Ukraine Presidential Candidate poisoned

When I look at Ukraine's election debacle, I can't help that think all these Bush election-conspiracies are just immature tandrum-throwings. In the Ukraine, the election was clearly rigged against the people's will, then declared void and the real winner was poisoned. Things like this would never fly in the US. Never.

But aside from my ranting against anti-Bush blogs, this is an important issue for Europe and Russia. If Yushchenko becomes president he will move the Ukraine towards alignment with the EU and farther away from Russia. Russia will weaken even further as a nation. We have always counted on Russia to offset China as a superpower, a sort of neighbor you wouldn't want to trespass on. They are fast becoming just a speed bump. Of course, this is assuming that China is evil. But it is a change in the balance of power that could have extreme consequences on the whole world.

The BBC has a great collection of quotes from russians about these events.