This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Ukrainian naval vessel attack from shore by anti-government militias

Anti-government militias in eastern Ukraine, supported by thousands ofRussian soldiers (supposedly “on vacation”), along with Russianweapons and armor, fired from the shore on a Ukrainian ship off thecoast of Mariupol, in the Sea of Azov, damaging it.

The Russianmilitia leader, Igor Strelkov, bragged, “The militia have dealt theenemy their first naval defeat.” Strelkov is the same Russian leaderwho bragged about shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger planewith a Russian-supplied Buk missile system before he realized itwasn’t a warplane.

Ukrainian forces in the port city of Mariupol continue to bracethemselves for an expected full-scale attack by Russian forces on thecity. It’s feared that Russian troops will join with troops alreadyin Crimea, continue all the way to Odessa, and connect with separatistMoldovans in Transnistria in eastern Moldova.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin continued his pattern of threateningstatements by demanding on Sunday that “Novorossia” be grantedstatehood. Novorossia is the anti-Ukraine word for eastern andsouthern Ukraine. On Friday, Putin said, “[I]t’s best not to messwith us. … I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leadingnuclear powers.”

The Russian invasion and threats come as European leaders are inBrussels commemorating the 75th anniversary of Hitler’s invasion ofPoland. According to Britain’s prime minister David Cameron, “Weknow from European history the danger of the territorial integrity ofa nation state being threatened and undermined in this way.”

VOA and Moscow Times and Reuters

Pakistan’s army issues a veiled threat to politicians

Pakistan’s opposition party politician Imran Khan, the former cricketsuperstar turned anti-American politician, called for continued riotsand demonstrations, as did Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, another oppositionparty politician. But after a violent Saturday evening, when hundredswere injured, Sunday’s protests were relatively quiet and non-violent,although many Islooites (residents of Islamabad) stayed indoor forfear of their safety. The objective of the riots is to force theresignation of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who won a landslideelection last year in May.

There is increasing fear that the army is planning to take control ofthe government through a coup. There was an emergency meeting of armycommanders on Sunday afternoon. The army issued a statement after themeeting affirming their support for democracy, but indicating thatthey wouldn’t tolerate anything that risks the security of the state:

While reaffirming support to democracy, theconference reviewed with serious concern, the existing politicalcrisis and the violent turn it has taken, resulting in large scaleinjuries and loss of lives. Further use of force will onlyaggravate the problem.

It was once again reiterated that the situation should be resolvedpolitically without wasting any time and without recourse toviolent means.

Army remains committed to playing its part in ensuring security ofthe state and will never fall short of meeting nationalaspirations.

Imran Khan and Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri are widely believed to haveoverreached themselves, but many feel that the government and the armyhave also acted poorly. The News (Pakistan) and Guardian (London) and BBC and Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations

Israel infuriates Palestinians by claiming West Bank land for settlements

Israel is changing the status of 400 hectares of West Bank land sothat it will be eligible for building Jewish settler homes. The landhad previously been listed as survey land, a designation thatprevented settlement building. The action infuriated officials in thePalestinian Authority. Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said:

The Israeli government is committing various crimesagainst the Palestinian people and their occupied land. Theinternational community should hold Israel accountable as soon aspossible for its crimes and raids against our people in Gaza andthe ongoing Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and eastJerusalem.

Jerusalem Post and Deutsche Welle

KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Russia, Ukraine, Mariupol, Sea of Azov,Igor Strelkov, Vladimir Putin, Novorossia, David Cameron,Pakistan, Imran Khan, Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Nawaz Sharif,Israel, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Saeb Erekat

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