A Far Away Country Of Which We Know Nothing...

[sandyRoe]

The centenary of WW1 approaching prompted the thought, is the world a safer place than it was 100 years ago?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/01/us-ukraine-crisis-obama-costs-idUSBREA1R21M20140301

[Zacs-Master]

Yes, some strange goings on. I heard that the then Russian President (Yeltsin) agreed to their independence after a 'bender' and that the Ruskies have regretted it ever since.

[mikey4444]

It appears that Russia has mounted a full-scale invasion of part of Ukraine. Nowhere near as bad as the start or WW1 or WW2 but worrying netherless.

[Old_Geezer]

It will be a long time, if it ever occurs, when military activity is considered unthinkable against ones fellow beings, so this sort of thing is to be expected from time to time. I think it is a safer world now, but progress isn't linear, the level of hostilities cycle up & down.

[ichkeria]

"Yes, some strange goings on. I heard that the then Russian President (Yeltsin) agreed to their independence after a 'bender' and that the Ruskies have regretted it ever since. "

Er, I think you heard wrong (!) Crimea was transferred to the Ukraine SSR by Krushchev in the 50s. It was initially annexed to the Russian Empire by Catherine the Great. It is a complex area ethnically. Sevastopol is a very Russian city, but there are many Ukrainians, and Muslim Tatars also. And a sizeable number of Greeks, Greece having a historical ties to the region (hence the Greek names of places like Sevastopol, Simferopol, Feodosiya etc.)

I don't think Russia is "invading" Crimea as such. Putin is cross about losing his man in Kyiv, but mainly they are paranoid about the new government there trying to cancel the lease their Black Sea Fleet has in Sevastopol (also the home tot he Ukrainian Navy). If they lost that they'd lose a massive amount of military and hence diplomatic influence.
The danger is though, that as in Sarajevo 100 years ago, a spark in a powder keg triggers events that spiral out of control. My guess is that nowadays with quicker communications between leaders, that sort of thing is less likely. I hope I am right

[ichkeria]

Actually I take that back.
Unfolding events plainly demonstrate that it IS an invasion. It remins to be seen whether it is permanent
If the US and UK are serious about the Budapest agremeent then there's another war about to start ...

[Zacs-Master]

Someone said it on radio 2, so it must be true!

[mikey4444]

Looks like another Anschluss to me.

[sandyRoe]

The maps from the Crimean War, would they still be gathering dust somewhere in the war office? Is it time to dust them down?

[ichkeria]

Probably as well not to get too carried away. I doubt if the US and UK will bother to honour the Budapest agreement.
Residents in Balaklava, in an interesting move, have formed a human chain between Russian invaders and the Ukrainian checkpoint. Urging no aggression.
In their desperation to be "liberated" by Putin's navy :-)

[emmie]

no it isn't, and not just because of Potty Putin

[TTG]

No. We now have weapons that could wipe out a city in seconds.