As the United States continues to grapple with openly corrupt officials and businesses in Afghanistan and Iraq who have stolen billions in aid, the notoriously corrupt Ukrainian system appears eager to outdo their counterparts. The poster boy of Ukrainian corruption is Vladimir Belonog who has been openly selling meals ready to eat (MREs) that were shipping only days before to the country to support its besieged military. Belonog is selling the MREs with the U.S. markings still on them and the warning āU.S. Government Property, commercial resale is unlawful.ā What is most remarkable is that he has not been arrested after selling the aid in plain view of the government. Diplomats and experts have described Ukraine under Presidents Kuchma and Yushchenko as a virtual kleptocracy, or government of thieves.
The United States and its European allies are about to pour billions into one of the most corrupt governments in Europe. Belonog is an example of the utter depravity of these dealers. His county is threatened with attack. It has lost a huge chunk of territory to Russia. Yet, Belonog is siphoning off military aid to feather his own nest — clearly with the assistance of Ukrainian public officials. Corruption is so acceptable that he even gave an interview for the article below — though he removed the MREs off his page after the TIME interview.
In 2012, Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index Ukraine was ranked 144th out of the 176 countries as one of the most corrupt nations in the world — tied with such countries as Bangladesh, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Syria). That same year, Ernst & Young ranked Ukraine among the three most corrupt nations of the world. Sounds perfect for U.S. aid given our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ukrainian media is reporting that MREs were being sold by the caseload almost immediately after they were delivered to the Ukraine. What is distressing is that this was the easy stuff to secure. It was a relatively small shipment in comparison to billions coming down pipeline. Yet, despite the infusion of MREs on the open market, Alexei Mazepa, a spokesman for Ukraineās Defense Ministry, insists that āThe meals are safe and sound at our warehouses in Kiev. They have not even been distributed to the bases yet.ā Hmmmm.
Source: Time
Lol! I am a VERY generous tipper, and I ALWAYS tip housekeepers, $10..sometimes more. I have had housekeepers tearfully thank me, in Spanish. I taught my children the same. My mother was one of 13 children growing up in the Depression. When your mom tells you tearfully that “going to bed hungry @ night changes you,” that gets right to my soul, Samantha!! . I came from a blue collar family, Samantha. I have made no personal comments about you. I have encouraged you for chrissake. You need to understand economics better. We have a fundamental disagreement on this. I don’t want this to get nasty, you are better than that.
Karma, quicker than I thought.
Maybe not, but an adult working at McDonalds needs a living wage. Its misguided notions like yours, slung widely as thogh gospel, that is an insult to 8 out of every 10 employees in this nation. I may not be one of them, but I’m not so arrogant that I unhinge sympathy and compassion, much less understanding. You’re a nincompoop, a cheesy one at that. You probably leave a $1 tip when you should leave $5.
Samantha, Chill! Does a 15 year old kid working @ McDonald’s expect or need a “living wage?” Does a senior working as a Walmart greeter expect or even want a “living wage.” SS does penalize you for earning money, you know! Does a college student working 10 hours a week for beer money expect or want a “living wage?” No, he wants beer money! Would I want $20/hr. for flipping burgers, hell yes. Would I want to pay $12 for a Big Mac, hell no. I think you need to take an economics course, you’ve had plenty of sociology courses. And, you also need to head over to the welfare thread, you’re needed there.
Nick, on what authority are you making a blanket statement that any worker is not looking for a living wage? What you are implying, is that someone with an 8 dollar job is perfectly content, even though there is a 20 dollar job available across the street. You have shallow apology that subliminally maintains the gap between the rich and poor. There is no defense for the person who sees a schmuck in the mirror that you hold up. I’m not name-calling you a schmuck, just saying your statement is schmucky. Quit making up so much stuff and quit denying also.
Samantha, I need facts on the 80% of the workforce. However, you do realize a good % of the workforce are not looking for a living wage. They are young people, students, elderly, part time workers by choice, etc. We agree in general, I just don’t agree w/ the %.
Nick, I never said 80 percent of the population. I said 80 percent of the workforce. Unfair tax system? That means you’d have to get rid of the sales tax. You want a flat tax? That is code for a vat tax, instantaneously bumping the equation of one in ten Walmarts to 2 in 10 Walmarts. Lots of unfair myths here held by the ostensible informed class, probably subliminal compensation that removes guilt that otherwise brings reality into focus. Statistics are statistics, but even so, a little awareness for the disadvantaged among us, who are everywhere, would go a long way to rid graft, corruption, and criminals living next door with impunity.
Annie… Darren…. I think you’re both correct…..
Yes nick…. You and your cohorts are attacking and then playing the passive aggressive…. Oh me… Well I didn’t mean that game…. It gets old…. No one is stalking you…. Calling you on your harassment is not stalking….. If you’re that paranoid…. Maybe you should take a break….
This is sadly indicative of the inept administration now towering over the U.S. Form over substance, short-term action without understanding long-term consequences..
I have NEVER snooped on a commenter. Nor have I EVER been banned on ANY blog as you asserted in one of your first lies about me. You came here to stalk me and that is painfully clear and proven.
Samantha, While I share many of your views I don’t believe 80% of our population do not make a living wage. The economy has changed drastically in our generation. My parents had jobs for life. They worked 2 jobs to help put their 4 kids through college. We need to make our tax structure more fair. We need to help people get the education and training they need to compete in the global economy. But, the days of working one job for one company for a lifetime are over, and they ain’t coming back.
jeez, they must be starving.
Els wrote:
” . I feel increasingly that we need to take care of the needy in this country first.”
I couldn’t agree more. Fully 80 percent of the working population does not earn a living wage. They’re everywhere, working in grocery stores, at Starbucks, in restaurants, in fast food joints, at the mall, at gas stations, in manufacturing, in agriculture, in motels, in rest homes, in retail stores everywhere, while those of us who may be more affluent, taking them for granted, demeaning them, insulting them, treating them all condescendingly, while too many of us are too brain dead to realize that throwing tax money at corporations is how we got into the mess we are in, the backroom deals, at the expense of all taxpayers, having incrementally widened the gap between the rich and poor. In my grandfather’s time, anyone who held a full time job, no matter the employer, earned a working wage. If he was a gas station attendant, for example, he could support a family, without government assistance. Of course that’s when the state sales tax was one percent , not 10 and more as it is in many places today. Translation: this means that for every 10 Walmart supercenters, 100 percent of the revenues of a single store goes to the government, which government does not have a single nickel invested in capital for that store. Imagine receiving all the revenues from a Walmart without having to own it, never mind not even having to pay the employees and all the other overhead, taxes, insurance, etc? Even though the government has no skin in the deal, it still can’t balance its budget, forever wanting to increase sales tax another penny. Where will it end? When the government gets two out of every 10 Walmart stores? Even worse, there are taxpayers supporting the government to raise sales tax another penny. Now interpolate this equation to include all government, at every level, where it is estimated that fully 50% of our GNP is gobbled up by taxes. And we wonder why 80 percent of jobs today do not pay a living wage, while in my grandfather’s time, every career meant a living wage.
Unbelievable. Really too much. When is something going to be done with this person who goads, bullies, insults, snoops on commenters and then has the unmitigated gaul to claim HE is being stalked? He puts a pall over this blog and diminishes the dignity of it. It’s really become sickening.
Have you ever been stalked? I have to prove my case and that is what I’m doing. My stalkers have been enabled enough. Basta. And, I hardly insulted anyone. I’ve been spoken to much worse EVERY DAY HERE and NO GBer EVER had my back, only Mr. Turley has. I’m fed up w/ being stalked and IT WILL STOP. I have more than enough proof of being stalked by AY and that woman. I don’t expect your help but I will do what’s need to prove my case, and I believe I have. Any questions?
Nick:
I think it is probably time for you to call it a night. Spamming this blog and insulting the people here is getting old.
Corroboration
Some people are special. š
Ukrainian Orthodox. And, Samantha, one of the greatest liberations one can experience is not giving a rat’s ass what others call you. People who truly know me know who I am and what I’m about. Left wingers and right wingers often accuse me of being “one of them.” It’s hilarious. You understand this quite well.