Pending Invasion

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

From email: Maybe we should not have cut our military force back.

A larger miltary does nothing for a political chess game. Where the board has far more than 64 squares. And most do not even know where all squares are located.

For example, Saakashvili discusses one square. Europe gets 30% of its gas (methane) from Russia. The Crimea apparently has a massive shale gas reserve. Had Ukraine moved politically more westward, Europe would be gas sufficient; not dependent on Russia.

Putin's actions may be knee-jerk. But he is also playing chess by planning all possible moves at least three in advance. He needed to make that gas available only through a Russian market; not via an EU nation.

The weakest part of this game is Europe whose leaders probably will not get off their ass to make a united stand (politically - not militarily). As in the Balkans, Europe may again need the US to get them to act in their own interests. And to realize what this long term game is that Putin is playing.

Closest Europe has to any leader with foresight is Merkel.

Putin has already exercised plans in Georgia, Armenia, and has one ongoing with Turkey. And apparently did not succeed in the Baltic nations.

And you thought 3D chess was hard.