This is a response to this dreadful article by Charley Reese.

(from the Action Ukraine Report)

RESPONSE TO "THE TWO VIKTORS" BY CHARLEY REESE

EDITORIAL: By Tim McQuillin

Berkeley , California , Friday, December 10, 2004

The Action Ukraine Report, Washington, D.C., Sat, Dec 11, 2004

Dear Mr. Reese:

First, like you I am not a fan of George Bush's foreign policy, which is widely viewed as imperialistic by the world, and probably rightly so. I believe his policies are both ill-conceived and poorly executed, and have greatly hurt our prestige and credibility among our allies and much of the world.

However, I strongly disagree with your assessment of the events taking place in Ukraine and their importance to America. In fact, this is the first time I agree with the way President Bush has handled our foreign policy, in which he has proven to be by far a better statesman than Vladimir Putin (which I know is not saying much at this point). In addition, your arguments are fundamentally flawed, and I have addressed them below.

First, the poor geography skills of the average American, among which you correctly included yourself, are no excuse for ignoring what is happening in Europe or any other part of the world. Just because you don't feel the need to read beyond the "superficial" journalism to better understand the situation in Ukraine does not make it any less significant. In fact, as with most important issues facing the world, they cannot be summed up in a couple of words.

Second, Russia has stuck its nose much farther into Ukrainian politics than the U.S. has up to this point. President Putin has openly supported Victor Yanukovich from the beginning of the election season. Putin made a visit to Ukraine before each round of the election in order to praise Yanukovich; sent campaign strategists to advise Yanukovich's election team; publicly endorsed Yanukovich on multiple occasions on nationwide TV both in Russia and Ukraine; posted Yanukovich campaign materials prominently in Moscow before the first round of voting by Ukrainians living in Russia; and congratulated Yanukovich on his "victory" even before the official results were confirmed by the Ukrainian Central Election Commission (which were later overturned by Ukraine's Supreme Court).

He is now allowing the mayor of Moscow and a rabid Russian nationalist politician to make speeches in eastern Ukraine to foment separatist feelings, and has reportedly sent Russian special forces to guard the current Ukrainian president. I challenge you to find that level of interference by the United States at this point.

You can be sure that we are working behind the scenes, but you do not see us in a mediator role as you do Europe and Russia. The worst that can be said of the U.S. up to this point is that we encouraged and probably helped finance and organize a democratic movement that was genuinely desired by most Ukrainians, who are sick and tired of the corruption and poverty they have endured for thirteen years.

Third, while nuclear weapons should make us take foreign policy decisions even more seriously, it does not mean that we give carte blanche to nuclear powers to pursue their own imperial ambitions. It sounds to me like you are suggesting a policy of appeasement and isolationaism. I think history has shown these to be even more dangerous policies.

It sounds like you are saying that we should only care our relations with nuclear superpowers. If I were a country that didn't have nuclear weapons, which is most of the world, that would sure be an incentive for me to get them. And with a world full of nuclear powers, you are still faced with same problems, but now everyone can blow each other up and nobody can be ignored. And don't think that Putin wouldn't try to influence elections in Mexico and Canada if he could get away with it.

Fourth, even foreign policy novices know that Ukraine lies in a very important geopolitical location. I would go into the reasons why it is important, but I doubt they would interest an isolationalist.

Sixth, we are not incompetent at foreign policy. While I disapprove that we have allied ourselves with some pretty despicable characters over the years, and we have made some terrible mistakes, I would say that we're better than average if you look at the results.

Finally, before you denounce something as significant as revolution in a country with the size and population of France, in Europe no less, I think you should first try to learn a little about the subject. Don't simply try to demean and mold every case to fit to make an ideological viewpoint. Your over-generalizations only hurts your cause.

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Tim McQuillin has lived and traveled to Ukraine for the past seven years as a business consultant and manager. He most recently was an international election observer in both rounds of this year's presidential election. He currently resides in Berkeley, CA.