Posted on 12/15/2013 12:22:14 AM PST by wolf78
The fight for Ukraine has now become a contest between the Russian president and the German chancellor. Putin won the first round. But Merkel and her fellow Europeans are grooming professional heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko to be their new strongman.
[...]
While "regime change" is too strong a term for what Germany is seeking, it's not entirely off base. Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the European People's Party (EPP), a family of European conservative parties, have chosen Klitschko as their de facto representative in Ukraine. His job is to unite and lead the opposition -- on the street, in parliament and, finally, in the 2015 presidential election. "Klitschko is our man," say senior EPP politicians, "he has a clear European agenda." And Merkel still has a score to settle with Putin.
[...]
The fight for Kiev involves far more than free trade on the eastern edge of the European Union. Almost 25 years after the end of the Cold War, it is now a question of which powers can manage to pull the former Soviet republics into their zone of influence. It is a question of geopolitics, and of something experts like to call the "grand design." And, finally, regardless of how the German chancellor feels about it, the issue boils down to a very personal rivalry between Merkel and Putin.
[...]
Ukraine is the central building block in Putin's grand design. Without Ukraine, Moscow would lack an arm that reaches all the way to central Europe. With Ukraine, Putin could revive the dream of restoring Moscow to its former status as a superpower, at least in part.
[..]
He dreams of a greater Russia. And if he had his way, he would reverse the outcome of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Isn’t Klitschko one of the giant boxing twins?
It is Ukraines curse that it is forever trapped between Russia and whatever power is dominant in Central Europe, variously Poland, the Hapsburgs or Germany. I hope they can play this to stay out of the Bears embrace, because historically that’s been the worst place to be.
They seem to lead a charmed life, and appear very happy. Boxing is no where near the big ratings draw it used to be. Most times the championships feature lightweights. Historically, heavyweights get the biggest audiences. Most boxers come from poverty stricken societies. Today, most areas still in poverty are the South American or Philipino locales. Nationalities of generally smaller people.
There is still plenty of room for a skilled heavyweight who is strong, quick and willing to train hard.
Make no mistake: Russia seeks to restore much of the old Soviet Union.
As an economic and ultimately political union in the form of the Eurasian Community. It would be a serious rival of the EU.
Right now a more limited union exists between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The larger planned community will embrace most of the post-Soviet space.
This was all but inevitable after the Soviet collapse in 1991.
From what I have seen on foreign TV, it appears there is massive Ukranian support for stronger EU ties and weaker Russian ones.
Yushchenko: Russia blocking poisoning probe
By Bonnie Malkin and agencies, September 12, 2007
Mr Yushchenko before and after the poisoning
"Mr Yushchenko, a pro-European politician who wanted to bring his country [The Ukraine] out of Russia's shadow, fell seriously ill on September 6, 2004 as he was competing in presidential elections against a pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovich, now prime minister.
After months of tests in an Austrian clinic, it was determined that he had ingested a massive amount of the poison dioxin.
Although he survived, his face was left bloated and pockmarked, and he has had to undergo regular treatment to rid his body of the toxin.
In an interview with Le Figaro he said he believed the dioxin used to disfigure him was made in a Russian lab.
Mr Yushchenko did not directly accuse the Russian government of being behind his poisoning, but he did say he had 'practically put all the pieces together' and the attempt against him 'was not a private action'. ..."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1562838/Yushchenko-Russia-blocking-poisoning-probe.html
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"Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko (born February 23, 1954) is the third and current President of Ukraine". He took office on January 23, 2005. [there is a new pro-Putin president since]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yushchenko
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(Ukraine) Hunt starts for Yushchenko's poisoner:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/1478922/Hunt-starts-for-Yushchenko%27s-poisoner.html
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Putin's Poison?
by Peter Brookes, November 27, 2006
The death of former Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko, last week from radioactive Polonium-210 poisoning is the latest in a series of politically motivated attacks on the outspoken opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
I remember it well, and let’s not forget that poor guy who was killed with Polonium poisening by the Russians.
If I were Putin I would forget about Ukraine except for trade and seek instead to pull Turkey into my orbit. Russia still dreams of control of the Bosphorus and even the restoration of Constantinople
Picture in #2 is kinda creepy.
Agreed. Putin looks like he’s thinking, “It would be so easy to snap her neck.” Talk about a cold expressionless stare.
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