General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Wikileaks Ukraine cable proves US government knew of fascist threat [View all]sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)crackdown would have been brutal and swift. By our standards, Yanukovich's reaction to the rioting in the streets was mild and ineffective and yet he was constantly criticized by the Western nations for even that, which is rather hypocritical considering what was done to peaceful protesters here eg.
You are right in that he did have the right to react with force, but he failed to do that no doubt fearing reprisals from the West.
Those who were the cause of the riots, including Right Wing Nationalists, were a small fraction of the population of Ukraine and now we are seeing how the rest of the country feels about their legitimacy.
You are incorrect that any of the regions opposing the Kiev government want annexation to Russia. They have been clear from the beginning that they want autonomy for Ukraine, from both the WEST and the EAST. You need to listen to the PEOPLE.
But the stupidity of the actions of the Kiev government, the draconian law they started out with, then sending in the military to 'crush' dissent, frightened people so badly they had a legitimate reason to decide their own fate.
IF they succeed, as it looks like they will as the opposition to the Kiev govt spreads further and further, they will have the same right you claim the Kiev coup govt had simply because they succeeded.
The stupidity of the Kiev govt's actions however, may end up driving the people in the southeast towards Russia rather than accomplishing the opposite. Now that so many have been killed, it is going to be very hard to go back.
It's possible that the country will split into two autonomous nations and if that is what the people want, it is their right to fight for it.
Our business is to stop interfering in all these conflicts as we seem to only make things worse.