Civil war in the Ukraine / Star Wars is NOT a 'reboot'!

So, the recent news out of the Ukraine is that Russian-centric rebels have shot down two Ukrainian helicopters over Slavyansk. I dunno bout you Bubba, but it sure looks like it's about damn time to call this a civil war. As I mentioned in my previous entry on this subject, there's likely nothing short of a US invasion that will stop Putin. Now of course, Moscow hasn't been directly tied to any of the current activity in the Ukraine, but no analyst could deny that Putin is behind it all. He has intentionally destabilized the area, especially with his bold move into Crimea. Putin isn't a stupid man, far from it, he's quite a shrewd manipulator. He's well aware of how his actions in Crimea would have emboldened other pro-Russia separatists. And now he's going to let them fight it out, and ensure that he gives as much unofficial support from Moscow as he can manage. And being a KGB man, he knows many ways to provide support that a standard politician would not think of. 

So now... we have civil war in the Ukraine, and possibly a precursor to rebuilding the former Soviet Union, a great dream of Putin's. 

The other half of the title of this entry? Why are so many in the media talking about the upcoming Star Wars trilogy as though it's a reboot? No. It is not. Star Wars VII - IX is simply the next trilogy in the overall saga that is Star Wars. Sure, it could be seen as a rejuvenation of the franchise, but it's not a reboot in the sense of remaking the original story, as has been done with so many movies lately, like Robocop, for example. Or the three or four variations of The Punisher. Or the Batman saga, or Spider-Man. 

J. J. Abrams is not remaking the original Star Wars saga. He is simply in charge of the next part of the story. Stop calling it a reboot. 

~Mahalo~

Crimea's down, Ukraine unstable, Latvia next?

So Mr. Putin seems to be making some bold moves lately. Is it just me, or is he becoming a Bond villain? Vladimir Putin has visions of grandeur, and it may not be purely narcissistic.  He wants to be in league with the other great 'ins', Stal and Len. He's trying to rebuild the former Soviet Union, and isn't making any bones about it. What's scarier is that his popularity, among Russians, is high. The Russian people, or at least a majority of, seem to support this dream of his. 

And fuck me if I'm crazy, but he's doing a better job of Cold War politics than Mikhael Gorbachev could have ever managed. Putin's just walking in and taking what he wants, damn the rest of the world. Gotta hand it to him, he's got flaws, but he's a strong leader. I really don't like most of his social policies, and certainly not his stances on LGBT equality, or women's rights. But he is a strong leader. 

And back on this side of the pond, Obama is powerless to stop him. Many people are faulting Obama right now for being weak, but let's face it, what more can he do? Nothing short of a full invasion is going to make a difference and nobody wants that. Russia's military is much stronger than it was at the turn of the century/millennium, and they'd be able to put up much more fight than the US wants to face. Not to mention Russia's inter-continental ballistic capabilities, nuclear or other. 

No, an invasion of Russia is not a solution. Obama is not weak, he's powerless. Weak suggests that he could do something and won't, which isn't the case. He can't do any more than he already has. If sanctions aren't enough to stop Putin, we may just have to sit back and watch him rebuild the union, because the alternative may be even worse. 

~Mahalo~