Fact Check: Could a Little-Known International Agreement With Ukraine Force U.S.

[BlueStateSaint]

I found this on The Blaze.  It's . . . 'interesting.'

Fact Check: Could a Little-Known International Agreement With Ukraine Force U.S., Britain Into War With Russia?

Feb. 28, 2014 11:37pm    Jason Howerton

The United States and Britain “reaffirmed” its commitment to protect Ukraine’s borders in exchange for the nation giving up its nuclear weapons in a little-known treaty known as the “Budapest Memorandum signed by former President Bill Clinton in 1994.

The Daily Mail notes reports “if Russia has invaded Ukraine then it would be difficult for the US and Britain to avoid going to war.”

Sir Tony Brenton, who served as a British ambassador from 2004 to 2008, said war is certainly on the table if it’s determined that the Budapest Memorandum is “legally binding.”

According to the Daily Mail, Kiev has asked that the agreement be honored as it claims its borders have been violated.

“If indeed this is a Russian invasion of Crimea and if we do conclude the [Budapest] Memorandum is legally binding then it’s very difficult to avoid the conclusion that we’re going to go to war with Russia,” Brenton told BBC radio.

I seem to remember posting something about a 'time-honored way of bringing a country out of an economic downturn,' or something similar . . .

The rest of the article is here: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/28/fact-check-could-a-little-known-international-agreement-force-u-s-britain-into-war-with-russia/

[Crazy Horse]

No, next question.

[franksolich]

No, next question.

Yeah.

I'm no military expert, but having spent almost two years there, I'm guessing the Russian army could occupy the whole of Ukraine within a few days, before any sort of western "response" ever gets "framed."

Going through there would be easier and quicker than a hot knife slicing butter.

[marv]

Another international black eye for the little black guy..........
*cough* *cough*....."there will be consequences"

[Big Dog]

Mutual aid treaties are not binding, as they are unenforceable.

There is no way for any nation to be "forced" to use its military force for the benefit of another nation.

[ironhorsedriver]

I'm not sure Obama would even defend our own borders. So, Ukraine, no way.

[DumbAss Tanker]

No, next question.

Bingo.

[dutch508]

The treaty is there. We signed it. If you think Barry has the balls to do anything you'd be sadly mistaken.

Chamberlain makes Barry look like a *****.

[Lacarnut]

Let them settle it themselves. I do not want 1 American to get injured or killed on account of these commies. On the other hand, I would send Obama over there but I am no sure he is an American. 

I betcha Putin is shaking in his boots from Obama's threat. That is some serious sh!t. Not.

[JohnnyReb]

If you like your Ukraine, you can keep it.

[EagleKeeper]

Eh...it's all good, nobody in their right mind thinks that anything the U.S. says is worth the paper its written on.

[Purple Sage]

Eh...it's all good, nobody in their right mind thinks that anything the U.S. says is worth the paper its written on.

Sad but true.

[redwhit]

Eh...it's all good, nobody in their right mind thinks that anything the U.S. says is worth the paper its written on.

You mean like our agreements in South Korea and Japan?

[EagleKeeper]

You mean like our agreements in South Korea and Japan?

I'm not sure I understand your point but, just incase, need I mention the shiney new air defence zone China has.

[JohnnyReb]

I take it that there is no sand in the Ukraine....therefore, no Obama line in the sand.

[redwhit]

I'm not sure I understand your point but, just incase, need I mention the shiney new air defence zone China has.

When I read the "Blaze" article, my first thought was, "Well, hell, if we renege on this, what kind of message does that send to an already over-caffeinated China about our treaty obligations to Japan?  Or even South Korea?"

How excited will countries in the future be about accepting our word that we'll protect them?

[Big Dog]

When I read the "Blaze" article, my first thought was, "Well, hell, if we renege on this, what kind of message does that send to an already over-caffeinated China about our treaty obligations to Japan?  Or even South Korea?"

How excited will countries in the future be about accepting our word that we'll protect them?

Neither our allies, rivals, nor potential enemies believe Obama will honor mutual defense treaties. He has made that abundantly clear.

[Lacarnut]

When I read the "Blaze" article, my first thought was, "Well, hell, if we renege on this, what kind of message does that send to an already over-caffeinated China about our treaty obligations to Japan?  Or even South Korea?"

How excited will countries in the future be about accepting our word that we'll protect them?

After reading the article, it is NOT a treaty; it is a memorandum.  It is a complex issue of whether the agreement is binding or not. Let the commies fight their own battles.

In case you missed it, our word has not been that great ever since the Cuban missile crisis. In several instances, we have left freedom fighters hung out to dry in the past 50 plus years. 

[franksolich]

In case you missed it, our word has not been that great ever since the Cuban missile crisis. In several instances, we have left freedom fighters hung out to dry in the past 50 plus years.

<<<enthusiastically agree.

[txradioguy]

Even if we did decide to hold up our end of this bargain....here's some things to consider:

We have no combat tanks or Bradley armored fighting vehicles left in Germany. We have one Stryker Cav Brigade and one Airborne Infantry Brigade left in Europe. The Cav is currently in Afghanistan and the Sky Soldiers are getting ready to go.  That is it except for some aviation assets. And it was just announced that one of the combat aircraft types left in Germany....one that would be useful in a dust up with Russia...is being scrapped. Our adversaries know we can do nothing to stop them right now and they know the other U.S. allies on the Continent can't do anything or won't do anything without our help.

[Dori]

FOX is reporting that Russian soldiers have invaded and taken control of several bases in Crimea, the Ukrainian soldiers there have surrendered and the navy has taken off out to sea. Ukrainians in the east of Ukraine want the Russians to take over.