That STILL doesn't prevent Russia from presenting evidence to the contrary. In fact, if I were Putin, I would shout it to the rooftops of my country's innocence in the matter to ANYONE who would listen to you, and not present the evidence as if it were manufactured.
Even if Putin shouted to the rooftops, who would listen? Your mainstream media wouldn't present the other side's point of view anyway, it's not what they exist for. I linked some of the earlier Russian responses, but you didn't know about them.
One of which is a hereditary monarchy and the second has NO term limits provided that she passes a vote of No Confidence. You are deflecting the point.
Now that really changes it.
You complained about Putin getting around the term limits. In RF, you can't be a president for more than two terms
in a row. Did Putin leave the office for one term? Yes, he did, in 2008, until 2012. Then, he was elected again. Does it violate anything? No. Regardless of what you (or me) think about Putin, he is a legally elected president. This is called "democracy" - something that America is so proud of, but struggles to accept in some specific cases. What is wrong with this?
Perhaps, but Russia at the time (yes, I am old enough to remember what happened) was nearly broke when Yeltsin took power. If he wanted the West's money, he had no choice.
You might remember what you heard on your news, but unlike me and my family, you never lived under Yeltsin's rule. And you don't know what was it like. The country was broke when the drunkard took the lead, but continued breaking down further at accelerated pace. Poverty, corruption, lawlessness, organized crime, bloodbath in Chechnya, hyperinflation like in Venezuela today - that's not the full list. Millions lost their jobs, those who didn't, weren't getting salary for months. That's kinda long (and off the topic) to explain, but you can just read here:
And just an illustration:
I know the US would rather like to
supply food to Russia as humanitarian aid (is that what you mean by the "West's money" that Yeltsin recieved?) like to some starving African state than to have Russia as a geopolitical rival, but I hope you at least don't condemn me for not wanting that to happen.
So someone about a 1000x worse than Putin. Got you.
So a strong Russian president is bad for America. Got you.
Well, at least you're not a hypocrite...
Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, and was never a part of Russia. Ukraine was an independent nation BEFORE Stalin and will remain so after Putin is either voted out or disposed.
Ukraine is not one of the United States either.
By 'losing Ukraine' I mean it as a space of influence. Ukrainians are culturally similar to us, and we always thought of them as of brothers. But because of the US activity and Putin's inactivity, Ukraine became a hostile state to us. Fortunately, not all Ukrainians believe their new government and many are fleeing to Europe or Russia from their crazy regime. Those who speak against it risk to
end up dead or
in prison.
Perhaps that your memory is foggy and forgot when Putin actually tried to invade Georgia just like he did to Ukraine?
Wow. So evil Putin suddenly invaded poor little Georgia (despite of not even being the president of RF at the time) and it's me whose memory is foggy. I know you're just repeating after your propaganda that didn't tell you that Georgia was the one who started the offensive in South Ossetia and opened fire at the Russian peacekeeping troops that were located there since 1992 under the Sochi agreement signed by both Russia and Georgia after the prevous war in the former Georgian SSR (that also involved Abkhazia), so Russia had the
casus belli and had to apply force in response to protect the peacekeepers and the RF citizens living in Tskhinval. Like I said, it's not the job of your mainstream media to tell such "little" details. So, perhaps I shouldn't blame you, but it actually didn't prevent you from educating yourself before you play an expert on the post-Soviet war conflicts.
Imagine a situation when a country X (that is not a nuclear power and is not protected by one) attacks a territory held by US military with tanks and heavy artillery, killing dozens of US servicemen. How long would it be before country X is bombed into the stone age?
And, since we suddenly moved from MH17 to the Olympic War of 2008 and you posted some videos, I have one for you, too.
- Hello, Amanda, tell us how you were bombed by the Russians.
- We were running away from the Georgian troops, not Russian. Mr. Saakashvili started this war.
- Err... Uhm... *cough cough* Unfortunately, we need a break...
When he invaded Georgia back in 2008, the president of Georgia made a plea to the US to help protect them, and they did through economic pressure on Russia.
Ah-ha-ha, that's how you see it?
Can you name which US sanctions made Medvedev leave Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
Hint: it didn't happen.
