Were I God of all I survey, if we can't reverse or begin to contest this theft of Crimea by Russia soon, I'd (well, after achieving Summer Glau-related objectives) introduce a UN Security Council Resolution to call for the international community to resettle Crimeans who do not wish to become subjects of Russia or who don't want to live in a formally (for now) independent Crimea.
Russia wants to play the rescue game? We should play it, too. Yeah, Russia will veto it. But we can still organize an effort to do it anyway. Will Russia really shoot?
I'd send American warships to lead a Western effort to evacuate Crimeans by sea as well as organizing protected convoys overland to Ukraine.
The warships can stay further out while Coast Guard vessels from a variety of countries as well as chartered ships and a Navy hospital ship carry out the evacuations.
If the international community has failed to protect Crimea by uniting the world against aggression as the United Nations is supposed to do, the international community can save as many as can be saved from their fate.
I'd resettle these people just north of Crimea. And I'd make sure these aren't refugee camps. Look forward and not back the way Palestinians are trapped in the idea that they must go home again.
The Ukrainian government can accept as collateral--to keep claims on the property but prevent the refugees from pining for their past--any property these pro-Ukraine Crimeans have to leave behind as payment for money used to rehouse these people and start them over.
Make this area prosperous and make sure the Crimeans who stay with the Russian know that they made a huge mistake.
And house a Crimean government-in-exile in that region.
Never accept the legality of Russia stealing Crimea, if that is what happens because we can't reverse it.
But if Pro-Russian Crimeans are determined to join Russia, we can at least rescue those who don't wish to march off to the prison camp while singing of Putin's glory and refuse to forget that Russia stomped on Ukraine's territorial integrity in violation of past agreements.
UPDATE: Ukraine is up for the rescue mission, as they say they wish to withdraw their troops from Crimea:
Mr Parubiy, in a news conference, set out more details on Kiev's position in light of the events in Crimea.
He said arrangements were now being set up to introduce visas for Russian nationals travelling to Ukraine.
And he said Kiev was seeking UN support to "proclaim Crimea a demilitarised zone", which would involve the withdrawal of Russian troops and the "relocation of Ukrainian troops to continental Ukraine as well as facilitate evacuation of all the civilian population who are unwilling to remain on the occupied territory".
I wonder if we'll assist with our ships and planes?
