'Sir' Banned in Army (Ukraine on Spiral down)

Reuters | Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004

[RussianConservative]

KIEV (Reuters) -- More than 12 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukrainian soldiers are once again "comrades."

The Ukrainian parliament passed a law Wednesday banning the use of "sir" as an address in the country's armed forces.

The law allows soldiers to only use "comrade" when addressing officers and fellow servicemen. The deputies gave no explanation for their decision.

"Comrade" was a typical address in the army and throughout society in the Communist era. But Ukraine has tried to replace it with new terms since the end of Soviet rule in 1991.

[RussianConservative]

How long before Ukrainian peoples become tired of corruption of Western Ukrainian Nationalists and split off to rejoin Russia? Being poor, mismanaged and lacking wheat is not good way to go through life.

[GeronL]

It looks like these guys want to recreate the Soviet Union

[RussianConservative]

Unlike Russia, Ukraine never go far away. Most peoples want reunification. Ukraine never decentralize or regulize or privatize, unlike Russia.

[GeronL]

Its people must see how much better Russia has become economically and, of course, want to be part of that.

[endthematrix]

NATO and the EU have one thing to say: Sorry, Comrade!
Ministers take stock of NATO-Ukraine relations(NATO Doc) or A Vision for Ukraine (State Dept Doc)

[HiTech RedNeck]

The Ukrainian parliament passed a law Wednesday banning the use of "sir" as an address in the country's armed forces.

And I assume they don't think much of "madam" either

[RussianConservative]

First, NATO is dead organization, corpse that still walk because nothing has quite knock it over yet...as for EU...best not hope so, since EU is US opposition incarnate. Hoping Ukraine is part of EU is enlarging own enemy.

Oh and I am not your comrade.

[endthematrix]

OK, so you've said the Cold War is dead. Now NATO is dead? GeoStrategically speaking, NATO is king! And goes the rationale that we are still paying the Cold War, and criticisms for and against Russian developments perceived to be against the West are valid, right? The Great Game continues?

[RussianConservative]

Yes, NATO king, just look at all aid US get on war in Iraq and all head bashing US had to do for terror bombing of Serbs. NATO is alive only because US spend billions of dollar to keep it that way, but dollar drop in value so billions soon not enough.

[archy]

Unlike Russia, Ukraine never go far away. Most peoples want reunification.

Maybe Batko Makhno will be making a comeback? Grease up the machine guns and Tachanka, and don't get the woman who rides alongside Makhno mad at you....