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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 13-Nov-2014
13-Nov-14 World View -- Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine

Web Log - November, 2014

13-Nov-14 World View -- Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine

Turkey's warships near Cyprus threaten Egypt and Israel

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine
Turkey's warships near Cyprus threaten Egypt and Israel

Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine

Armed personnel and unmarked military trunks arrive in Russian-controlled areas of east Ukraine (Reuters)

Armed personnel and unmarked military trunks arrive in Russian-controlled areas of east Ukraine (Reuters)

NATO says that fresh columns of Russian tanks, artillery and combat troops have been entering eastern Ukraine for the past few days. According to U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe:

"We have seen columns of Russian equipment – primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems – and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine.
There is no question any more about Russia's direct military involvement in Ukraine."

Nato is confirming several days of reports by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that there were unmarked convoys in the region.

As I wrote last week in "5-Nov-14 World View -- Russian troops approach Ukraine's border, threaten port city Mariupol", Alexander Zakharchenko, the leader of the Russian anti-government militias in east Ukraine, has vowed the intention to capture the Black Sea port city of Mariupol, with the plan for Russia to take control of all of southeastern Ukraine, putting a huge part of Ukraine from Russia to Crimea under Russian control. From there, the Russian army can continue on to Odessa.

Russia's defense ministry responded, "[We have] repeatedly stressed that there was and is no evidence supporting Brussels’ regular trumpeting over the alleged presence of Russian forces in Ukraine."

This is a comic statement in view of the events of the last few months. Russia claimed they weren't invading Crimea, just as Russian troops were invading Crimea. Russia claimed that they wouldn't annex Crimea, just before they annexed Crimea, a clear violation of international law. Russia claimed that there were no Russian troops in east Ukraine at a time when Russian troops were entering east Ukraine. On September 5, Russia signed an international peace agreement (the "Minsk protocols") in which they committed to a political compromise in east Ukraine, and then supported east Ukraine elections earlier this week in complete violation of their own agreement. Basically, anything that comes from Russian state media or Russia's government should be considered to be a lie. VOA and BBC and Russia Today

Turkey's warships near Cyprus threaten Egypt and Israel

Turkey's Navy has been authorized by the government to implement an aggressive set of rules of engagement for Turkish warships confronting Israeli or Egyptian warships in Cyprus's "exclusive economic zones" (EEZ) in the eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus, Egypt and Israel have been conducting joint oil and gas explorations.

Cyprus has been divided into Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus since a 1974 war between Greece and Turkey on Cyprus. Greek Cyprus is a member of the European Union, and is recognized as the legitimate government of all of Cyprus. Turkey provides administrative services to the Turkish portion of Cyprus. Turkey objects to oil and gas drilling by Greek Cyprus, and has sent warships to monitor these activities

I've written several articles on the Mideast realignment following the Gaza war, in particular the alliance between Israel plus Egypt plus Saudi Arabia versus Hamas plus Qatar plus Turkey. That realignment is also spreading into Europe. Because of Turkey's worsening relations with Israel and Egypt, the latter met with Greece and Greek Cyprus leaders to discuss security relations, and accused Turkey of "provocative actions" that were threatening security in the eastern Mediterranean.

However, Turkey is conducting its own seismic survey in retaliation for the Israeli, Greek Cypriot and Egyptian exploration, and Turkish Navy officials are saying that the warships aren't meant to be provocative, but are provided in support of Turkey's own research vessels. Furthermore, the naval activities were planned long ago. "The objective of the exercise is to improve cooperation with our allies and particularly to perform anti-submarine defense operations," according to the Turkish Navy's commander. Turkish Weekly and Defense News and Greek Reporter

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 13-Nov-14 World View -- Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (13-Nov-2014) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 13-Nov-2014 13-Nov-14 World View -- Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine

Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine

Turkey's warships near Cyprus threaten Egypt and Israel

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 13-Nov-2014
13-Nov-14 World View -- Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine