So, apparently the parliament has turned against Yanukovych and passed a number of measures that have directly challenged his ability to call for a State of Emergency, which would be the only way that Yanukovych could call on troops to put down the protests.
He's losing the support of many important allies, including the mayor of Kiev. Doesn't look good for El Presidente, in fact it's looking as if he'll either step down or attempt to circumvent the parliament, at which point he may as well go Al-Assad on everyone's asses.
Originally posted by Omega Vision
I would think they'd make you happy, because right now godfearing gunowners are standing up to police tyranny with hunting rifles.
You believe Symmetric Chaos' posts about me, too much. He thinks I'm like that (or, in other words, a gun-toting libertarian).
I'm not.
But I am all about a people overthrowing a government. I just don't think it is possible, anymore, for people to do that to a modern nation (Ukraine does have modern military infrastructure but not as much as say, China, Russia, or the US).
So, maybe it's possible to overthrow the Ukrainian government by force? If so, good for them. As long as it brings the people more freedom to do as they want (without harming others).
Ukraine is one of the 2 most important transition countries in the world between western and eastern cultures. The other being turkey. There will always be divisions in Ukraine between those who want to integrate with Europe and those who want to maintain old ties to Russia. In Turkey it's between Arab countries and the West. If the Ukraine had dealt with this early and became a more representative country of all sides it wouldn't be in the situation it is now. Unfortunately these things tend to take on a snowball rolling down a hill element to them and it doesn't matter what the government do now they won't be able to stop the protests and the people will polarize much like they have in Egypt. Either side completely unacceptable to the other. It'll take a very strong will to prevent complete breakdown.
Originally posted by Omega Vision
Bottom line, Russia should be careful about provoking the EU, they have leverage in the form of natural gas exports but the nature of natural gas (it literally evaporates after you tap it, whether you extract or don't extract) and the existence of potential competitors (if, for instance, Iran does become more moderate and becomes a trading partner of the EU, it has enough natural gas to offset a Russian embargo, not to mention Qatar) makes that a volatile card, and if the EU thinks it might have to confront Russia militarily at some point, it has the economic and technological capability to make Russia's military look pathetic (really, only the USA or China would stand a chance against a unified, militarized EU with a population of over half a billion and the largest GDP in the world).
We have military technology but morale is sh_t in the EU.
So, under the new agreement, the constitution is to be overhauled to limit the president's power, a new government is to be formed within ten days, and elections are to be held no later than December of 2014 (rather than March 2015, as originally planned). Also, Yulia Tymoshenko may be released now that the crime she was convicted of has just been decriminalized.
Two issues:
(1) Russia refused to endorse the deal, which either means they're being the sullen child or they're not done putting the squeeze on Ukraine, they've just decided that Yanukovych isn't their man
and
(2) Many protestors are NOT happy with a deal that not only doesn't mention any criminal proceedings for Yanukovych but also sets elections most of a year off--they want elections now.
With those aside, this is a huge victory for the protestors and the EU and looking like a stinging defeat for Putin and Russia.
Decided to google this Juliia
Tymoshenko chick. She's pretty fine for 53.
Dat hip-ratio.
Yulia Tymoshenko is a gorgeous woman, and also very intelligent, progressive, and shrewd. It's why her supporters are so faithful.
In a way, the relatively late "early" elections might benefit her, because if elections were held next week she'd probably still be in prison, but by the time winter comes around she'll likely be a free woman and eligible to run, at which point she'll probably win convincingly.
Originally posted by Omega Vision
Yulia Tymoshenko is a gorgeous woman, and also very intelligent, progressive, and shrewd. It's why her supporters are so faithful.In a way, the relatively late "early" elections might benefit her, because if elections were held next week she'd probably still be in prison, but by the time winter comes around she'll likely be a free woman and eligible to run, at which point she'll probably win convincingly.
So she's trying to be a Nelson Mandela type.
In that case:
Originally posted by jaden101
STICK IT IN 'ER ARSE!
-Ukraine.JPG/426px-GeorgeBush-Juliia_Tymoshenko_(2008)-Ukraine.JPG){kind=link}