. Some how I think Obama would have a very different reaction if Puerto Rico tried to leave the USA. Likewise, the feds have announced that Alaska cant leave - even if they want to. Of course, splitting up other countires such as Serbia is a different matter....
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