I was attempting to expand upon what you had written in your post and not refute you on a point-by-point.  But, since you insist, I'll make an attempt.

"I don't remember Russia getting 50 other countries to join their effort.  (Did they get one?)"

I believe you are referring to the exercise of "building a coalition" which occurred prior to both Iraq wars and the Afghanistan war. If I understand correctly, you present these as some kind of justification for America's subsequent actions within those theaters of war: eg., "how bad can it be if we got Britain to go along on our carnage?"  

In my lights, however, these examples of statecraft are the sorriest moments of American history: we moved heaven and earth to bribe, extort and otherwise coerce these 50 other "allies" to join the fray.  Some coalition.  In most cases, as soon as they had the dollars-in-hand, they got the hell out of the kitchen when the twisting of arms ended.  

"I forget when Kiev housed terrorists who bombed St. Basil's on Red Square killing 3,000 Russians."

By this, I think you are making reference to 9-11 with a very circuitous analogy?  I am not willing to agree that it was bin Laden (who was trained, financed and supported by the US up to 9-11-2001) that killed 3,000 Americans.  If that were true, why was it that bin Laden was NEVER officially charged with that crime?  Why was it that he was never placed on any "wanted by the FBI" list or  wanted poster?  If bin Laden's residency in Afghanistan was really justification and cause for our invasion, why is it that we are still there long after we supposedly killed him (in 2011) or long after he supposedly left Afghanistan in 2003 via Tora Bora?  If 9-11 were really the true justication for the horrors of BOTH Afghanistan AND Iraq, how is it that we never invaded Saudi Arabia, from which most of the hijackers were citizens?

"I forget if the Ukraine  invaded its neighbor, lost a war and then refused to obey interational demands.(excuse me, but I was a Soviet Studies major so long ago, I still think "The" Ukraine and Leningrad.  Privilege of old age.)"

With this pronouncement, I am ashamed to admit that the conceit of your artifice has become entirely too thick and indirect.  Accordingly, my ability to either interpret or further answer your question (rhetorical, though it obviously was) is at a standstill and has left me scratching my head and fanning my balls.  

I will, however, make mention of your use of the construction which utilized the use of an indefinite article to modify a country's name.  "The" Ukraine?  Honestly? I have no idea why it is that whenever people refer to the place they feel compelled to call it "the" Ukraine.  Do you season your language with utterances like "the" Italy?"  The England?  The Canada?

No.

It is my hope that you make yourself aware that, in the future, you can simply call it "Ukraine," and leave it at that. Everyone will still respect you in the morning if you cease and desist using the word "The" as prefix - its not necessary.  Stop it.

 

 
(This is as good a place as any to talk about your use of "Leningrad" in place of its current designation of "St. Petersberg." In 1611, Swedish colonists built Nyenskans upon the land currently occupied by St Petersberg. In 1703, during the Great Northern War, Tzar Peter ("the Great") captured Nyenskans and began building the Peter and Paul fortress which eventually became the center of the city. Tzar Peter moved the capital from Moscow to Saint Petersburg in 1712 where it remained [with a short 4 year interruption in 1728] the seat of the Romanov Dynasty and the Imperial Court of the Russian Tzars, as well as the seat of the Russian government, for another 186 years until the beginning of WW1. During World War I, the Imperial government renamed the city Petrograd. After the revolution of 1917, it was known as "the city of three revolutions." On January 26, 1924, five days after Lenin's death, Petrograd was renamed Leningrad. How that happened was a clusterfuck:  "Lenin" was not his real name - he was born born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, but,I suppose that "Leningrad" sounds less awkward than "Ulyanovberg." It remained "Leningrad" until the Soviet Union declared bankruptcy in 1992 with its collapse. It is now officially St. Petersberg, by the name is un-officialy shortened to Peter by those fortunate enough to live there)  

 

-- Modified on 3/2/2014 1:46:37 PM