Ukraine Crisis PR. Mitchell Plitnick, in Friday's Souciant.
To my eyes, a good analysis and contribution. A useful summary of realities in Ukraine and the Crimea that some might find useful: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26387353. (The passing reference to gas reserves in the Azov and Black Seas is, perhaps, worthy of a careful note by the "follow the money" crowd.) The general question remains: under what circumstances can the will of a regional majority to secede -- trump the will of the state to maintain union? And how are such questions to be resolved short of civil war?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the problem is that they don't. And yes, there's a level of hypocrisy on America's part here, but the comparisons can only be stretched so far.One expects them to understand that a great many Russian oil and gas pipelines run through Ukraine and the Black Sea access Crimea affords is indispensable. These are real and very significant interests, whether or not they justify Putin’s recent decisions.