U.S. invests millions in Ukraine politics

[villagechild]

Dec. 11, 2004, 12:44AM, WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has spent more than $65 million in the past two years to aid political organizations in Ukraine, paying to bring opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko to meet U.S. leaders and helping underwrite exit polls indicating he won last month's disputed runoff election.

U.S. officials say the activities don't amount to interference in Ukraine's election, as Russian President Vladimir Putin alleges, but are part of the $1 billion the State Department spends each year trying to build democracy worldwide.

But officials acknowledge some of the money helped train groups and individuals opposed to the Russian-backed government candidate — people who now call themselves part of the Orange revolution.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/2941914

[cavanaghjam]

1. Not surprising

that he doesn't consider it interference. Interference is when someone prevents him (Bush) from doing what he wants.

[VivaKerry]

2. over 5% of a billion... and that's not interference???

gee, georgie... really want that military runway from Poland to Russia for sumthin'???

[proudbluestater]

3. He is trying to remake the entire world in his sick image

Those he chooses to not enforce "regime change" upon, he hopes to make over to be more American-friendly.

[aikido15]

4. Couldn't that money have been...

spent fixing our democracy? Like say, our voting system perhaps? Or helping poor and hungry American citizens, or just for something in THIS country for a change!:eyes:

[bullimiami]

5. Remember it is ILLEGAL for foreign contributions to the US

This is a HUGE double standard. The US Government, groups and individuals spend huge amounts of money influencing others, often against the laws of that country.

Remember the giant stink over the Chinese and Clinton/Gore.


From the FEC.
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.htm


The Prohibition


The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly.  It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them.  Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.


 


Who is a Foreign National?


The following groups and individuals are considered “foreign nationals” and are, therefore, subject to the prohibition:


Foreign governments;

Foreign political parties;

Foreign corporations;

Foreign associations;                                   

Foreign partnerships;

Individuals with foreign citizenship; and

Immigrants who do not have a “green card.”

[coreystone]

6. PNAC!!! N/T

[neweurope]

7. Yes. They're acting upon PNAC page by page.

:scared: :nuke:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. trying to build democracy worldwide

Oh.... so that's what they are trying to do.... sometimes I get confused what with all the supporting contras, rebels, Mujahadeen, Taliban, Northern Alliance, and others.... perhaps I should pay attention a little more to their "real" agenda.

www.brusselstribunal.org

[allemand]

9. Promoting democracy is always a good thing

and I doubt that PNAC is really interested in democracy (for example they would be pretty happy with Chalabi as Saddam 2.0, I think).

Please, don't commit the error of thinking that the enemy of your enemy is automatically your friend or that the friend of your enemy is necessarily your enemy.

The EU is also supporting the opposition in Ukraine and their agenda is quite different from that of PNAC. It would be wrong to reduce what is happening in Ukraine to a PNAC conspiracy. Of course, that is how Putin's propaganda wants to paint it.

But I think it is possible to criticize PNAC and Putin at the same time.

[Massachusetts]

10. Democracy?

Do WE THE PEOPLE really want OUR money invested like this?

I hope not. But then again, we have drifted so far away from what we are supposed to be about that it doesn't seem to matter anymore.:mad:

[Moderator]

11. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1061545