UKRAINE – AT 8:58 A.M. ET:  Let us not forget this critical crisis.  From The Hill:

The White House accused Moscow on Monday of stirring up trouble in Ukraine, as pro-Russian demonstrations provoked fears that President Vladimir Putin might mount a second invasion there just weeks after annexing Crimea.

The administration said demonstrators who seized government buildings in the cities of Lugansk and Donetsk were not locals, and were part of a carefully orchestrated campaign backed by the Kremlin.

State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said the demonstrations were “not a spontaneous set of events,” and White House spokesman Jay Carney said evidence suggested some protestors were paid.

A further Russian incursion “either overtly or covertly” would seriously escalate the crisis, he added.

“We call on President Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention,” said Carney, who warned that the U.S. would retaliate by targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy.

Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia to “publicly disavow” the activity by separatists in Ukraine.

COMMENT:  Come on, it's over.  No one takes the Obama administration seriously.  There are increasing "pro-Russian" activities in Eastern Ukraine.  It's a chilling reminder of events in the late 1930s, when Germany demanded that those of German origin in nearby country be "protected."  It's the international protection racket.  Germany moved in to do the "protecting."

Expect things to get worse.  Russia paid no penalty for annexing Crimea.  Why should they fear?

April 8,  2014