"We stand by the brave people of Ukraine and your military as you defend your soil against Russian aggression."

Publicly recognizing Russian sovereignty over the Crimea could invite more aggression in other areas - like the Baltic states or the Caucasus.

Sorry Putin.

Russia's actions are illegal. Don't allow their violations of human rights to be accepted.

Annexing regions from other countries violates soveriegnty. What if Russia decided to annex Alaska next? We should put our foot down.

I guess this is (just BARELY) better than nothing, though I doubt it will do any good. Unhappy with the new administration in Ukraine, pro-Russian protesters rallied in the eastern Ukrainian region of Crimea. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin then deployed hundreds of Russian troops to Crimea in order to maintain order in the region, claiming that Russia reserves the right to protect the ethnic Russians in Crimea. [Let's just hope he doesn't decide to do that for the ethnic Russians in America while BHO is in the WH! I thank God we're almost at the end of an ERROR (the "O" is for Obama)!] http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/03/timeline-ukraine-political-crisis-201431143722854652.html http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/03/putin-ukraine-events-unconstitutional-coup-201434105511394582.html On March 6, 2014, Crimea’s parliament voted in favor of succeeding from Ukraine and joining Russia. A public referendum was conducted, wherein over 93 percent of Crimean citizens reportedly voted in favor of union with Russia. The U.S. and other Western nations subsequently deemed the referendum illegal. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/19/statement-president-executive-order-blocking-property-certain-persons-an Ignoring international condemnation, Vladimir Putin continued with the signing of the treaty to absorb Crimea into Russia on March 18, 2014. The United States and the European Union responded with heavy economic sanctions on Russia. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/20/world/europe/us-tightens-crimea-embargo-to-pressure-russia.html?_r=0 This is how Der Führer Obama responded: Statement by the President on Executive Order “Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to the Crimea Region of Ukraine” "Today, I issued an Executive Order taking further steps with respect to the situation in Ukraine. The E.O. prohibits the export of goods, technology, or services to Crimea and prohibits the import of goods, technology, or services from Crimea, as well as new investments in Crimea. The E.O. also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities operating in Crimea. The E.O. is intended to provide clarity to U.S. corporations doing business in the region and reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea. I again call on Russia to end its occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, cease its support to separatists in eastern Ukraine, and fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements. My Administration will continue to work closely with allies and partners in Europe and internationally to respond to events in Ukraine and to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well its democratic development and reform efforts. We will continue to review and calibrate our sanctions, in close coordination with our international partners, to respond to Russia's actions." I'M SURE PUTIN IS JUST SHAKING IN HIS BOOTS! It looks like Crimea is being sanctioned, rather than Russia, but I'd have to look into that more deeply. That being said, folks, the Cold War appears to be warming up. And we don't have a STATESMAN standing for FREEDOM at the helm of this nation. I stand by my opinion that BHO never met a dictator he didn't like, because he is one at heart himself. Putin got his "number" long ago!

The situation is obviously complicated, but even far more complicated than most would realize if you're not super familiar with the region. The region of Crimea has both historically been part of Russia and Ukraine. Many also have theories that Stalin once exiled native Russians there in the chance that the Soviet Union would disintegrate, leaving room for battles such as these. This, of course, is a only a theory. However compelling, none of these arguments are necessary. The US should condemn Russia for the way it (re)gained the territory. Whether or not Russia has claims to the territory due to population (see conflict in Kosovo) is a whole different story.