Russia's Economy Suffers For Military Excesses

No one can blame the Ukraine War on the Ukraine. Their democratic decision to oust Victor Yanukovich was a messy part of a growing democracy; the world watched protests that tested civil militia and asserted people’s power over a corrupt regime. It was not a predicate for a Russian Invasion that has already involved the loss of Crimea as well as insurgency in the Eastern Border. With Russia assistance and training, separatists have deployed sophisticated heavy missiles. The separatists became international terrorists by destroying a civilian passenger plane, and killing 298 innocent travelers and crew.

Vladimir Putin as head of state bears responsibility for his decision to send surface to air missiles to the rebels that immediately created a zone of danger to civilian air travel. That zone of danger delivered a tragedy with devastating impact on Central Europe.  No longer ambivalent, they speak openly of the war crimes committed by Putin and his rebel allies. One must remember the paths followed by Saddam and Kaddafi, they too got rich from governing energy rich nations, and Kaddafi sponsored a terror attack on an airliner.  Putin now fights to avoid entering this realm of public opinion, as a war criminal.

Putin is a billionaire, by all accounts, profiting personally from Russia’s primary businesses in oil and gas. The U.S. enacted sanctions  to punish the Russian oil sector, and cut-off financing; although without European backing, the sanctions forced Russia to ever more reliance on China for money. In the wake of MH-17, the EU may act and sacrifice economic benefits to punish Russia’s economy. The IMF had previously declared a Russian recession and with additional restrictions on banking and new business, the Russian economy may begin to shed jobs and lose economic momentum.

Russia has boosted the rebel forces, currently in retreat, by direct Russian artillery and rocket support. Russia has delivered a temporary battle-shifting impetus to the insurgents. It appears Russia has determined not to allow defeat and has massed some 10,000 troops, highly mobile units, to the Doneysk border area. Despite Russian bombardment, the Ukrainian army has advanced and tightened control of several key towns in the area previously held by the rebels.  The Ukrainian army has acquitted itself with bravery and determination. Ukraine has entered another phase of democratic growth - fighting to preserve its sovereignty; they fight to survive as a nation.

Sources:

IMF: Russia in Recession

http://rt.com/business/155848-russia-in-recession-imf/

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27221345

MH-17 War Crime

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28520813

U.S. Proof of Russian Bombardment

Satellite Proof

 http://rt.com/usa/175980-us-images-russia-ukraine/

In Malaysia MH-17- The world Sees Itself

 New economic sanctions from the United States will have damaging effects on the Russian economy and its key energy sector.  They were not applied in response to the attack on the Malaysia Flight MH-17, but by the coincidence of events occurred on the same day. The world's nations consider the attack on the Malaysia aircraft  as an attack upon the rest of the world, and treating all as enemies in all-out combat. With the same non-existent justification as the attacks on Ukraine, Malaysia and the entire world now can feel as Ukraine does, as a victim of savage aggression.

There are events, which by the sheer horror and savagery, force the world's attention on a time, place, and people. Russia has once again found this scornful glare of the world's vision and its contempt. The murders of nearly 300 air passengers over Ukraine has focused the world's judgment on the ruthless and vicious assault by Russia on the Ukraine .  Deliberately taking lives of innocent passersby - women, children, and infants  from many other parts of the world has done this. Simply creating an hysterical atmosphere and a zone of hostilities is not a justification for visiting  the excesses of war on innocent and uninvolved citizens of the world. Operating  a passenger aircraft in international airspace is not a provocation to any responsible State or military.

The mission of a few hired mercenaries in Eastern Ukraine has no valid purpose there, or anywhere, among civilized societies. The softness of the resistance to the Invasion of Crimea and the efforts to foment war with Ukraine have hardened into a firmer resolve. It is now clear that Russia is willing to unleash destruction on every other Nation simply to satisfy a whim for conquest of Ukraine- its weak and un-offending neighbor.

Now as Russia presses deadly hostilities on Ukraine, and recklessly upon every other nation, Western nations will have enormous pressures from domestic constituencies. There is a world-wide will to punish the ruthlessness of Putin's Government. Sanctions that have begin to isolate the regime and its economy.   Western efforts will expand to efforts to dissuade China and others from aiding Russia until it rejoins the circle of civility. Until it renounces killing as a means of achieving its goals, and until its goals conform with international rights and obligations.

Inside Ukraine- A Testing Time

The remnants of the Russian offensive inside Ukraine have maintained the offensive with goals of establishing a predicate for formal declaration of hostilities. In the Eastern region, Ukraine President  Petro Poroshenko has ordered military action to defend Ukraine territory and population. This is a testing time; the original goal of the rebellion was to present an image of endangered pro-Russian population groups in Ukraine that require rescue.

Ukraine is not accustomed to war, it has been a big part of their history but they are not like the U.S. Russia or most NATO countries- with tested military machines.  Ukrainian culture is rich in values but little to do with warfare. They are among the more vulnerable countries to an armed insurgency. The entire governmental ordeal from the demonstrations and fighting in Euro Maiden to the present has increased patriotic feelings in Ukraine, they will not lack for heroism and effort to defend themselves. But they do lack a cadre of tested war veterans, and a track record of military actions.

Through all, President Putin has remained in a low profile, and the situation presents  an opportunity which may be beyond his ambition but within his abilities. Putin can join President Obama and stand as a leader, not only of a great nation, also of humanity. He can lead the world into an era of peace and cooperation.  Russia like the U.S has a group of influential men intent on war, and invested in the profits of global conflict. However, like the U.S., it has a leadership structure which invests strategic military policy in one person-- a President.  Putin has an opportunity to compete for preeminence on the world stage that matters most, the path to Global peace. He can lead the Russian people inside Ukraine on a constructive path of power sharing and democratic processes.

This is the shape of the world when we all grow-up. Where we seek opportunities for embracing the value of life. It is a stage when we accept the blessing of life and agree it is the most valuable thing on Earth.