The pro-Yushchenko web site Ukrayinska pravda, however, openly mourned Kerry 's defeat, predicting that Bush's re-election would only make matters worse for Ukraine. "The Bush administration will continue making efforts to keep the mock anti-terror coalition, which Ukraine has joined, together. And it will turn a blind eye to human rights abuses and encroachments on freedom of speech in Ukraine," the website speculated. This gloomy prediction is in line with the jealous mistrust of Bush's administration that is widespread among Ukraine's liberal and nationalist opposition. Many of those Ukrainians who oppose Kuchma's government believe that Bush tacitly agreed to overlook corruption and undemocratic practices in Kyiv in exchange for Kuchma' s support for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. "Ukraine's presence in Iraq will push it further away from Europe bringing it closer to America.
America's focus on Iraq will push Ukraine onto the sidelines of U.S. foreign policy," Ukrayinska pravda continued. "During Bush's first term, foreign aid to Ukraine shrunk by almost $100 million, and it will shrink further. This will mean fewer exchanges between students, teachers, military personnel, and parliamentarians," the opposition website warned.
Georgia revolt carried mark of Soros
By MARK MacKINNON From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Tbilisi — It was back in February that billionaire financier George Soros began laying the brickwork for the toppling of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze.
That month, funds from his Open Society Institute sent a 31-year-old Tbilisi activist named Giga Bokeria to Serbia to meet with members of the Otpor (Resistance) movement and learn how they used street demonstrations to topple dictator Slobodan Milosevic.....
It was back in February that billionaire financier George Soros began laying the brickwork for the toppling of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. President George Bush and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili meeting in the Oval Office recently. Here's what they had to say;
President Bush:Mr. President, welcome. We followed the revolution that took place in your country very closely. We appreciate your firm commitment to democracy and freedom. We've had a very interesting discussion. I know firsthand that the President will do everything he can to earn the confidence of the people of Georgia by representing their will, by fighting corruption, by working for a system based upon integrity and decency and human rights. I'm impressed by this leader. I'm impressed by his vision, I'm impressed by his courage. I am heartened by the fact that we have such a strong friend, a friend with whom we share values. So Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. I appreciate the candid discussion we've had. And I'm proud to call you friend.
PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI: It's a great honor for me and for the people of Georgia to be here in this Oval Office. It's not -- our cooperation is very deep. We consider ourselves as very close ally and friend of the United States. We are proud to be friend of the United States. I am speaking on behalf of every Georgian. I have to say that this cooperation and friendship -- the U.S. helped us when we needed it most, and would like peoples -- other peoples in Europe will never forget that. But our cooperation is -- that held friendship is not only about security, it's not only about economy, primarily it's about our shared values. And we are part of -- proud part of anti-terrorist coalition. We have forces in Iraq. We are cooperating on other issues.
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Wow, this is fascinating... I have alot of catching up to do to get a picture, but here we seem to have one of the best examples of a situation that is as far from "black and white" as possible.
An uninformed first impression: Soros is generally bad, but may be coincidentally working with the lesser of two evils for once, perhaps both sides in the Ukraine have their flaws (seems a bit like Eurotrash vs. Former KGB, which is worse?).