From America With Love (Ukraine's new first lady knows what freedom really means) (John Fund)

Opinion Journal ^ | Monday, December 27, 2004 | JOHN FUND

[nickcarraway]

In the most peaceful revolution since South Africa ended its apartheid regime by electing Nelson Mandela president in 1994, Ukraine has just elected opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko president of the former Soviet satellite republic. The victory comes for the pro-Western leader after a dirty campaign that saw him poisoned and only after hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets to protest voter-fraud. "We peacefully, beautifully, elegantly and without any drops of blood changed Ukraine," Mr. Yushchenko told cheering supporters.

[risk]

Thank you! That was a lot for your husband to say. The Balkan situation indeed did not turn out as expected. But that is the nature of war, as we all know. I personally know Catholics who were victims of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. It happened. It was wrong. It could have been much worse in Kosovo if we had not stepped in and stopped it. And if we hadn't, the global war we're fighting with Islamic extremism now could be much worse. If it does get worse, at least we can always say that during the 20th century, Americans and their allies tried their best to stop civilizational conflict.

America and Europe, guided by socialists, did try to do the right thing in the Balkans. As pope John Paul II prayed on Christmas eve, we all want peace. If the west had not tried to help there, or if it does not try to help in the Sudan, or if it did not try to help in Afghanistan, greater disasters could be ahead for us.

The issues of who commands whom, and how wars are conducted, remain. But they do not make a unifying cause behind which anti-American agitators here at FR can secure the trust of my fellow patriotic Americans, only to begin a campaign against democracy in the Ukraine, against our war in Iraq, for nuclear proliferation in Iran and Korea, and against "American imperialism." America has been destroying and bringing low imperialist powers since its inception. Some of us recognize those words. They're all too familiar. It was an early sign that the Cold War might not be as long in the past as we had hoped.

I'll say it again, the best security Russia can hope to have is in secure, independent, and prosperous neighbors who are trusted by their neighbors. Free elections, as fractious as they may seem, are the best way to get there. The alternative is much darker.

[risk]

Actually it isn't possible to built any alliance with Poland and Russia together.

I think we all know why. Actually, I hope for a future in which younger generations can forget the horrors of Stalin's occupation of Poland. It's a tossup whom they hate and fear more, Hitler or a Stalinist.

I hear a lot of talk about history lessons here, mainly by revisionists. The history is bloody, unforgettable, and totally unnecessary. I look forward to a day when Russian children are taught that it all could have been avoided if they had established an American-style free republic in 1919 instead of the false "science" of communism.

I want to tell that to the world. Meanwhile, some of us appreciate the fall of the Berlin very much. I hope that Russians come to appreciate it more than anyone else, since they were the first to suffer in the pogroms.

[PigRigger]

We will never forget how Poland was one of the brave countries who supported us during the anti-American onslaught....

I will never forget, nor will my children.

Nicely stated geedee, nicely stated.

[risk]

I served six years on a Special Forces A-Team during Nam...

I haven't been reading your posts carefully, and I wasn't even thinking about you when I made the above comments. But if you insist on being considered a special forces veteran with all the credentials that affords to you, then prove it to us. In fact, find a FReeper whom everyone here trusts, and prove it to him personally. I'll believe you then.

That's not enough, though. You have to prove to us that you're thinking on your own and not just following after some pro-Moscow agenda. Plenty of FReepers hide behind a facade of an identity to follow an agenda. Are you?

Regardless of your service or your political affiliation, your ideas have to stand on their own here. You apparently find a good deal of sympathy for FReepers who have a long history of inserting snide, anti-American comments into their otherwise "patriotic" posts.

Suit yourself. But think for yourself. I could care less what you say or do here. Enjoy your day, and carry on.

[Spirited]

Many Jewish supporters here also supported Putin and his man, also the socialist minded and some of the supporters of Orthodoxy wanted Putin's man to see that all other ministries (especially Evangelical) and religions were outlawed again.

An interesting but normal coalition of pro-former-commies over whatever else could be. Not everyone values freedom for others than themselves.

[GarySpFc]

I served six years on a Special Forces A-Team during Nam...

I haven't been reading your posts carefully, and I wasn't even thinking about you when I made the above comments. But if you insist on being considered a special forces veteran with all the credentials that affords to you, then prove it to us. In fact, find a FReeper whom everyone here trusts, and prove it to him personally. I'll believe you then.

You made the insult, and should be willing to stand by what you said. You're a typical mouth who will not believe no matter what the evidence, and you even set yourself up with a way of escape, but I intend to show everyone what type of person you are in reality. You could have gone to my home page and seen the link to my family website. Note, http://home.kc.rr.com/thebutners/ Click on Gary and you will go to the following link: http://home.kc.rr.com/thebutners/Special%20Forces.htm Next, go to the following link which lists those from my high school graduating class who served in Nam. You will see my name there and the name of a friend. Dick Myers. That's the same General Dick Myers you see with President Bush and Chaney on TV. http://www.smnorth60.com/vietnam.htm Now, if anything you are the anti-American clown on FR.

[mac_truck]

I suspect I know more about patriotism and fighting for freedom than any of you...

..and you'd be wrong.

[risk]

I'm not impressed by your arguments, so your (still unproven) credentials mean little in this context. That's the main issue. You could be the ghost of General MacArthur and I would still find your arguments empty. Let the Ukrainian people decide. It's up to them. Anything else is meddlesome.

[GarySpFc]

I'm not impressed by your arguments, so your (still unproven) credentials mean little in this context. That's the main issue. You could be the ghost of General MacArthur and I would still find your arguments empty. Let the Ukrainian people decide. It's up to them. Anything else is meddlesome.

I didn't think my credentials would mean anything to one who lightly discards the truth. There is a major difference between rhetoric and truth.

I fully agree the Ukranian people have the right to decide in a fair election. That said, was the previous election fair or not? Since the first election Yushchenko received a considerable amount of favorable publicity and Yanuovich unfavorable. Clearly Yushchenko should have won and was predicted to win the second election by a huge landslide, and he clearly did not. Now we will never know if the outcome in the first election really was fair, but it appears that way to me.

[risk]

So you dispute the dispute over the election, in opposition to our own President and his cabinet "just because" you have a haunch that maybe the election was valid? If that were true, then why wouldn't it be valid the second time? Whatever. I really don't care what you think now. Anyway, we're talking because a reply to a reply to a ping that wasn't even about you. I don't even have a clear picture of why you care about the Ukraine, and I'm even less interested than I was before in finding out. Good luck with your online advocacy, though. Maybe when it starts to have a valid point, people will be more interested.

[PhilDragoo]

There would not have been such notice on a world-wide scale had not the fraud and intimidation been so gross as to be publicly noted by Colin Powell and Richard Lugar.

Then there was the matter of the poisoning--and the perfect combustible added to that smoldering fire by the corrupt government's own "herpes" libel.

The Putin backing of Yanukovitch to the sum of hundreds of millions of dollars plus the censorship of Yuschenko's message only cemented the result.

Now we have that Soros-backed front The Wall Street Journal and that socialist one-worlder John Fund to spread their propaganda for the CIA agent wife of--

I remember those socialists from the earlier evolution of KPMG, Peat Marwick & Mitchell when they came to help us get our Boston bank in order--

Happy New Year, Ukraine. With the elections in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iraq, on top of the re-election of W, it will be a good year.

[MeekOneGOP]

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Phil. Very interesting information on Ms. Yuschenko.

[Happy2BMe]

Ukraine's new first lady used to work for President Ronald Reagan.

That can't be all bad . .

[texasflower]

You are nothing but a big horse's behind. I don't believe anything you say.

[texasflower]

I agree with every word you said. I spent many days talking to Gary and have found him suspect at best.

I'm also a bit uncomfortable with someone who offers his step daughter as a bride.

[texasflower]

Wow "all" that and you are still wrong. That's sad.

[texasflower]

Well said Sara's husband!

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Ukraine's new first lady used to work for President Ronald Reagan.

A bump for freedom.

[risk]

Hey, we agree on some things and not on others. What do you know?