Article

2004-12-02 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Kuchma, Putin oppose "quick re-run" of Ukrainian vote

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Posted by Dar 2004-12-02 2:50:01 PM|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Popcorn?

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-12-02 3:14:24 PM|| 2004-12-02 3:14:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Obnoxious MSM shits. Look at this spin: In a fresh sign of the strain the crisis is placing on relations between Russia and the West, President Bush made a clear jab at Moscowâs involvement, saying outsiders should not meddle in any new election. "I think any election, if there is one, ought to be free from any foreign influence. These elections ought to be open and fair,"

Isn't it more appropriate to preface the Bush quote with something like, "Demonstrating the same commitment to democracy that the US showed in neighboring Georgia's 'rose revolution' last year", or perhaps just quote Bush without the bullshit?

Smash these jokers. Source and report our own stories.

Posted by lex 2004-12-02 3:50:39 PM|| 2004-12-02 3:50:39 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Lex, I agree with you that this article is partial in favour of Bush by calling his words a clear jab towards Russia. Reuters should quit the pro-Bush propaganda.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-12-02 5:13:19 PM|| 2004-12-02 5:13:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 tee hee, aris. You're missing the point. This isn't a contest between the US and Russia. Ukraine is of next to no significance to us. This elections is less important to us than the Venezuelan election was last year, and cannot even compare in significance ot the Afghan and Iraqi elections. That Reuters and the other MSM morons choose to play this up only underscores how little they grasp about Ukraine and about the priorities and perspectives of the Bush administration and the US.

Posted by lex 2004-12-02 5:25:54 PM|| 2004-12-02 5:25:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 The US devoted the same level of attention and pro-democracy resources to Ukraine as it did to those other earth-shattering events, the elections in Georgia, Belarus and Serbia. This is a clash between a couple of kleptocratic clans, one of which seems to be a bit less illiberal than the other. yawn

Posted by lex 2004-12-02 5:27:52 PM|| 2004-12-02 5:27:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 lex, This election is a very important part of Putin's program to reassemble a leaner, meaner Soviet Union consisting or Russia, Ukraine, Byelorus and part of Kazahkstan. If Ukranians frustrate Putin, it will be a major defeat. While neither candidate is likely to push Washington off his pedestal, who wins an their feality to Moscow is more important than the Venezuelan election.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-12-02 5:43:18 PM|| 2004-12-02 5:43:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 This isn't a contest between the US and Russia.

It's a contest between the whole democratic free world and Russian imperialism, as fought out by the people of Ukraine.

Ukraine is of next to no significance to us.

Well, if that's the case I find it unfortunate. Ukraine is a nation of 50 million. That's bigger than Iraq and Afghanistan combined. And it breaking away from Russia may be the death-knell of the Soviet Union that never truly occurred in the early 1990s -- it may however occur now.

No, it's not currently part of the specific war that the *USA* is fighting. That doesn't mean however that it's not part of the greater war between the powers of Western civilisation and its enemies.

This is a clash between a couple of kleptocratic clans, one of which seems to be a bit less illiberal than the other. yawn

Vaguely *communistic* of you, to make out of this merely a conflict between rich elites and thus belittle the whole point of the democratic process-- it's the same argument used by people that belittle the *American* democracy.

Whatever his flaws, Yushchenko is the democratically elected president of Ukraine. An inability to take that post because of fraud or force, therefore represents a defeat for democracy and the enslavement of the whole Ukrainian people. *Regardless* of whether Yushchenko is a good choice or not, he is the choice the Ukrainians made.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-12-02 6:13:57 PM|| 2004-12-02 6:13:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 lex--Just got home and have to chip in my 2Â¢--I can't agree with your premise. The Ukraine is of vital importance to us--not necessarily by its own merits, but by what the Ukraine would mean to a resurgent, nationalistic Russia looking to re-establish some of the glory days and power of the Soviet Union. It is of the utmost importance that we support the Ukraine in its struggle to become an independent nation and not let it revert to a Russian vassal state. The Ukraine would be the keystone in the "RUBK" ("Rubik") conglomerate that would lead to the Cold War starting all over again.

Posted by Dar 2004-12-02 11:15:11 PM|| 2004-12-02 11:15:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 The Poles obviously agree with you, Dar. They want a good, wide buffer between them and the big friendly bear...

Posted by Shaiter Spoluper1654 2004-12-02 11:47:02 PM|| 2004-12-02 11:47:02 PM|| Front Page Top

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