Obama Turns Missile Defense Into Stimulus Program for Kremlin

The U.S. Appeaser-in-Chief has produced yet another anticipointment. Apparently, stimulating Putin's reset button has become another sport in the Oval Office.

Yes, he can! He can talk. He can talk some more. And then he can toy with countries, including his own.



Mr. Obama, the more I watch you, the more I appreciate Zhirinovsky's vision — of you and of Ukraine.

So “watch Ukraine,” as John McCain put it.

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj6vpMzuBIs
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/09/17/united.states.missile.shield/index.html?eref=rss_world

Obama: 'Like a Poland or a Czech Republic' (Updated)

I remember presidential candidate Obama saying “the Ukraine” —
with the definite article — which defines my country as a territory, not as a country.

I also remember Obama referring to the Poles and the Czechs as “fledgling democracies.”

But this quote knocked me off my feet:

Russia needs to understand our unflagging commitment to the independence and security of countries like a Poland or a Czech Republic. On the other hand, we have areas of common concern.

Call me a nitpicker, but I had never heard the indefinite article applied to Poland or the Czech Republic in a context like this. Never had I imagined it being applied by a U.S. president, much less by a former chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs.

Now, I’m not a native speaker of English and I'm not a stranger to different schools of thought. But I just wonder how countries “like a Canada or an Israel” would feel?

Because I’m a smalltime Ukrainian who lives in a smalltime country that gave up the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal for chicken feed, I view Obama's remarks as a Bittergate.

UPDATE
I just had a light bulb moment!

I do remember a case of Ukraine and Georgia being used as countable nouns — in a geopolitical context, by a senior official/politician!

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Vice Speaker of the Russian State Duma: Your country and economy will collapse. And what will NATO do? Georgia: Immediately there will be war with Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia. That's why NATO will never accept you, Ukraine and Georgia. And then there's a more important scenario. Suppose everything is fine in Ukraine and Georgia. But we here think that it doesn't benefit us. And never will NATO trade Russia for one hundred Ukraines and two hundred Georgias.

I guess perestroika must be about to start in America, just Zhirinovsky expected.


Sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101376609&ft=1&f=1004

Ukraine Signs Gas Transit Protocol on Russia’s Terms

Ukraine on Monday signed the trilateral gas transit protocol on terms demanded by Russia, supposedly paving the way for a renewal of Russian gas supplies to the EU.

Earlier, Russia had denied any responsibility for the shutoff, laying the blame on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the pricing dispute between Ukraine and Russia remains unresolved.

Russia wants Ukraine to pay $450 per thousand cubic meters (mcm) of gas, which it considers the average European rate. Still, Russia pays only $1.6/mcm/100 km for transit, or less than half the average European rate, as comparison shopping suggests.

As of January 2009, the Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, pays $450/mcm, based on a fluctuating rate, Jaroslav Basta, the Czech ambassador to Ukraine, said in an interview with Kommersant.

By contrast, neighboring Slovakia pays $270/mcm but charges upwards of $4/Mcm/100 km for transit, all rates being subject to confidential bilateral agreements.

Ukraine quoted the $270/mcm rate during closed-door gas talks with Russia, ambassador Basta said. “Obviously, the price of gas for Ukraine will have your independence factored into it,” the Czech ambassador added.

In 2008, Ukraine paid $179.5/mcm for Russian gas, charging $1.6/mcm/100 km for transit.

Ukraine transits approximately 80 percent of Russian gas exports to the EU, over a distance of about 1,240 km (770.5 mi).

Sources:
http://5.ua/newsline/236//56557/
http://www.kommersant.ua/doc.html?docId=1101621
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2009/1/12/87501.htm