While we’re watching “Putin’s Olympics”, his policies are killing people in the Ukraine.

[riqster]

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2014/02/19/while-were-watching-putins-olympics-his-policies-are-killing-people-in-the-ukraine/

"
That is a picture of one small part of the people’s uprising against the Government of Putin-Puppet Yanukovic. He took power in a rigged election, imprisoned his predecessor, and started to run his country like his KGB boss Vladimir told him to. Now the whole country is in a meltdown.

At least 25 are dead, hundreds imprisoned, and thousands injured in their fight against the nouveau Soviet state that Putin is helping to set up. The Ukrainian Olympic athletes are being muzzled to an extent, so as to keep the coverage of the games all light and fluffy, but they are sending out tweets of support and consolation to their countrymen back home.

Remember, folks, while we are looking at Sochi, Putin and his pals are murdering their subjects over in Kiev. Enjoy the skiing and skating, but we can multitask: let us also stand with the brave citizens of the Ukraine as they fight for their freedom. Freedom that they already fought for, and thought they had won.

Stand with them, because the same could happen to us someday."

Source info at the link.

[cali]

1. yes, this is awful. but the asswipe blunt and cranky idiot misses the boat again

Putin is tangential to the Ukrainian situation- though certainly he wield influence, and these aren't Putin's Olympics.

[wercal]

2. Didn't the Russians Invade Georgia

During the Beijing games?

[riqster]

3. Yep. Good memory.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18985908

[Adrahil]

4. Why do you hate the People's Hero Comrade Putin!?

Are you some kind of right-wing nut? I mean, clearly Putin is a champion of democracy and human rights!!!

[dipsydoodle]

6. Yes but I don't understand any association.

Georgia started the debacle re. South Ossetia so blame them for timing : not Russia.

Georgia had become overconfident following the advice and training given to them by both the US and Israel.

[polly7]

8. McCain tried his hardest to ramp up that one too.

There was never a conflict this * didn't want to see escalate to full-out war.

McCain: Georgia conflict is the ‘first serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.’

BY SATYAM KHANNA ON AUGUST 15, 2008 AT 9:51 AM

"McCain: Georgia conflict is the ‘first serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.’"

Speaking at the Aspen Institute in Colorado yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that recent Russian aggression in Georgia is the “first…serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.” McCain seemingly ignored the Gulf War, 9/11, and the Iraq War, to name a few:

My friends, we have reached a crisis, the first probably serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War. This is an act of aggression.


http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2008/08/15/27592/mccain-russia/


The truth about South Ossetia

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/oct/31/russia-georgia

[dipsydoodle]

9. Thanks for the truth Polly.

Great Guardian link that.

Broadly speaking this was and remains all about the anachronism known as NATO - the US wants both Georgia and Ukraine in it. There is nothing magnanimous about any offers from either the EU or the US on the subject of Ukraine - more a desire to own it.

[polly7]

10. Yvw .... and, Bingo! nt.

[Adrahil]

11. So... you don't think Putin's desire to rebuild the Soviet Empire plays any role?

Not even a little bit?

[dipsydoodle]

15. The subject of those replies was Georgia.

Russia is not endeavouring to rebuild the USSR - protecting its own borders maybe.

On the subject of the OP, "While we’re watching “Putin’s Olympics”, his policies are killing people in the Ukraine" :

Putin's policies are not doing anything. Russia's interference , if that's what you want to call it, is at present solely using economic leverage. Anyone one else wanting to do so need do no more than match the $15 billion offered by Russia. Currently the EU and US have both said no to that and the IMF had already said no too. Anyone else would also need to cross subsidise Ukraine's gas supplies now that Russia has lowered the price to c. 2/3rds of the daily benchmark price which remains above $400.

[Adrahil]

18. OK, now I know how seriously to take you. Thanks. NT

[wercal]

21. I really don't know alot about the reason for the invasion...

....and after reading the Wikipedia page about it, I feel like I know even less.

Seems to be the same old story - disputed territory, varying versions of events...and the usual outcome: war. It would take me weeks of reading to forma position as to whose 'fault' it was.

The only thing I know with certainty is that it happened during the Olympics, which always struck me as an odd thing.

[riqster]

22. Yes, during the Olympics. Just like the current brutal measures in Kiev.

Classic use of distraction. While the media was paying attention, the Kremlin and its Ukrainian partners played nice. And as soon as we were watching bobsledding and such, they started killing people, figuring that fewer reporters would be available to cover the bloodshed.

Just like the Georgia conflict during the Beijing Olympics.

[DrDan]

5. watching Sweden-Swiss curling now

just watched the Canadians get by GB . . .

Watch daily - have yet to hear the games referred to as Putin's Olympics . . .

[dipsydoodle]

7. That reference is piss taking here for whatever reason.

[riqster]

17. Bollocks. I have been watching and HAVE heard it.

Or you could just Google, and you'd find quite a few results like this one: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/02/02/putin/IIi44lXDlxIqZfSSGfIfMN/story.html

[dipsydoodle]

19. If you think I attach any importance to the US media

then dream on. I doubt you'll find that terminology here in Europe.

[riqster]

20. So instead of acting as though no one is saying it, it might be better to

...say to yourself "maybe they are from somewhere else where that IS being said".

[bullwinkle428]

12. IOC refuses to allow Ukranian athletes to wear black armbands.

No link yet; I just heard this on an AP radio news report.

[riqster]

16. Here you go:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/ioc-refuses-to-allow-ukrainian-athletes-to-wear-black-armbands-in-honor-of-kiev-deaths-134613047.html

Had to re-post, old link was dead.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Speak for yourself, I'm not watching the Bigotry On Ice mini series, starring Vlad Putin and

the Dancing Homophobes. Prejudice and ignorance are not huge draws for me.

[hrmjustin]

14. Have not been watching and won't watch the Olympics.

Putin is evil.