Posted on 11/23/2004 4:38:52 PM PST by ModelBreaker
From: Bob Schaffer
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 12:10 PM
Friends: some of you know I am in Ukraine as an election monitor. The presidential election was Sunday. There was rampant cheating and falsification reported throughout the country. I can't go into all details of election. I'm using a blackberry to communicate with lots of USA people, news agencies and Ukrainians. Please check news sources on the Ukrainian election background if you're not familiar. Also, I'll be regularly updating the Denver Post. They're setting their web site to post my updates.
Here's the latest:
Russian special forces dressed in Ukrainian Special forces uniforms are in Kyiv. Ukrainian militia have been instructed by the mayor to protect the people from the Russian troops. Ukrainian militia have established a hotline for Ukrainians to report any incidents with the Russians and pledged to protect Ukrainians. These Russians flew into Ukraine this morning. They're now surrounding the administration buildings they say "to protect Kuchma (the outgoing president and his PM Yanukovich). Following is a chain of email messages I've been sending by blackberry. Please pass along to others. Bob Schaffer
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PETER: PLEASE SEE UPDATES BELOW. GETTING QUITE SERIOUS NOW. OUR EMBASSY'S PHONES ARE DOWN AND WE'RE NOT SURE THEY'RE AWARE OF THE NEWS OF RUSSIANS (SEE BELOW). YES, PLEASE SEND INFO TO ANYONE YOU CAN, ESPECIALLY PRESS. BOB
---------- Dan: is there anything you can do to alert someone in the Denver media to look at news coming out of Ukraine? I know this isn't our normal "beat," but this seems quite serious here. I'll paste below a message I just sent to a ukrainian group. I've been updating several people by blackerrying them events from the street and from the local news. Bob
---------- Yes. I'm safe for now. Demonstrators are reassembling in Kyiv. They're coming back stronger than yesterday coming in from the rest of the country. The authorities are trying to stop them. Cars and busses are being stopped by police at the outskirts of the city. The authorities have scattered road spikes on inbound lanes to stop traffic/protesters. People are walking down the highways to protest. Trains into the city have been stopped.
The parliament is meeting now but without the president's supporters or the Communists. After several speeches, they called Yushchenko to the podium to swear him in as the new president (escorted to the podium with guards). The Rada Speaker Litvin walked out. Then the TV station (only one station covers anything about the election and it only covers 30% of the country) went off then cut to news and footage from earlier in the day. This is similar to the revolution in Georgia.
It seems the opposition has now claimed control of the parliament and most likely named Yushchenko as the president. He walked to the podium with a Bible and a copy of the oath in his hand. 300,000 pro-Yushchenko supporters are in the city square and watched what I described above on a jumbo TV. They're celebrating what they believe is their new president. Provocateurs are infiltrating the crowd. Special forces are said to be moving in to disband the crowd. This is now a clearly declared revolutionary effort. A confrontation seems unavoidable now.
It's very tense here. School has been cancled (again) for tomorrow. I'll report more as I learn it.
Now we hear Yushchenko is headed to the city center to address the masses. His lieutenants will be giving instructions to the people outside the Rada building on "what to do."
Telephones in the outlying towns have been shut off.
Now we hear there are Russians in Ukrainian special forces uniforms.
I'll report more as I learn it. May God bless and protect Ukraine and her people.
A representative of the Greek Catholic Church (a man who appeared to be a priest -- dressed as one) announced at the demonstration that he was speaking on behalf of the Greek Catholic Churchn the Kyiv Patriarchiat and several Protestant denominations (Lutheran was the only specific one I heard but there were several others). He said this coalition of churches recognizes Yushchenko as president.
Yuschenko is now leading 1 million people from the square and surrounding streets to the administration headquarters of the Ukrainian government. He is in front of the column and many fear he is vulnerable to getting shot. They should be at the steps in 15 mins. Keep in mind, this is where the Russian special forces are stationed, dresses in Ukrainian garb.
If violence comes to define this revolution it will likely be within minutes.
The Georgian President (surrounded by Orthodox priests) just appeared on Ukrainian TV congratulating and encouraging the opposition supporters and "President" Victor Yushchenko. He spoke in Ukrainian which is very significant.
The Russian special forces just stopped the crowd approaching the administration headquarters.
Bob
Sent via BlackBerry
It was defense minister Aleksandr Kuz'muk who asked for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq back in September. Kuz'muk was a recent appointment of the president, Kuchma. Yanukovich was Kuchma's PM.
"Hey - Tap - you are late on this -"
Read post #75...thanks.
By the way, I wrote the message contained in the link on post #90 this morning (different thread).
Interesting take - both on the side of Russia - and Soros - but what about what the article said about President Bush - I take it that didn't surprise you -
The things done in the name of "money" and "power" -
No wonder some believe in 2007 - and what is said - we might just deserve it - if not sooner -
"Curtain falling on stage - no more need for actors like Soros ..."
Actor is correct. If you asked me, Soros is completely under the control of Moscow. He preaches the open society to deliberately undermine and weaken countries like the US. Isn't it obvious why Moscow/Soros cannot openly align with each other?
"Interesting take - both on the side of Russia - and Soros - but what about what the article said about President Bush - I take it that didn't surprise you"
If you are referring to Baker et al...yes, they are evil son's of...
I've got plenty on stuff on G. Bush I., Baker and the rest. Let me know if you would like me to send you some links--TTS
I'm beginning to think the World is a "stage" - and the people all "actors" -
Totally fascinating thread this has turned out to be -
Cheers -
"I'm beginning to think the World is a "stage" - and the people all "actors"
Not all are actors, but I can see how one might start to feel that way. Read Golitsyn. He called events in that neck of the woods like nobody else I know of.
Ping
Yes. They said on Fox earlier today this might lead to a civil war. The people know they've been cheated and are very upset over it... Putin is moving to consolidate his power outside of Russia -- you can't get a tiger to change it's spots -- once KGB, always KGB (IMO)
Mirror image of our sKerry "hero"?
I was just wondering -- did he go over there, too?
Ping
WHOA any word on Russian tanks YIKES
lets start with the fact that the ukrainian military is refusing to act on the protestors (read: refusing to act on kuchmas command) so they definately DONT support yanukovych. you wouldnt see 300,000 protesters if they did. soros may back him, but so does bush and the rest of the free world. ukraine will be free whether you like it or not.
The impression I get is jb6 is just asking a question. "ukraine will be free whether you like it or not." was over the top (IMO). You have to understand that maney/most of us here don't really have a good handle on the situation, who the players are...etc(I know I don't).
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