TURMOIL IN THE UKRAINE / RUSSIA AGGRESSION

[HairOfTheDog]

So, the US announced more financial sanctions against Russia earlier this week, claiming that Putin and company were supplying eastern Ukraine's Russia Separatists with arms, equipment and support.

President Obama issued the sanctions without the level of EU support that he'd desired.

What a difference a few days makes. With the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 by what appears to be separatists armed and possibly trained by Mother Russia -- and the resulting loss of Dutch, British, German, and Belgian lives -- the US's claims appear to be carrying more weight within the European Union.

Now, Putin's nonchalance and denials in term of stoking the fires in eastern Ukraine are being challenged by many world leaders. His back's against the wall.

What to do? What do? Deflect, of course.


Today, Putin placed a Russia travel ban on a U.S. lawmaker (a senator who sponsored a bill banning the purchase of Russian-made helicopters) and 12 US officials connected with the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

There go all those Sochi vacation plans...