Obama mulls sending arms to Ukraine as rebels try and raise troops. Yahoo/AFP

Rebels patrol the streets of Makiivka. Yahoo/AFP. 

President Obama is considering sending lethal aid to Ukraine as peace talks fall apart and fighting intensifies. Yahoo/AFP. NATO already provides non-lethal aid, such as medical supplies and body armor, but giving arms to Ukraine would be a major escalation. Western arms would counter the troops and weapons that Russia is accused of sending to the region. Peace talks in Minsk failed largely because of stubbornness from pro-Russian rebels, who do not want to give up their weapons. The rebels blame Ukraine for failing to halt attacks. Meanwhile, the leader of the Donetsk republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, claimed that the rebels were going to raise 100,000 fresh troops to join the offensive against Ukraine. 

My Comment:

I am not in favor of sending lethal aid to Ukraine. Frankly Ukraine is not worth much of anything to the United States. Ukraine isn't worth much of anything to America. Sure the rest of NATO wants them in the organization but for America itself our interests do not include going to war with Russia. Of course war isn't inevitable if we do send weapons but I think that is a red line that Putin does not want us to cross. In short, having Russian soldiers (and let's face it, there are Russians fighting in this war) get killed by American provided arms would be a slap in the face to Russia. I don't mind giving Russia a good slap in the face once in awhile but not over Ukraine. 

This whole conflict is very frustrating because none of it was necessary and there aren't any good guys. After overthrowing the government Ukraine, the new government passed a lot of discriminatory laws against Russian speakers and that caused the conflict to flare up. Neither side has a monopoly on being jerks. Both sides have caused a huge amount of civilian casualties. This isn't a black and white conflict, it's grey vs gray. Neither side is entirely right but neither is completely wrong either. 

As for Zakharchenko's plan to raise 100,000 new troops, I say good luck with that. I am guessing that he has the raw manpower to do so but how many of them are trained and ready to fight? Will they be draftees or volunteers? Will it be old men and young boys? Don't get me wrong, I still think the rebels are probably going to win out, due to Ukraine's military and economic weakness. I just don't see how Donetsk is going to raise a 100,000 man strong army at this point in the war. 

Also, this article mentioned the battle for Debaltseve. Should the rebels pinch off Ukrainian forces in the city that could be a huge victory for the rebels and a disaster for Ukraine. Keep an eye on the battle and if the rebels pull it off, expect me to post something about it.