[vabeachrepub]

I admittedly do not know that much about Ukranian politics so I am trying to inform myself. There are still some things I don't get. Why do you think they are better off under the Russian controlled group than under the Oranges? From a geopolitical standpoint I would think the U.S. would be better off with the Oranges in control - I still do not trust Putin.

Also, from what I have read the growth rate has slowed but it was expected. The 12.7% was a one time peak and was not something that the prior regime was able to sustain. Also, from what I have read the higher inflation rate is driven by rapidly rising wages - not minimally rising wages. I am confused by your 90% statistic - does this mean you think wages actually dropped by 10%?

Not trying to bust your chops just trying to stay informed - thanks

[jb6]

Simply put, the Oranges are ideologically closer to the Chiracs of this world. Yushchenko is a weak willed free trader who as prime minister under Kuchma in 2001 almost drove Ukraine into a civil war, bankrupting the Orthodox east Ukraine (the Industrialized zone) and shifting assets to the west Ukraine (catholic and agrarian) and by following IMF "advice". The Rada (Parliment) sacked his butt to avoid revolt.

Tymoshenko is a flat out socialist, an oligarch worth $11 billion and her closest politican ally is the UNA-UNSO party, the Ukrainian nazi party who wants to purify Ukraine of Moskovites (Russians) and Zids (crude slang word for Jews) and who encouraged Ukrainian soldiers in Iraq to shoot at Americans and back the Islamics.

These people are not our friends. Just because someone is a friend of Russia doesn't make them an enemy to us. That's old Cold War think and its loosing us allies and position in central asia and other places.

[jb6]

The 12.7% was a one time peak and was not something that the prior regime was able to sustain.

True but no one has forseen that kinda of a drop. Look at the previous years, they were all higher. As for inflation, the unemployment figures, Yushchenko's policies have caused thousands of small businesses to shut down. There are now shortages of meat and milk as well as oil and gas, caused by low government set price caps. I have a host of articles under keyword "Ukraine" tracking the financial melt down.

[Tailgunner Joe]

From a geopolitical standpoint I would think the U.S. would be better off with the Oranges in control

Absolutely true.

"First of all, we should pay for our independence. If Ukraine really wants to be economically independent, sooner or later we will have to develop market relations in the energy sector and rationally use energy... We should defend our national interests first." - President Yushchenko

Sovereignty is more important than economy.