U.S. Money Helped Opposition in Ukraine ($65 million in last 2 yrs)

[maddezmom]

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 to 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 (news - web sites) alleges, but are part of the $1 billion the State Department spends each year trying to build democracy worldwide.


No U.S. money was sent directly to Ukrainian political parties, the officials say. In most cases, it was funneled through organizations like the Carnegie Foundation or through groups aligned with Republicans and Democrats that organized election training, with human rights forums or with independent news outlets.


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.


~snip~

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20041210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_ukraine_election

[gold_bug]

1. didn't Bush say,

"Any election (in Ukraine), if there is one, ought to be free from any foreign influence."?

Here's what Rep Ron Paul said about this the other day:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul223.html

Now someone needs to look into what NED money is doing in Venezuala.

[tanyev]

2. It drives me crazy

when I think of how much money we have spent meddling in other countries' affairs. And for what? What in the world have we accomplished by doing so? Other than inciting hatred, I mean.

[Just Me]

12. Me, too. The approach is despicable.

The money funneled towards violence has NEVER had any demonstrable POSITIVE effect. It's always been "the people" who have had the greatest influence. So, why the f*ck so many millions of dollars aren't going to sustain the lives of the very people who do EXACT change? Well, I can only cynically surmise it is not only the cynicism of the leadership,...but also the absolute corruption associated with those who are heavy with power-hunger and greed-laden-consumption.

They actually assert that the rest of humanity cannot or will not "get it" when it is themselves that underestimate the spirit of humanity!!!

They simply project their worst character upon humanity while simultaneously exploiting people for their own Machiavellian purposes. It's a human evil that will eventually be revealed and prosecuted.

[onefreespiritedchick]

3. I was just about to post this

Gawd, I am appalled. We have no business interferring over there!

[nofurylike]

4. remember how they flipped out accusing dems of getting

international support?
from individuals, even. not even from governments.
imagine if we'd gotten $65M from, well, name a country....


hypocrites. no news, of course.

thank you for posting this, maddezmom.


peace!

[bobthedrummer]

5. $65,000,000 could have helped a lot of American seniors and disabled

get medication-it could have sheltered homeless families--it could even have armored Humvees and saved American lives in Iraq:argh:

[nofurylike]

6. absolutely. would take consciences to grasp that, though. n/t

[Just Me]

13. Of course, you and I know that 65M isn't even the tip of that iceberg!!!

If we added up all the BILLIONS in arms-dealing our government uses to manipulate the rest of the world,...any normal human being would stagger.

Our military industrial complex profits by funneling taxpayer money to corporations which deal in death!!!

[BR_Parkway]

7. And that slimeball Blackwell is bitching about $1.5 million to count

our OWN election results? What hypocracy!

[LisaL]

8. Hypocrisy of the worst kind.

Spending money to bring democracy worldwide?
How about starting here at home?

:eyes:

[maddezmom]

9. kick

[makhno]

10. It's kinda funny

Now that the West is comfortable that its local puppet will be installed in the Ukraine, news such as this can come out. Of course, when the action was hot, it was all about the natives' fight for liberal democracy sans commie intervention.

[maddezmom]

11. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1061810