The Winter Olympics were no sooner over when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to do what all dictators do; invade a sovereign country such as the Ukraine. For the moment, Russian troops have limited their invasion to the Crimean peninsula. Ukraine soldiers are surrendering as this post is being typed. President Putin said he reserved the right to use force to defend ethnic Russians while there’s “no such necessity” at present. But, Putin has left the threat hanging over the collective heads of the people of the Ukraine. Putin claims extremists orchestrated a coup to dislodge President Viktor Yanukovych. Putin claims that Yanukovych asked for assistance to combat anti-government forces who were protesting his presidency. Those protests led to his being ousted as President. Meanwhile, the Ukraine has its own set of problems in trying to have a transitional government in place to react to the menacing Russian Bear at their doorstep. Right now, Ukraine needs $15 billion in the next 2 1/2 years to stay afloat, Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak said March 1.There is no way to pay police or government officials right now.
