PhantomViper wrote:

 Sigvatr wrote:
Prime Minister Jazenjuk just declared his resign, new votes are going to be held.

Interesting move. Between fighting rebels in the east and the MH-17 incident, this makes one wonder...

Can't wait until the weekend, though, when the flight recorder data is fully deciphered. Potential for gak hitting the fan...rising.

He resigned because the coalition that had elected him dissolved so he didn't have the parliamentary majority that he needed to keep governing the country.

There is very little to support any conspiracy theories in this.

 -Shrike- wrote:
So their parliament operates in the same way as ours, just with physical violence instead of verbal sparring? Brilliant...

 A Town Called Malus wrote:

 -Shrike- wrote:
So their parliament operates in the same way as ours, just with physical violence instead of verbal sparring? Brilliant...

You can't really call what goes on in our parliament "verbal sparring".

Most of the time it's one side trying to make a point whilst the other side shouts mild heckles at them, whilst their own cheers and claps. At the end of the day neither side has actually bothered to listen to any points made and nothing changes.

Unless you're talking about the House of Lords in which case it's a handful of old people sleeping. Which probably actually gets more done and is more productive because, hey, at least they're all united in their sleeping.

 -Shrike- wrote:

 A Town Called Malus wrote:

 -Shrike- wrote:
So their parliament operates in the same way as ours, just with physical violence instead of verbal sparring? Brilliant...

You can't really call what goes on in our parliament "verbal sparring".

Most of the time it's one side trying to make a point whilst the other side shouts mild heckles at them, whilst their own cheers and claps. At the end of the day neither side has actually bothered to listen to any points made and nothing changes.

Unless you're talking about the House of Lords in which case it's a handful of old people sleeping. Which probably actually gets more done and is more productive because, hey, at least they're all united in their sleeping.

The only thing I'd add is that nobody actually knows what they're arguing about any more. All anyone knows is that The Opposition has a Plan, and because the Plan was made by The Opposition, why then, we must be opposed to it! Logic be damned, we can't accept that they might be right about something! Good grief, next thing you know we'd all be working together for the good of the public...

Obama administration officials said Thursday that Russia is firing artillery from its own territory into Ukraine to hit Ukrainian military sites, pointing to escalating Russian involvement in the deadly conflict.

"This clearly is a military escalation," Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said, adding there is no question that Russian military -- as opposed to Russia-backed separatists -- are firing the shots.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf first made the accusation during a press briefing earlier Thursday. She also claimed Moscow is boosting its military shipments to pro-Russian separatists.

"We have new evidence that the Russians intend to deliver heavier and more powerful multiple rocket launchers to separatist forces in Ukraine and have evidence that Russia is firing artillery from within Russian to attack Ukrainian military positions," Harf told reporters.

She said the evidence derived from "human intelligence information" but declined to elaborate, saying it would compromise sources and methods of intelligence collection.

The Pentagon, though, confirmed her account, and said Russia has been firing artillery for several days now.

The allegations come amid an increasingly bitter war of words between Washington and Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine and conflicting claims over the downing of a Malaysian passenger jet over eastern Ukraine last week.

The U.S. repeatedly has accused Russia of stoking the Ukraine rebellion and has said it believes separatists shot down the Malaysian plane, killing nearly 300 people, with a Russian provided surface-to-air missile.

Harf said Wednesday the ultimate responsibility for the downing of the plane rests with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.

Meanwhile, additional military aircraft carrying remains of victims from the Malaysian plane disaster arrived in the Netherlands on Thursday, while Australian and Dutch diplomats joined to promote a plan for a U.N. team to secure the crash site which has been controlled by pro-Russian rebels.

On Monday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution proposed by Australia demanding that rebels cooperate with an independent investigation and allow all remaining bodies to be recovered.

 Jihadin wrote:
Next up. Entire Russian military units volunteering to fight in Ukraine like China in Korea

 LordofHats wrote:

 Jihadin wrote:
Next up. Entire Russian military units volunteering to fight in Ukraine like China in Korea

And Russian pilots will volunteer for the rebel air force using planes 'donated' by anonymous sources

Russia has issued a threat to seize the assets of British companies including BP and Shell as a retaliation against David Cameron’s demand for tough sanctions.

In a mounting war of words, a senior diplomatic source claimed Moscow would “fight back” against any industry-wide EU sanctions by putting British companies working in Russia oil on the frontline.
“We want friendly relations. We will go along as far as we can. Then we will retaliate,” the figure said.

The official measures will include seizing the assets of British firms, adding: “BP and Shell have a lot of assets in Russia.”

The two firms have major partnerships with Russia energy firms Gazprom and Rosneft.

In March, senators loyal to Mr Putin proposed freezing the assets of European and American companies in Russia, in response to Western sanctions imposed on Kremlin figures responsible for the annexation of Crimea.

The regime has previously seized major companies belonging to Putin’s political enemies on trumped-up charges.

However, the sabre-rattling will surprise British industry, as Russia badly needs foreign investment in its creaking energy industry. More than half the state’s revenue comes from oil and gas and Putin is thought to be reluctant to turn off the taps to foreign customers.

Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian ambassador, yesterday distanced himself from the threat and insisted BP and other British firms would remain be “comfortable” in his country.

But in a combative press conference, he warned of a new economic collapse if Western sanctions went ahead, saying they “may well trigger the long-anticipated end-game of the present global crisis.”

He suggested the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was a conspiracy aimed at “framing up Russia that went terribly wrong”.

He also claimed the timing of a new inquiry into the death of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko is a “strange coincidence”.

He added Britain is the most “difficult” and “hostile” country in the EU towards Moscow during a lengthy complaint about Home Office visa fees for tourists and artists.

He accused William Hague, the former Foreign Secretary, of not showing “respect” towards British war veterans by staying away from a commemorative event at his embassy.

It came as ambassadors in Brussels discussed proposals to make the City of London bear the brunt of new “restrictive measures” aimed at cutting off Russia's banks economy from financing and key technologies.

The measures are a response to Russian continuing to let weapons and fighters cross its border into Ukraine.

Meeting in intense secrecy, the EU delegrates agreed a new “crony criteria” to target Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin’s inner circle who are seen as “benefiting from” those politicians and generals responsible for a guerrilla war in Ukraine. Fifteen more individuals and 16 entities were added to an asset freeze and travel ban measures.

 Jihadin wrote:
Saw somewhere a bit back like Putin has 83% support of the Russian population behind him

 Ketara wrote:
He wouldn't do it. The second he started seizing foreign assets, the sound of all foreign companies divesting themselves of all Russian holdings and money would be well nigh deafening (and would most likely send the Russian economy back to the dark ages). It shows that he feels he's being driven into a corner though, if he's threatening it.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
Thats some weird logic.

 Soladrin wrote:
Next step to escalation.

The Netherlands is sending 40 MP's to help at the crash site. They will be unarmed and so far have not been allowed to use any form of violence.
They will be there to support the investigators etc.

It may just be me, but it kind of feels like putting out bait.

 Soladrin wrote:
Am I supposed to suddenly know that language?

Everything you post seems to have zero context and real evidence for anything except, someone died because reasons.

 loki old fart wrote:

 Soladrin wrote:
Am I supposed to suddenly know that language?

Everything you post seems to have zero context and real evidence for anything except, someone died because reasons.

Hint turn the subtitles on. You can read can't you?

 Soladrin wrote:
Next step to escalation.

The Netherlands is sending 40 MP's to help at the crash site. They will be unarmed and so far have not been allowed to use any form of violence.
They will be there to support the investigators etc.

It may just be me, but it kind of feels like putting out bait.

The Obama administration on Sunday released overhead surveillance images it said were evidence that Russia has fired artillery rounds from its side of the border against Ukrainian military units.

The grainy photographs, taken between Wednesday and Saturday, are labeled as indicating fire from multiple rocket launchers inside Russia and targets they have struck inside Ukraine.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
Grainy photos? Is that the best they can do?