Good statement from Obama re: Crimea and Russian claims. Essentially, put up or shut up.

[pinto]

Real brief statement just now, but real clear. i.e. The claims being made about ethnic Russian "safety" concerns in Crimea are easily addressed. Let an international team of observers into Crimea to monitor, document and verify or clarify those claims. De-escalate the current situation and support international transparency.

[politicaljunkie41910]

1. Don't say that Obama. Then Putin would just have to send in his thugs to beat up people who would

then say whatever Putin's goons told them to say.

[pinto]

2. I wonder who's staffing the Crimea/Russia border crossings at this time.

I've read that Putin's claims of a mass exodus of ethnic Russians from Crimea to Russia are bogus, as reported from crossing data. No clue if there's been a change in border staff.

[Chan790]

3. If all the ethnic Russians are fleeing Crimea...

then there's an ever decreasing reason for Russian troops on Ukrainian soil as there is an ever-dwindling number of ethnic Russians in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

[pinto]

4. It seems to be all smoke and mirrors.

[joshcryer]

5. There is a reason the UN envoys were kicked out.

It's all a facade. There is zero legitimate reason for Putin to be in Crimea.