Quote:
Originally Posted by FlameOn
If annexing territory is just normal territorial pressure that would be outright alarming. Russia could rebuild the whole former Eastern block doing this. De-stabalize the existing government in protests for one reason or another, send in "people's militias" for security. Profit. This is almost an identical pattern used in Georgia except there the Georgians actually fought back, though in vain. China seeing this precedent set could start eyeing Taiwan as well.
|
While there's a lot of truth in your post, it should be noted that it wasn't Russia who was de-stabilizing the situation in Ukraine at the first place. Just a couple of days ago all the western media were about how "the pro-EU people of Ukraine" have toppled the "pro-Moscow" president, and how Russia's interests in the region are defeated. Now that Putin has made decisive - albeit wrong - moves to benefit from the situation, people are talking about how it was his plan from the start. Although it is anyone's guess, I personally don't believe that annexing Crimea would worth all the trouble and money loss Russia will suffer from Ukraine's bankrupcy. Russia gaines no "profit" here on the big picture. We'd rather have safe and prospering country at our borders. At modern world territory doesn't mean all that much. Talking about Georgian war, do you really believe that having South Osetia as de-facto russian land does make a lot of difference for Russian economy?