Poll: Most Ukrainians want a unified country

[The Magistrate]

9. This Obviously Makes Hash Of The 'Go Putin!' Cheer-Leaders' Position, Sir

When people are asked whether they support or feel favorably about a government, a good portion will answer as if they have been asked 'is this government doing a good job, do you like the way things are going?' There is a lot not to like about the performance of the interim government, and chief among them is that it has not been able to do a very good job of preserving order, which is the chief, most basic requirement of a government. A government which cannot maintain order opens questions about it competence and even its legitimacy.

This suggests two things, none of which the 'go Putin!' cheerleaders will like.

First, that had the interim government in Kiev done a better job of cracking down on separatists, it would probably register as a good deal more popular than it does now, and that in all regions, not just the west.

Second, that the claim the interim government in Kiev is a pack of blood-thirsty fascists, so popular among the 'go Putin!' cheer-leading crew, is industrial grade nonesense. Otherwise, they would have resorted to force, not only earlier, but in greater quantity and to much greater effect.

It hardly needs to be said that if the figures from the poll are accurate, any honest referendum in the east will come out a thumping 'no' to secession. Nor does it really need to be said that the people throwing the projected referendum will report its result as a solid endorsement of secession. And I have every expectation that when they do, the 'go Putin!' crew will cheer that 'fascism' has been rejected in east Ukraine....