Ukrainian Craziness

The New York Times > International > Europe > Parliament Says Votes in Ukraine Were Not Valid (Registration Required)

Irony is at hand here. I spent the previous week in Florida, the scene of the most recent act of American political shenanigans. Then there's the craziness that's been going on in the Ukraine. Not to go off on a tangent, but this reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer and Neuman were playing Risk. There was a scene where they were playing in the subway when this quote happened:

Kramer: Or is it because I've built a stronghold around Greenland? I've driven you out of Western Europe and I've left you teetering on the brink of complete annihilation.

Newman: I'm not beaten yet. I still have armies in the Ukraine.

This comment perks up the ears of what appears to be a Russian immigrant.

Kramer: Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sitting duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it's time to put the hurt on the Ukraine.

Ukrainian: I come from Ukraine. You not say Ukraine weak.

Kramer: Yeah, well we're playing a game here, pal.

Ukrainian: Ukraine is game to you?! How about I take your little board and smash it!!

The Ukrainian pounds the game board, destroying it and sending army pieces flying.

Ok, that scene still cracks me up whenever someone talks about Ukraine. But back to topic at hand. The hard part about the whole thing is that the two candidates are named Yushchenko and Yanukovich, making it very difficult to follow the story as written in the Times. And both candidates' first name is Viktor. It would be like if the Democrats nominated someone called George Busch for President. Then people would be asking who you'd support and you'd say George Bush or George Busch and people wouldn't have any idea what you're talking about. Somehow, I don't think the Ukrainian people have that problem.

But in terms of geopolitical action, this story is huge. Not so much for the United States but for Europe versus Russia. There's already been some tensions over the expansion of NATO and the EU and this could be divisive issue between the two sides. As for the United States, the best issue would be to try and play peacemaker but under no circumstances take a side on the issue. After all, there's already talk greater autonomy or secession in certain parts of the country, which is never good. Both sides are going to want the US to take a side on the issue, but the best policy in this case is that of just sticking to the law that is at hand. Of course, if the law was broken, then the Ukrainians should be able to figure out a solution that will make both sides happy. Look what happened in the United States following the Florida fiasco. Sure, unhappy Democrats made complaints that President Bush wasn't elected, but that was just sour grapes and for the rest of the country, people accepted that President Bush won the election and moved on.

Unfortunately, Ukraine doesn't have the democratic foundation that the United States had in 2000. Ukraine is just a fledgling democracy without any kind of basis for rule of law. That's why there's all these protests and calls for general strikes. That's something that is counterproductive and something that will divide the country. Not good things I tell you.

I think that there will be a new election, or at least there should be. If the guy who won the first election wants any kind of legitimacy, then he'd better hope for a fairly won election. Otherwise, he'll have half of the country and a good chunk of the world doubting whether he can rule fairly or not.