This is old news but today is a slow day so far.
Back in early Feb a recording of a bugged phone call between two american diplomats Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, was released on YouTube. The Kremlin and the conspiracy theorists of the Loony Left went into spasms. They were shocked, shocked I tell you, that the USA was interfering in Ukraine's internal affairs.
So today I finally read the transcript to see what they did say, besides "F--- the EU".
The discussion was about leadership in the post-revolution interim government; to the effect that of the three political leaders of Euromaidan Yatseniuk would be the more capable prime minister and that Klitchko lacked experience so far while the Svoboda leader was too far right to be a good fit and that they would counsel them to that effect. Why this is so terrible, I have no idea. Tanya and I had the same discussion and came to the same conclusions. Had we the opportunity, we would have told them the same thing. It wasn't rocket science.
Then there was the $5 billion that America spent "to destabilize the Yanukovych regime". Sometimes I wonder who makes this stuff up - do the Loony Left channel the Kremlin or vice versa? The facts of the matter can be found in a number of places, THIS one was closest to hand.
The discussion was about leadership in the post-revolution interim government; to the effect that of the three political leaders of Euromaidan Yatseniuk would be the more capable prime minister and that Klitchko lacked experience so far while the Svoboda leader was too far right to be a good fit and that they would counsel them to that effect. Why this is so terrible, I have no idea. Tanya and I had the same discussion and came to the same conclusions. Had we the opportunity, we would have told them the same thing. It wasn't rocket science.
Then there was the $5 billion that America spent "to destabilize the Yanukovych regime". Sometimes I wonder who makes this stuff up - do the Loony Left channel the Kremlin or vice versa? The facts of the matter can be found in a number of places, THIS one was closest to hand.
(Nuland) described how American taxpayer money has supported Ukraine’s democratic development despite the country’s challenges.
"Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, the United States has supported Ukrainians as they build democratic skills and institutions, as they promote civic participation and good governance, all of which are preconditions for Ukraine to achieve its European aspirations," she said. "We have invested over $5 billion to assist Ukraine in these and other goals that will ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine."
The truth
Since 1992, the government has spent about $5.1 billion to support democracy-building programs in Ukraine, Thompson said, with money flowing mostly from the Department of State via U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as the departments of Defense, Energy, Agriculture and others. The United States does this with hundreds of other countries.
About $2.4 billion went to programs promoting peace and security, which could include military assistance, border security, human trafficking issues, international narcotics abatement and law enforcement interdiction, Thompson said. More money went to categories with the objectives of "governing justly and democratically" ($800 million), "investing in people" ($400 million), economic growth ($1.1 billion), and humanitarian assistance ($300 million).
I have no idea how much Canada spent on similar programs through CIDA and other agencies but I was involved in a couple of them related to improving beef cattle production. So I suppose the Loony Left will be accusing Harper and I of working to overthrow the "legitimately elected" government of Ukraine.
Harper doesn't give foreign aid unless it is tied to exporting Canadian products. But that does't rule out Canadian money going to Ukraine. Ukrainians have a strong political presence in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your assessment of the Ukrainian leadership. The only things I know are
that Svoboda leader was way too far right for North Americans to be comfortable, and that Yulia Tymoshenko looks old and sick, and is probably a spent political force in the current context.
But what to Bears really know!
Blessings and Bear hugs to all.
Why would North Americans give a rat's ass about Svoboda, other than in response to Kremlin propaganda? Lose any sleep over Marine Le Pen or Victor Orban or even know who they are? Putin supports the extreme right in other countries.
DeleteThere is no such thing as privacy any longer.
ReplyDeletethe Ol'Buzzard