re: Hat's off to Putin - he knows what he is doing

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i think this is a test of western europe much more than a test of the USA/Obama

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Yes.

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i think ukraine has somethings putin wants, but i think this is mostly a test or a diversion for something else

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My feeling is if Putin feels he can bully Europe on Ukraine then he will try to bully Europe on gas pricing. Isn't Ukraine a major pipeline for Russian gas going through to Europe? I think it was a kerfuffle over pipelines that began the woman PM of Ukraine's end right? I'm going on shaky memory here, but if Putin can bully his way into control of those pipelines then he can raise prices which will hurt the EU while enriching himself, his friends, and Russia.