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Originally Posted by Pointman
It is about mutual fear. West watch Putin grabbing Crimea and going into east Ukraine and wondering who is next. Russians watch US toppling legal leaders left and right, most recently in Ukraine and wondering who is next.
The main reason why Putin is so popular now is the general sense of danger that comes from the west. The only "lie" that Russians buy in - and so do I, so I don't consider it as lie, is that US was heavily behind overthrowing Yanukovich. Aside from that, most Russians seems to realize, that out troops are in Ukraine. Most of us (not me) however, have no problem with it. The general feeling is that it is West, not Russia that needs to be stopped.
Russians do have access to western media, but it has limited effect, because the question is not so much about what is going on the ground, but rather what is going on behind the scenes. For example, people here seems to realize, that the jet was most likely was shot down by rebels from the weapon that came from Russia. Still, given that it was most likely an accident, people are wondering, why Russia should be punished. US unintentionally shot down a plane 20 years ago, it was shot by US missile and US crew, and US got no punishment. Ukraine accidentally shot down Russian jet in 2001. It was killed by Ukrainians weapon and Ukrainian triggerman, of course. Ukraine got nothing. Now a plane is shot probably by Russian missile and maybe by Russian soldier. Somehow it is a bloody crime, that is directly on Putin's hands. Is it fair? Or are western media a bit biased?
Problem is, nobody, including Russians, know what is Putin's plan. Nobody, including westerners, knows, what is NATO's plan about Russia. It is an aura of fear and how we need to "stop" each other.
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I like your posts and agree with 95% of them, but I can't get past this bolded part. I know there is the story that the West had something to do with the protests and subsequent ousting of the former Ukrainian leader, but I just don't see it or buy it.
The moves he was making were unpopular and the public told him so. When he decided not to back down from them, they took to the street, and when he started killing them they really got mad. I don't see how that has ANYTHING to do with the US. Actually it's the best of democracy. Nine times out of ten, yes, the public waits for an election to show displeasure. But in extreme circumstances, it's the public's right and duty to demonstrate and oust leaders, even democratically elected ones.
I wish the same had been done in the States with Bush.