Thread: What Is Happening In Ukraine Is Far More Important Than Most People Realize

WW3 Alert: Russians Begin Massing Troops On Ukraine Border, Russian Marines On ‘War Footing’ In Crimea, Arrive In Sevastopol (Video)

Monday, February 24, 2014 12:17
(Before It's News)



According to AGTI Intelligence, a private security firm, Russian troops are massing 25 miles from the Ukrainian border.

The Russians had begun massing troops at Belgorod, 25 miles north to the Ukrainian border. Rostov on-Don and Sevastopol also on high alert
— Global Alerts (@AGTIntelligence) February 24, 2014

According to their website:

AGT Intelligence (AGT) is a multinational leading defense and national security organization providing innovative, mission-critical solutions to government and private clients.

It is also thought that now outlaw President Yanukvych has taken refuge at the Russian naval base in Sevastopol which also happens to be where the Ukrainian fleet is. There are rumours that Russian marines have begun some sort of operation in the Crimea at Sevastopol but as of now it is unconfirmed. There are also rumours that Russia has airlifted personnel of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Division from Kubinka and Pskov to Anapa as well as six MI-8 aircraft. (east of Ukraine border).

UPDATE: This has been confirmed by the Russian Navy itself: (Translated)

Today at 12:00 of Temryuk port (Russia) should arrive in Sevastopol large landing ship “Nikolai Fil’chenkov” with 200 soldiers on board. In this Monday, Feb. 24, citing its sources from the Crimea, the chairman of the Ukrainian faction “Freedom” Oleg Tyagnibok correspondent MFN.
“I can show sms” – said Tyahnibok and read: “Today at 12:00 foreseen arrival of Temryuk port in the Russian Federation in the city of Sevastopol large landing ship” Nikolai Fil’chenkov “from the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. It takes about 200 armed soldiers 328 – separate battalion of Marines, who are based in Temryuk and 10 BTR-80. “

He also noted that “on February 22-23, … IL-76 flights airlifted from Kubinka (Moscow region) to Anapa personnel of the 45th Airborne Special Forces units and four Il-76 flights from Pskov to Anapa more division relocated. And from Sochi Anapa airlifted six Mi-8 aircraft (obviously, Mi-8 – MFN) “- said Tyahnibok.

What is known is that as Interfax Ukraine reported, “At the entrance to Sevastopol near restaurant “Puck” at the Yalta highway appeared antitank hedgehogs - crew patrol says it measure against frequent carjackings in Sebastopol, said “Sevastopol newspaper.”Source

• 810th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade — Kazachye Bukhta, Sevastopol (a Separate Naval Infantry Regiment until 1 December 2008
  
  • 880 Separate Naval Infantry Battalion
  • 881 Separate Assault Battalion
  • 888 Separate Reconnaissance Battalion
  • 1613 Separate Artillery Battery
  • 1619 Separate Air-Defense Artillery Battery
  
  
• 382 Separate Naval Infantry Battalion

A Naval Infantry Brigade, equipped with the PT-76 or T-80 and BRDM-2, consists of 2 Tank Battalions, and 4 to 5 Naval Infantry Battalions, one motorised with BTR-60-series amphibious vehicles. A tank battalion originally had 36 MBTs. At least one infantry battalion is airborne trained, while all of the remaining infantry battalions are trained to be able to carry out air assault missions. Source

Perhaps the most troubling thing about rumours of Russian military movement is the ‘proof’ provided below in the video. It is unconfirmed so take the video as is but the Olympics are over and Russia sees the government in Kiev as no more than mutinous criminals and completely illegitimate.








Ukrainian flags are being burned and Russian flags are being raised in the Crimea and East #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/wldkxsDSXu
— DJ Rubiconski (@Rubiconski) February 24, 2014



That picture says it all. I fully expect Russia to send in troops to, at the very the least, the Crimean Peninsula. But, if it is true and they are massing in Belgorod than I expect nothing less than an invasion of the Eastern Ukraine.
According to one source:

More grimly, this report continues, General Gerasimov was “advised” by President Putin to contact his NATO counterpart to inform the West of an “immediate order”given to Black Sea Naval Infantry and Coastal Defense forces in the Crimea oblast to protect the vital Isthmus of Perekop, which is the narrow 5-7 km wide strip of land that connects the peninsula of Crimea to the mainland of Ukraine.

Russian troops put onto “full war footing” to defend Crimea, this report says, include the nearly 1,200 soldier/marines of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade along with supporting forces belonging to the 880 Separate Naval Infantry Battalion, 881 Separate Assault Battalion, 888 Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, 1613 Separate Artillery Battery and the 1619 Separate Air-Defense Artillery Battery.

Again, if true, and there is no reason for it not to be, we are talking about the Ukraine here, than this could very well spell the beginning of a much bigger and disastrous war, World War 3 even.. Russia has every reason to fight this, politically and militarily. Stay tuned. -Mort


http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative...o-2905610.html

It’s On: Putin Deploys Troop Battalion: Russians Raise Flag Over Ukranian Republic of Crimea

Monday, February 24, 2014 22:08
(Before It's News)

A couple of weeks ago President Barack Obama joined Bob Costas in an interview during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic games being held in Sochi, Russia. The President, who didn’t attend the ceremony or games with other world leaders, chalked off his absence to his busy schedule. Instead, Obama sent a delegation in his stead that consisted of various gay and lesbian members, which was an obvious political move intended to highlight America’s outrage over Russia’s recent anti-gay legislation.
Though the President claimed in his interview that his relationship with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin was warm, one can’t help but wonder if things between the United States and Russia have soured significantly. A week after claiming he had too much to do and couldn’t support America’s athletes at the games, Obama took a three day golfing junket with buddies.
Then, out of nowhere, just as Vladimir Putin prepared to showcase his $51 billion games to the world, rioting and rebellion broke out in neighboring Ukraine. Some might say that it is pure coincidence, but as Franklin Roosevelt once opined, “”in politics, nothing happens by accident.” Within days of the uprisings investigations began to reveal that U.S. covert operations groups more than likely played a role.
Coincidence? Maybe. But when considering the same modus operandi appeared in uprisings in Iran, Egypt and Syria over the last several years, we can conclude that the United States was heavily involved in the Ukraine as well.
The timing of the Ukranian revolution was just… a little too perfect.
While it may seem, from our perspective, that the United States has the upper hand because Russian-backed Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych has been deposed in a mirror event of what happened in Egypt, it should be clear that Vladimir Putin knows exactly what’s going on.
This past August, ahead of a possible conflict in Syria Putin reportedly deployed some 160,000 Russian troops to the region and thinly veiled threats of the potential for a nuclear counter-strike made headlines. President Obama, in an attempt to save face, backed down, claiming the situation had been defused (though no resolution to the alleged chemical weapons attack had been reached).
Now we’re back to the Ukraine, where a similar set of events are in play. And, once again, not willing to blink in any way, shape or form, and as the Olympic Games came to a close, Vladimir Putin is flexing his military might.
According to a report from Zero Hedge, though Ukraine proper is currently in the hands of pro-Western allies, Putin has deployed troops to the Ukranian autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Today at 12:00 from the Russian port of Temryuk should arrive in Sevastopol [Crimea], the large landing ship “Nikolai Fil’chenkov” with 200 soldiers on board. This was reported today by the chairman of the Ukraine “Freedom” faction Oleg Tyagnibok citing sources in the Crimean.
“I can show you the text message” – said Tyahnibok and read: “Today at 12:00 is expected the arrival from the port of Temryuk in the Russian Federation in the city of Sevastopol large landing ship Nikolai Fil’chenkov from the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. It will bring about 200 armed soldiers from the 328th Marine battalion, who are based in Temryuk and 10 BTR-80.”
He also noted that “on February 22-23, … IL-76 flights airlifted from Kubinka (Moscow region) to Anapa, personnel from the 45th Airborne Special Forces unit and additional divisions were relocated via four Il-76 flights from Pskov to Anapa. And from Sochi to Anapa were transported six Mi-8 helicopsters”- said Tyahnibok.
This appears to not be an isolated move as the naval build up seems to be escalating. In a concurrent release, Izvestia Kiev reported that out of Kubinka, four ships carrying special forces, are being relocated to Anapa. From there, in four hours, they will depart fo Sevastopol at a speed of 10-15 knots, citing “Izvestia in Ukraine” as a source.

A report from Infowars.com indicates that not only are Russian troops now on the peninsula, they have raised the Russian flag over the city of Sevastopol, Crimea and a total annexation of the Republic may be in the works.

Crimea has signaled secession from Ukraine and possible annexation by Russia may be acceptable. The Guardian reported earlier today that a Russian flag was hoisted over the city hall in Sevastopol.
Rumors are rife that Viktor Yanukovych, the deposed president of Ukraine, may be hiding out in Crimea.

John Little at OmegaShock.com penned a brief analysis of the situation in the Ukraine. His insights were eerily prescient. Well before the world was aware of Russian troop movements Little noted that Putin would more than likely be forced to engage in military operations. You see, the Russians simply cannot let the Ukraine fall to the west.

Why?
Because of the Carpathian Mountains.
…since Ukraine is on the Russian side of the Carpathians… those mountains would no longer be a barrier to invasion and would double Russia’s vulnerability. Russia would need twice the army to guard that border. And, Russia cannot afford to support an army of that size.
That is why Russia CANNOT allow Ukraine to fall into the hands of the European Union. So, expect Russia to quietly and firmly up the pressure. If Putin can take back Ukraine by covert means, he’ll do that. If the US and EU block covert action, Putin will send in troops.

Though we don’t foresee any widespread military conflict as a result of the U.S. and Russian moves in the near-term, the mobilization of troops and covert forces from both the East and West is indicative of a growing trend, and one that doesn’t bode well for the future of a peaceful co-existence.
Whether it’s the middle east, Asia, north Africa or eastern Europe, Russia and the United States continue to bump heads.
President Obama backed down in Syria.
What happens in the Ukraine remains to be seen, but it should be clear that these regionalized skirmishes will continue in an effort by both Russia and the United States to realize hegemony over resources, geography and political influence around the world.
In an interview with Joel Skousen of World Affairs Brief, it was noted that the eventual result of these mini-conflicts will be nothing short of thermo-nuclear warfare.
President Obama will be on his way in a few years. We can expect Vladimir Putin to be the President of Russia for decades to come. And you can be assured of one thing: Putin wants Russia to be at the top of the food chain and he’ll stop at nothing to make that happen.
One of these days he’s going to get fed up with the games, and along with China, they’ll begin the process of attacking America. In fact, the process has already begun on the economic playing field. Sometime within the next decade, as noted by Joel Skousen, we’re going to see someone push that legendary “red button” and all hell will break loose.
Ukraine may not be the trigger event, but it sure as heck provides an insight into the mindset of the leaders vying for power.
We can be fairly certain that Vladimir Putin is willing to go all the way to protect Mother Russia’s interests. How far is our Nobel Peace Prize winning President willing to go to do the same for the Homeland?



Source: http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/reponse-putin-deploys-troop-battalion-russians-raise-flag-over-ukranian-republic-of-crimea_02242014


http://beforeitsnews.com/survival/20...a-2512092.html

http://www.alipac.us/f19/entire-plan...arouch-298229/

Russian Navy On The Move: Ukraine

Monday, February 24, 2014 17:59
(Before It's News)

In this newly released video from Christopher Greene and GreenewaveTV we learn that the Russian Navy is now on the move to the Ukraine. While Barack Obama and National Security Advisor Susan Rice are warning Russia not to make moves in the Ukraine, it seems that Russia has other intentions. In the 2nd and newly released video below, Christopher shares with us the truth about the Ukrainian revolution that the msm doesn’t want us to know.





http://beforeitsnews.com/war-and-con...e-2450550.html

Russian Ships Carrying Soldiers Said To Be En Route To Sevastopol

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/24/2014 15:50 -0500

Those tracking the developments in the Ukraine, and specifically the Russian response to this weekend's coup, will be interested to note that according to the Russian flot.com website, the large landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov, previously known for its participation in the Syrian naval arms build up, is expected to arrive in the Crimean port of Sevastopol carrying 200 armed soldiers, sent from the nearby Black Sea town of Temryuk.


From Flot.com

Today at 12:00 from the Russian port of Temryuk should arrive in Sevastopol, the large landing ship "Nikolai Fil'chenkov" with 200 soldiers on board. This was reported today by the chairman of the Ukraine "Freedom" faction Oleg Tyagnibok citing sources in the Crimean.

"I can show you the text message" - said Tyahnibok and read: "Today at 12:00 is expected the arrival from the port of Temryuk in the Russian Federation in the city of Sevastopol large landing ship Nikolai Fil'chenkov from the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. It will bring about 200 armed soldiers from the 328th Marine battalion, who are based in Temryuk and 10 BTR-80."

He also noted that "on February 22-23, ... IL-76 flights airlifted from Kubinka (Moscow region) to Anapa, personnel from the 45th Airborne Special Forces unit and additional divisions were relocated via four Il-76 flights from Pskov to Anapa. And from Sochi to Anapa were transported six Mi-8 helicopsters"- said Tyahnibok.

This appears to not be an isolated move as the naval build up seems to be escalating. In a concurrent release, Izvestia Kiev reported that out of Kubinka, four ships carrying special forces, are being relocated to Anapa. From there, in four hours, they will depart fo Sevastopol at a speed of 10-15 knots, citing "Izvestia in Ukraine" as a source. According to the source, the redeployment is "qualitative, not quantitative" and that the Ukraine is following these developments.
It remains to be seen if the Ukraine, or its brand new NATO BFFs, will respond in kind.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...ute-sevastopol

Russia Awakes: Accuses Ukraine's New Government Of "Armed Mutiny", Says It Poses "Real Threat To Our Interests, Citizens"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/24/2014 10:08 -0500

The Olympics are now over, which means that Russia can finally start taking steps toward making good on its warning from last week, spoken by a senior government official to the FT, that "If Ukraine breaks apart, it will trigger a war," adding that "they will lose Crimea first [because] we will go in and protect [it], just as we did in Georgia." And while there have been photos (so far unconfirmed) of Russian military vehicles heading into the Ukraine, for the time being Russia has kept a surprisingly low profile. Until now.

• MEDVEDEV SAYS RUSSIANS IN UKRAINE FACE THREAT IN UKRAINE: RIA
• MEDVEDEV SAYS RUSSIAN INTERESTS UNDER THREAT IN UKRAINE: RIA
• MEDVEDEV QUESTIONS LEGITIMACY OF UKRAINE'S INSTITUTIONS: IFX
• MEDVEDEV HAS NO INFORMATION IF AZAROV IS IN RUSSIA: RIA

Reuters adds:

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday said Russia had grave doubts about the legitimacy of those in power in Ukraine following President Viktor Yanukovich's ouster, saying their recognition by some states was an "aberration".

"We do not understand what is going on there. There is a real threat to our interests and to the lives of our citizens," Medvedev was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.

"There are big doubts about the legitimacy of a whole series of organs of power that are now functioning there."

Finally, from the AP:

Dmitry Medvedev said Monday, according to Russian news agencies, that the new authorities have come to power as a result of "armed mutiny," so their legitimacy is causing "big doubts."

He said Russia would be ready to resume relations with Ukraine once it sees a "normal, modern government based on laws and constitution of Ukraine."

"If you consider Kalashnikov-toting people in black masks who are roaming Kiev to be the government, then it will be hard for us to work with that government," he said.

Medvedev added that Russia's decision to recall its ambassador in Kiev for consultations meant that "there is a threat for our interests, and for life and health of our people in the embassy."

All this is happening as (insolvent) Europe is scrambling to obtain the tens of billions it needs to make good on a topping overbid for the Ukraine, something which Russia appears to be largely laughing about, and certainly something which Gazprom, which incidentally holds the fate of all of Europe, and not just Ukraine, in its hands. Literally.

As we have said since the Ukraine coup became official: keep an eye on the Russian response. Right now it is all that matters.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...ubts-legitimac

John Bolton (diplomat and former US ambassador to the UN) has stated that if President Vladimir Putin, can re-establish hegemony over Ukraine, the other former Soviet republics won't be far behind.

“Putinis a man with a strategic vision and an autocratic mentality. In Obama we've got a weak, feckless, inattentive president who not only doesn't know what America's interests are, I don't think [he] particularly cares about American national security. He's devoted to transforming America domestically." John Bolton

According to Bolton US influence is slipping all over the world including in the Middle East. “We will pay the price of this for a long time unless people speak up,” he has stated.

I trust Bolton and will defer to his expertise when making judgments about events in the Ukraine.

Yesterday the Obama administration has decided to cut US military personnel to pre World II levels. It is incomprehensible that Obama would use any overt or covert activities to increase American influence in international affairs. By his deeds it is obvious he is looking to do the opposite and diminish American power among nations.

Whatever the national interests of the various nations in Europe may be, it is obvious that if Vladimir Putin ( a former Soviet secret police colonel) is able to reestablish a new version of the Russian (Soviet) empire it would be very bad for the West.

Russia Sends Troops to Crimea

Tuesday 25 February 2014
BY DAVID ICKE

‘The Russian Navy confirmed it has deployed Marines to Sevastopol in Crimea. Troops deployments began over the weekend.
It also confirmed that a large landing ship, the Nikolay Filchenkov, from the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, sent Marines based in Temryuk, Russia. The Filchenkov also delivered ten BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, according to the naval website.
The weekend airlifts using four Ilyushin Il-76 strategic aircraft out an airbase in near Moscow delivered personnel from the 45th Airborne Special Forces to Anapa on the Black Sea, according to the report. Six Soviet-designed medium twin-turbine MI-8 transport helicopters were also sent.’

Read more …

Russia May Be Preparing to Annex Crimea

‘According to Ukraine Liveblog Russian officials have arrived in Sevastopol on the Crimea peninsula and are preparing to issue passports.
The following translation appeared earlier today on the blog:
Russian State Duma deputies have arrived in Simferopol. The delegation is headed by Leonid Slutsky, head of the committee on the CIS. Russians promise to simply the issuance of passports to Crimeans.
Report summarizing their statements from Oleg Kryuchkov of censor.net.ua:’

Read more …

US has ‘neocon agenda’ in Ukraine, Russia: Analyst

‘The United States is pursuing a “neocon agenda” in Ukraine and Russia in order to weaken and destabilize the two countries, a political commentator says.
There is a “neocon effort to go after Russia because Russia did not support the war for Israel agenda against Israel’s enemies,” said James Morris, an editor for America-hijacked.com, an anti-Zionist blog.
“So the neocons would like to weaken Russia and that’s what we see happening in Ukraine,” Morris told Press TV on Monday.
“It’s a very dangerous situation” because the crisis in Ukraine could cause another world war, he added. “The neocons…. have been encouraging what’s been happening in Ukraine.”’

Read more …

Russia Fires First Retaliatory Salvo, May Limit Ukraine Food Imports

‘Russia represents over 25% of Ukraine’s exports and is the divided nation’s largest trade partner. As Ukraine remains deep in its self-described “pre-default” state, the economy languishes vainly in the hopes of a trade deal with ‘someone’ and a bailout from ‘someone’ else. However, the IMF’s first move to bail the nation out has now been met by a subtle punch to the country’s kidneys as Interfax reports that Russia threatens to limit food imports on the basis of “veterinary and phytosanitary risks.”‘
Read more …

Sleepwalking Again

On the 100th Anniversary of World War 1, the Western powers are again sleepwalking into destructive conflict. Hegemonic ambition has Washington interfering in the internal affairs of Ukraine, but developments seem to be moving beyond Washington’s control.
Regime change in Ukraine for a mere $5 billion dollars would be a bargain compared to the massive sums squandered in Iraq ($3,000 billion), Afghanistan ($3,000 billion), Somalia, and Libya, or the money Washington is wasting murdering people with drones in Pakistan and Yemen, or the money Washington has spent supporting al Qaeda in Syria, or the massive sums Washington has wasted surrounding Iran with 40 military bases and several fleets in the Persian Gulf in an effort to terrorize Iran into submission.
So far, in Washington’s attempt at regime change in Ukraine large numbers of Americans are not being killed and maimed. Only Ukrainians are dying, all the better for Washington as the deaths are blamed on the Ukrainian government that the US has targeted for overthrow.
The problem with Washington’s plot to overthrow the elected government of Ukraine and install its minions is twofold: The chosen US puppets have lost control of the protests to armed radical elements with historical links to nazism, and Russia regards an EU/NATO takeover of Ukraine as a strategic threat to Russian independence.
Read more …

American Conquest by Subversion: Victoria Nuland ( Wife of arch-neocon Robert Kagan) Admits Washington Has Spent $5 Billion to 'Subvert Ukraine'



‘Proof of what many of us suspected all along (after all, US meddling in the region has historical form). Global Research explains:
“After three visits to Ukraine in five weeks, Victoria Nuland explains that in the past two decades, the United States has spent five Billion dollars ($5,000,000,000) to subvert Ukraine, and assures her listeners that there are prominent businessmen and government officials who support the US project to tear Ukraine away from its historic relationship with Russia and into the US sphere of interest (via “Europe”).’


Source

Can Washington overthrow three governments at the same time?

‘Washington, which failed in 2011 to bomb Libya and Syria simultaneously, is now engaged in a new demonstration of its strength: organizing regime change in three states at the same time, in different regions of the world: Syria (CentCom), Ukraine (EuCom) and Venezuela (SouthCom).
To do this, President Obama has mobilized almost the entire National Security Council team.
First, Advisor Susan Rice and Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power. These two women are champions of “democratic” talk. They have for many years specialized in advocating interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of preventing genocide. But behind this generous rhetoric, they couldn’t care less about non-US lives as shown by Ms. Power during the chemical weapons crisis in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta. The ambassador, who was aware of the innocence of the Syrian authorities, had gone to Europe with her husband to attend a film festival dedicated to Charlie Chaplin, while her government denounced a crime against humanity, the responsibility for which was placed upon President al Assad.’

Read more …

‘Coalition of the Willing’ Promotes Syrian No Fly Zone

‘“Quo Vadis Syrie”, (‘where is Syria heading’) one Damascus University classics major, turned international law student, asked this visitor as we both sat on the steps of the Law Faculty while enjoying a bit of sun yesterday afternoon. “Is our crisis nearly over so we can start re-building Mother Syria or do our enemies have other plans to destroy us? I worry that today’s calm will soon disappear with an arriving hurricane.” His comment was perhaps triggered by a certain sense here and more widely elsewhere that a forming “coalition of the willing” appears to be pressing for a ‘humanitarian’ No Fly Zone. Some American allies envisage and are making plans to implement, a NFZ stretching up to 25 miles into Syria which would be enforced using aircraft flown from Jordanian bases and flying inside the kingdom, according to Congressional sources.
Any NFZ would be very different from what is currently being promoted and advertised by certain war-mongers in Washington, Tel Aviv and several European capitals as well as among elements of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab States. Post Round Two of Geneva II, the White House and the usual “bomb the bastards” coterie in Congress and among the US Zionist lobby, are said to be re-thinking the idea of a No Fly Zone (NFZ) for Syria. It would be planned and executed with US and a yet to be specified, “Coalition of the willing” using aircraft now at the ready in Jordan and Turkey to begin with.’

Read more …

US beefing up military presence in Jordan: Analyst

‘The US is seeking to build up its military presence in Jordan in an attempt to exert more control over the current situations in Syria and Lebanon, an American analyst tells Press TV.
“The US has continued to build its military capability in Jordan… Under the guise of a humanitarian operation, the United States is putting full combat command inside Jordan,” said Gordon Duff in a Sunday interview with Press TV.
“One of the reasons behind this is not only the issue in Syria, but the increasing meltdown that’s being orchestrated within Lebanon,” he noted.
The analyst argued that the US is considering a military role in the region, as Israel has no capability to operate in Lebanon again.’

Read more …

Destabilizing Venezuela Continues

‘A previous article discussed multiple Obama regime change fronts. His rogue agenda exceeds the worst of his predecessors.
He heads a Homeland Police State apparatus. He’s waging war on humanity and ravaging one country after another.
Obama wants the independent governments of Syria, Iran, Ukraine and Venezuela toppled. He’s got other targets in mind.
As for the game plan, it’s hard to keep track of his lawlessness, with the multiple initiatives ongoing at the same time.’

Read more …

Venezuela orders troops into border city amid fierce clashes

‘President Nicolas Maduro has ordered paratroopers into the restive Venezuelan border city of San Cristobal amid fierce clashes between government forces and opposition protesters, as the leftist leader warned the US to stay out of the country’s growing unrest.
The battalion was rushed in on Thursday night to “restore order” in San Cristobal, where Mr Maduro has threatened to impose martial law to quell the protests that began in the city two weeks ago and have since spread nationwide, claiming the lives of at least six people.
Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has been rocked by sometimes violent protests and rallies in the capital Caracas and other cities by government opponents angry at rampant inflation, chronic food shortages and one of the world’s highest murder rates.’

Read more …

Soon, the Battle for Venezuela

‘They are already sewing your funeral gown, Venezuela. They are now ready to welcome you back to that world of the lobotomized, destroyed nations that are fully submissive to Western political and economic interests – Indonesia, Philippines, Paraguay, Uganda, Kenya, Qatar, Bahrain, and almost the entire Eastern Europe. There are so many places like that – it is impossible to list them all.
They want you back in their deadly embrace; they want you to be corrupt and hopeless, as you were before the “Bolivarian Revolution”.
They want you to be the top oil exporter, but with all those horrific slums hanging, like relentless nightmares, over your cities. They want your elites and your military top brass to speak English, to play golf, to drive luxury cars and to commit treason after treason, as they used to commit treason for decades, before your brave predecessor, President Hugo Chavez, began serving and literally saving the poor, in Venezuela and all over Latin America.’

Read more …

Who is Behind Regime Change? “Revolution Business” NGO Supported by Wall Street and US Intelligence

‘Serbia’s Srdja Popovic is known by many as a leading architect of regime changes in Eastern Europe and elsewhere since the late-1990s, and as one of the co-founders of Otpor!, the U.S.-funded Serbian activist group which overthrew Slobodan Milošević in 2000.
Lesser known, an exclusive Occupy.com investigation reveals that Popovic and the Otpor! offshoot CANVAS (Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies) have also maintained close ties with a Goldman Sachs executive and the private intelligence firmStratfor (Strategic Forecasting, Inc.), as well as the U.S. government. Popovic’s wife also worked at Stratfor for a year.
These revelations come in the aftermath of thousands of new emails released by Wikileaks’ “Global Intelligence Files.” The emails reveal Popovic worked closely with Stratfor, an Austin, Texas-based private firm that gathers intelligence on geopolitical events and activists forclients ranging from the American Petroleum Institute and Archer Daniels Midland to Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, Northrop Grumman, Intel and Coca-Cola.’

Read more …


http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/r...ops-to-crimea/

Meanwhile, On The Main Square In Sevastopol: Live Webcast

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/25/2014 15:14 -0500

... The Russians are staking out their claim, after those ships which we wrote about yesterday and docked overnight at the main Crimean port, have unloaded their cargo.




Paolo Alfieri @Paolo_Alfieri
Follow
#Ukraine, apparently not tanks but APC (armored personnel carrier) on the central square in #Sevastopol #Crimea

11:19 AM - 25 Feb 2014




Pedrodon @stopnarcotics
Follow

Russian Navy armored vehicle in the main square of #Sevastopol #Ukraine

9:59 AM - 25 Feb 2014

Then, there's this from the Guardian:

Sevastopol installs pro-Russian mayor as separatism fears grow

Moscow shows its influence in Crimean city amid fears the whole peninsula could seek deeper ties with Russia

Authorities in the southern Ukrainian city of Sevastopol have installed a pro-Russian mayor as fears grow that the Kremlin may be stoking separatist sentiment in the region.

Sevastopol's city council handed power to Aleksei Chaliy, a Russian citizen, during an extraordinary session on Monday evening while more than a thousand protesters gathered around city hall chanting "Russia, Russia, Russia," and "A Russian mayor for a Russian city."

Fears are spreading that separatists in Sevastopol, and the Crimean region of which it is a part, could use the power vacuum in Ukraine to seize greater autonomy and deepen ties with Russia.

It was not immediately clear whether local security forces would back Chaliy, but earlier in the day Sevastopol police chief Alexander Goncharov said that his officers would refuse to carry out "criminal orders" issued by Kiev.

At least four checkpoints manned by armed police were in place on major roads into the city to stop the arrival of extremists, according to local media reports.

Ukraine's interim president, Olexander Turchynov, warned on Tuesday that the country faced a "serious threat" from separatism.

And elsewhere, the following poster can be found:

GrahamWPhillips @BritinUkraine
Follow

Sevastopol issues this poster today, as Nazi symbols spread around Ukraine - #Euromaidan #Ukraine

11:15 AM - 25 Feb 2014

And this:

Live webcast:

LIVE WEBCAST AT THE PAGE LINK:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...are-sevastopol

Ukraine Calls Russia's Bluff, Slashes Nat Gas Imports By 80%

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/25/2014 11:15 -0500

Twice in recent years, Russia has suspended gas supplies, or notably raised prices, as the somewhat well-known "trump card" of Russia's oil and gas supply to Ukraine (and Europe for that matter) remains Putin's easiest option for clenching his iron-first against the divided nation. Following a pre-emptive move in November by Ukraine to diversify its energy supply, Russia had reduced the price of gas for the highly indebted Ukraine in December (to entice Ukraine under Russia's wing); but, after recent events, Dmitry Medvedev signaled on Monday that the price could be raised again. However, today we find that Ukraine's state oil and gas company, Naftogaz, has slashed gas imports from Russia's Gazprom by stunning 80% in February as Ukraine tries to show Russia it can't be pushed around... of course, with limited (and more expensive) alternative supplies, we fear this could well shoot them in the foot.

This action is similar to that taken in November (before the EU accession discussion)...

Russia and Ukraine waged two gas wars over prices in the winters of 2006 and 2009 (which lasted 3 weeks) over a claim Ukraine was late in paying.
...

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that if Gazprom refuses to revise its contract, Ukraine would stop importing gas from Russia. In a step away from energy dependence on Russia, last week Ukraine signed a $10 billion shale gas deal with Chevron.

Ukraine is speeding up its effort to diversify its supply, and has looked at different exporters, fracking, new offshore projects in the Black Sea, as well as new LNG terminals and pipelines to diversify supply. Ukraine imports more than half of its gas from Russia, but under Viktor Yanukovich’s leadership, has intentionally scaled down Gazprom imports 40 percent over ‘unfair prices’.

And now today,

Ukraine's state oil and gas company, Naftogaz, has slashed gas imports from Russia's Gazprom to 28 million cubic meters per day as of February 24 from 147 million, two Russian industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

They said Naftogaz had gradually reduced its imports from 147 million cubic meters as of February 1, but did not offer a reason for the cuts.
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Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hinted on Monday that gas prices, reduced as part of a Russian bailout in December, may revert to higher levels.

Ukraine consumes about 55 billion cubic meters of gas each year, and more than half is imported from Russia.Gazprom exported 161.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe last year.

A Gazprom official declined to comment on Naftogaz import volumes but said Russian gas transit to Europe was unaffected.

So simply put, they want to show Russia they can't be pushed around... the trouble is, of course, that with alternative supply routes in short-supply (and only more expensive alternatives available)...



...they may well be shooting themselves in the foot. That and the whole being out of money thing too won't help. Finally, as everyone knows by now, Russia does have the "trump card" no matter how hard to get the Ukraine plays:

Video at the Page Link:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...gas-imports-80