Posted on 03/25/2005 7:03:55 AM PST by dead
The revolutions rolling through Russia's backyard shifted from the borders of the European Union to the Chinese frontier as Kyrgyzstan fell to the daffodil-clutching opponents of the former communist apparatchik and St Petersburg physicist Askar Akayev, whose early promise degenerated into nepotism, sleaze, rigged elections and the jailing of rivals
The daffodils of Bishkek suggested a springtime of hope in the dictatorial "stans" of Central Asia. But the Kyrgyz capital was so suffused with menace and volatility that its uprising could quickly turn ugly, setting it apart from the recent Ukrainian and Georgian revolutions, which were characterised by determined and determinedly peaceful civil resistance to the shenanigans of the incumbents.
The conflict is partly clan-based and between regions, not solely between democrats and despots. Organised crime is said to be fomenting trouble.
But with luck the momentum of people power will usher in a period of fairer and cleaner government that will ring alarm bells in the neighbouring post-Soviet dictatorships.
International mediation may be necessary if things are not to turn bloody. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe volunteered itself for that important role on Thursday.
After the rigged elections three weeks ago that triggered the revolt, the US warned Akayev not to try to entrench himself in power by fiddling the constitution before his second term expired in October. The signs were that he was doing just that, or preparing a dynastic succession by engineering parliamentary seats for a son and daughter.
Now, with Akayev and his family fleeing the country, the result will be hailed as another gain in the global march of freedom that the Bush White House has proclaimed as its second-term mission.
In Russia, the White House's gain will certainly be taken as the Kremlin's loss.
In Kyrgyzstan the Kremlin has not committed the blunders and experienced the humiliation it did in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the turn of events in Bishkek demonstrates Vladimir Putin's weakness. He has managed to manoeuvre himself into the unenviable position of being identified as a not very effective supporter and protector of unsavoury regimes throughout the post-Soviet space.
The Bush Effect.
So did Jimmuh Cahtah give this his blessing?
Geeez, by comparison, Catah and klintoon didn't do so much (good anyway) did they?
I wonder if this might happen in Belarus.
Freedom is on the march!
Amazing the chain of events set forth by his moving Inaugural speech and State of the Union address.
...not that it will be acknowledged by the MSM or the Dems.
Afghanistan,
Iraq,
Lebanon,
Kyrgyzstan,
Ukraine
Progress In:
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Libya
Even Florida!
(couldnt resist)
Because of President Bush's leadership and strategy.
Keep the Europeans away and they'll do just fine.
BTW, most people in Kyrgyzstan are Muslims. Didn't they say President Bush was wrong because he believed Muslims also wanted to be free?
It can be.. Muslisms don't want freedom.. They can't handle freedom...
good job with the posting.
Vladmir Putin December 2005: DAMxIT!
Putin January 2005: SHxT
Febuary 2005: WHAT THE FxCK!
March 2005: STALIN! THIS WASNT PART OF THE PLAN!!
Putie is finding out the hard way of the Bush effect on his back stabbers.
and the poor riot police are forced to confront good-lookin' women who hand them flowers:
Talk about your hazardous duty!
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