Great Article! Found it very informative. There is hope for Lithuania

"It is always darkest before the storm. Being close to the problems is difficult. But we cannot give up! We cannot be quitters. The fight must go on. Lithuanian partisans gave their lives for their country, countless thousands of Lithuanians suffered in Gulags. Others suffered the loss of their country for years. The "Soviet" apparatus is very good. It finds legitimate problems, blows them out of proportion and demoralizes citizens. It is the most effective "Marketing" program I have ever studied. I went through the affects of "Soviet" propaganda in the Vietnam War. I watched a military dispirited by opposition fall prey to drugs and rebellion. I was part of the rebuilding of this military! It can be done. VilNews will be part of the solution. What this country needs is a Leader who believes in Lithuania, believes in the Lithuanian people.The Lithuanian people must unite - not just in Lithuania but also in the Lithuanian diaspora. We must quit living in expectation of help from the government of Lithuania. The Government cannot help. We must report bribe takers, we must not give them anything. We must unite and fight for the Lithuania we believe in. I believe in Lithuania! I especially believe in the young people of Lithuania. I believe it is our duty to expose problems with the government - but we need to come up with solutions - not just repeat the problems.
Aage - hang in there you have more people behind you than you know."

Vin, great article. Keep up the good work. Lots of people need to know about this. One of my uncles spend some time in the KGB prison. He too was executed. His crime - fixing a gun for someone.

How true this is. 1992-5 I too came here bringing investors and business people, only to be told you don't know how it is done here you can leave your money here we will know what to do with it, and leave. Lithuanian business people were interested in short term rip off profits and not long term relations. One US Lithuanian business person I ran into was coming to start up a couple of factories. I ran into him going back to the US almost a year later. He told me bribes, taxes and "permits" would have cost him more than he could hope to recover in profits. " I am never coming back here again" He told me.

Valdai, __Thanks very much - enjoyed reading your articles in VilNew - keep them coming. You make a lot of sense.

We must not let VILNEWS expire. I think all readers should be willing to help financially. I am also convinced that if VILNEWS was simulcast in Lithuanian if would very rapidly aquire a hugh Lithuanian following and influence in Lithuania - along with the commercial sponsorship needed to continue.__Kestutis J. Eidukonis'

Bravo Boris,__I agree with you. But we all need to fight the problems in this country. The usual Lithuanian solution is another new party. This is why we have so many. What is needed is a movement. Lithuanians worldwide need to mobilize in order to change the present system. The corruption here is endemic. The cover-ups are blatant. The influence of Russia in the media is obvious. The lack of faith in the government by the people is very worrisome. The time for change is very great. The President of Lithuania still holds a high amount of credibility and respect, but she is not using it! The Russians meanwhile are in full campaign mode. Their nuclear reactors will be built years before Lithuania's. The average Lithuanian will still pay out 70% of his pay to the government in one form or another. The failure of Snoras Bank is indicative of the effectiveness of the Lithuanian Government. Where is the Gas Terminal? Where is the nuclear power plant? Why isn't Mazeikiai working at capacity with a two way pipe line? What has the Lithuanian Government done to get all this done. The answer "Paralysis through Analysis"