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November 25, 2004
Democracy in Ukraine on the brink of collapse?
First, ...
Now some of my rent ...
What is former KGB operative Mr. Putin smoking when he deliberatly decides to meddle in the Ukraine's internal affairs!?!? Long before the "official" (the subject of fraud is an entirely separate matter) results came in, he hurriedly comes up with a letter congratulating Yanuchenko of a win!?
When the news of fraud start to dribble in he simply asks the Western media to shut up and quit interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country? Hmm, lets see.. what do you call his involvement in the elections then? He essentially compaigned on behalf of Yanuchenko since the day one. And I wouldn't be surprised if Russia diverted some funds to the Mr. Yanuchenko's election compaign. Afterall, by the looks of it, Mr. Yanuchenko is Mr. Putin's double - a paranoid western basher with the power thirst of a dictator.
Even after the Highest Court in Ukraine declared that the election results not be made official pending a review, Mr. Putin yet again sends a congratulatory telegram to Mr. Yanuchenko on his presidency. Is the Russian president out of his mind!? While observers all around the globe scream about fraudulent election practices, he in essence shoves everybody aside by recognizing Mr. Yanuchenko as the winner!
With Mr. Putin's track record of suppressing democracy in his own country (recall his curtailing of certain election rights of individual provinces..) it wouldn't come to me as a surprise if he had a hand in this election fraud scheme.
It is unthinkable that 49% of Ukrainian population would simply go out and vote for a Russian ex-convict to be their next president. The guy hardly knows Ukrainian language, for Christ's sake! Same as Mr. Kuchma before him, Mr. Yanuchenko is a cold blooded, self serving, and power grabbing criminal.
The exit polls and foreign monitors say it all. Mr. Yuschenko is the choice of Ukraine. If Mr. Putin decides to take this right from the citizens of a sovereign country to determine their future, he can burn in hell! Ukraine will not bow to his selfish wishes!
I am very concerned for the citizens of Ukraine. I am afraid Mr. Putin will not stand a truly independent Ukraine and will do all in his power to install a 'puppet' government, or see to it there's no government to speak of at all. Already, he and his former KGB henchman ruined Chechnya and sent thousands of innocent/clueless young russian men to their untimely deaths. It would be a travesty if he draws Ukrain into a bloody conflict...
Posted by vladb at 08:11 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2004
No such thing as 'free' media!?
Following extensive coverage of the war on terror in mainstream Canadian and USA media I have noticed a very alarming trend. There's very little if any effort to cover news as they really are. Te media has become increasingly sensationalist and market driven, catering first to the financial bottom-line over honest and balanced coverage.
Take Iraq as a case in point.. The only news and images I see from such "bastions" of "free" press as Reutors, CNN, and CBC to name a few are of violent kidnappings, suicide bombings, and all sorts of other gore. I simply refuse to believe that this is the only side of the story. Where are the grateful and free Iraqi citizens? Are all of the Muslims extrimists who seek martyrdom by any gruesome means possible?!
Well, apparently this is not quite true.. The war in Iraq, for example, is not as bad as the media wants us to believe.
I have collected a number of photos that seem to show the other, brighter side of the war on terror. You may view them at Iraq Photos
Of course, many more similar pictures are available at Operation Iraqi Children.
Well.. this only goes on to prove to everybody that even the 'free' press is not without a bias. Images of peace and happiness are simply discarded by the mainstream media as they have less potential to generate healthy revenues. Since most media companies are in essence being ran as a business, nothing matters as much as the bottom line and stock value. And since sensational news sell for more I have no hopes for media to be nothing but sensational.
I for one am very delighted to see pictures of happy and grateful Iraqi civilians. I'm not saying that the media should ban all violent images instead I'm calling for a balanced caverage of the news as they really are.
DISCLAIMER: I was not a supporter of the war in Iraq. I am a Canadian and do not have any bias towards or against the USA or Asian countries.
Posted by vladb at 07:36 PM | Comments (0)