Mobocracy in Ukraine? – Tribune
Despite our endless blather about democracy, we Americans seem to be able to put our devotion to democratic principles on the shelf when they get in the way of our New World Order.
In 2012, in the presidential election in Egypt, Mohammed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood won in a landslide. President Obama hailed the outcome.
One year later, the Egyptian army ousted Morsy and gunned down a thousand members of his brotherhood. John Kerry explained that the Egyptian army was “restoring democracy.�
Comes now the turn of Ukraine.
In 2010, Viktor Yanukovych, in what neutral observers called a free and fair election, was chosen president. His term ends in 2015.
Yet since November, protesters have occupied Maidan Square in Kyiv, battling police and howling for Yanukovych’s resignation. The United States appears now to be collaborating with Europe in bringing about the neutering or overthrow of that democratically elected government.
Military coups and mob uprisings — are these now legitimate weapons in the arsenal of democracy?
What did Yanukovych do to deserve ouster by the street? He chose Russia over Europe.
In the competition between Vladimir Putin and the European Union over whose economic association to join, Yanukovych was betrothed to the EU. But after an offer of $15 billion from Putin and a cut in fuel prices to his country, Yanukovych jilted the EU and ran off with Russia.
Western Ukraine, which favors the EU, was enraged. So out came the protesters to bring down the president. And into Kyiv flew John McCain to declare our solidarity with the demonstrators.
Kerry has now joined McCain in meddling in this matter that is none of America’s business. We “stand with the people of Ukraine,â€� said Kerry.
But which people? The Ukrainians who elected Yanukovych and still support him or the crowds in Maidan Square that want him out?
Kerry is putting us on the side of mobs that want to bring down the president, force elections and take power. Yet, Americans would never sit still should similar elements, with similar objectives, occupy our capital.
Reportedly, we are now colluding with the Europeans to cobble together an aid package, should Yanukovych surrender, cut the knot with Russia and sign on with the EU.
But if Putin’s offer of $15 billion was a bribe, what is this?
The religious, ethnic, cultural and historic ties between Russia and Ukraine are centuries deep. Eight million Ukrainians are ethnic Russians. In east Ukraine and the Crimea, the majority speak Russian and cherish these ties. Western Ukraine looks to Europe. Indeed, parts belonged to the Habsburg Empire.
Pushed too far and pressed too hard, Ukraine could disintegrate.
If, as a result of street mobs paralyzing a capital, a democratically elected Ukrainian government falls, we could not only have an enraged and revanchist Russia on our hands, but a second Cold War.
And we will have set a precedent that could come to haunt Europe, as the rising and proliferating parties of the populist right, which wish to bring down the European Union, learn by our example.
Pat Buchanan is the author of “Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?�