OJ: I agree that our choice is between business as usual -- the past -- as exemplified by Jean-Francois and the future as exemplified by GWB. But I think that the OBL video has made the choice even starker -- are we cowardly and inward looking as are the Spanish or are we willing to stand up and be counted among the nations willing to fight for their way of life as are the Australians.

Are we all Spanish or are we all Australian? I truly believe that we are the latter and that answer will be resoundingly delivered on Tuesday.

Let's all be Slavs this time round.

The non-canine love of my life is living in Kiev where she works as a senior engineer for an American concern in the telecommunications industry. She is a Ukie who speaks the language fluently although she was born here.

She tells me that you can't believe how crooked it is. It's like stories friends of ours have told about Thailand or Argentina or even Africa. The nation is split along religious lines, about 80/20 Orthodox/Catholic, and the Catholics are Byzantine Rite. About 25% of the population are native Russian speakers, particularly in the Donbass region. Khruschchev himself did not speak Ukrainian. These divisions are the chief ones in the nation's poltiics. If you are a Ukrainian-speaking Byzantine Catholic(called 'Ukrainian Catholic' there), you will vote for Yushchenko. If you are a Russian speaking Orthodox Christian, you will vote for Yankovich. If like most Ukrainians, you are a Ukrainian-speaking Orthodox Christian, you vote for whoever offers you the best deal. There's a lot of money on the street. Finally, there is a Westernized liberal population in Kiev and Kharkiv and the other major cities, but there is also a returned Fascist community of people who sided with the Nazis and fled the Communists.

My guess is Yanukovich will spread the most Hryvnias around and win.

I have to say that one of the many reasons for the split between Eastern and Western Ukraine is because of past occupation and Russia's tight grip on Ukraine. In 1932-33 Stalin created a forced famine-genocide in Ukraine. over one quarter of the populaion starved to death (7-10 million) This was part of his plan for eliminating his biggest opposition, the Ukrainian population. Russia has always tried to take advantage of Ukraine, this is nothing new. In 1932-33 Stalin would repopulate the empty houses with Russians from Russia. These people are still living there today. This happened in the Eastern part of Ukraine (not to say there was no famine in the west, but was not as terrible).

I think its disgusting what Putin, Kuchma and Yannukovich are doing today. Students are being kidnapped, arrested, and beat up on false accusations and for being pro-Yushchenko. A journalist was thrown out a window not too long ago, and killed. The media still does not give enough coverage. This is also because of an agreement made by President Bush and Kuchma. Bush agreed to hush up falsifications if Kuchma kept troops in Iraq. What will happen on Nov 21 no one knows. I for one am very concerned and worried. I hope everything goes well, and Ukraine will finally break free from Russias Orbit.