While most Americans are completely unaware of the fact that Ukraine is not only facing its worst financial crisis since its official inception, but Sunday's election is being sold to its citizens as their only chance at fixing this crisis.  Likewise, Americans are most likely oblivious to the fact that the current government is a puppet government installed by the USA.  Unfortunately for the USA, and much more so for Ukraine, the puppet in charge was so inept that America could do little in Ukraine, while the people of Ukraine fell into a seemingly unending abyss.

America's meddling in Ukrainian politics is nothing new, and in fact a common practice for all world powers.  The American elections have been likewise greatly influenced by foreign powers, albeit a completely illegal practice.  There is little doubt that the Clintons received immense backing by the Chinese government.

Politics is a dirty game in which those with more power are always trying to instill their views on those with less.  The more money, the more power ... and hence American dominance.  Ukraine just happened to get caught up in another one of America's failed attempts at purchasing influence.

The Washington Times is currently running a great article in this direction by Doug Bandow entitled A Champion at Meddling [link].  I can't say that I agree with it completely, but I don't want to take away from it by only citing the pieces that I like.  The story is copied in full below.

A champion at meddling

Five years ago, Western governments and nongovernmental organizations did their best to support Ukraine's so-called Orange Revolution, which propelled Viktor Yushchenko into the Ukrainian presidency. But Mr. Yushchenko's performance in office was a disaster; in last month's presidential election, he finished in fifth place with a dismal 5.4 percent. His failure serves as a stark reminder of the risks when Washington intervenes in foreign politics.

Ukraine was one of many lands absorbed by both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The collapse of the latter enabled Ukraine to win its independence.

But the break was never clean. Nearly one-fifth of Ukrainians are ethnic Russians. They make up a majority in the Crimea, which contains Russia's Sevastopol naval base.

Moreover, Ukrainian politics have been marred by corruption, vote fraud, brutal infighting and violence. Despite the Manichean prism through which Westerners tend to view foreign political contests, most leading Ukrainian politicians appear to be shades of gray rather than black and white.

In the December 2004 poll, Washington-backed Mr. Yushchenko had his own big-business allies, just like Viktor Yanukovich, who was attacked for being a tool of financial oligarchs. Moreover, Mr. Yushchenko was allied with financial baroness Yulia Tymoshenko.

Although Mr. Yushchenko was more obviously pro-Western than Mr. Yanukovich, in practice, the differences were smaller than advertised. Even the latter advocated membership in the European Union, and Mr. Yushchenko never found public or political support for his plan to join NATO.

Finally, Mr. Yushchenko proved to be one of the least competent politicians ever elected head of state. Despite the initial euphoria of more liberal and Western-leaning elites at Mr. Yushchenko's victory, Ukrainian politics quickly turned into a national soap opera.

Mr. Yushchenko quickly turned on Mrs. Tymoshenko, even accusing her of treason. In the meantime, the economy stagnated, reform halted, relations with Russia deteriorated, and the Ukrainian people grew frustrated.

In the latest vote, Mr. Yanukovich finished first with about 35 percent compared to Mrs. Tymoshenko's 25 percent. She still could win the runoff on Feb. 7, but the Orange Revolution is dead. For those outside Ukraine, at least, it doesn't matter much who becomes Ukraine's next president.

It especially does not matter to America.