Lessons from the Crimea

It was December 1994 when the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. was signed in Hungary. The memorandum’s purpose is to provide security to Ukraine for agreeing to the ‘Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.’

The ‘Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons’ design is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970 and in May 1995, it was extended indefinitely.

As for the memorandum, it was originally signed by the U.S., the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom. China and France later gave statements of assurance as well.

It included assurances against threats or use of force against Ukraine. As a result Ukraine gave up the world’s third largest nuclear weapons stockpile between 1994 and 1996.

“There is a common perception that Russia’s move on Crimea shows its strength.  A closer examination suggests it is more complicated that it may seem.   Like the bully at the school yard, the aggressiveness conceals weaknesses,” writes Mark Chandler, blogger and author of ‘Making Sense of the Dollar.’ “Simply put, Russia felt threatened and for good reason.  The democratic coup in the Ukraine threatened a potentially strategic loss for Russia.”

However, Russia’s invasion has also breached its obligations to Ukraine and is in clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.  And all the U.S. can really do is offer sanctions against the former U.S.S.R., while the U.K. stands-by doing nothing.

In essence, what is happening in Ukraine is a lesson in what will happen to a country or nation that allows any governmental body to take away their arms. It could happen to us if we fail to remember the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution which reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Paper, like prayer, is no good without action to back it up.