Putin tightens grip on power

The Age ^ | September 15, 2004 | Julius Strauss

[Luis Gonzalez]

PING!

[Askel5]

=== radical changes to Russia's democratic institutions that will give the Kremlin greater power than at any time since the fall of the Soviet Union


It would be nice if just once folks had the honesty to point up even one example of the Kremlin's being "out of control" in the least.

Strictly dramatic stagings -- such as Yeltsin's aping Lenin and standing atop a tank as he fired on the "White House" -- don't count, of course.

[Luis Gonzalez]

But this seems to be the final stages of the rollback into full-fledged communism.

Now, hang around and watch FReepers defend Putin.

[Askel5]

I'm hanging out here to read about Putin and the hurricane solely. Trust me ... I've no desire to wretch by reading the moronic comments of faithbased sychophants who've bought the Pootie-Poot "soul" story just as surely as they bought the ballyhooed "fall of communism."

Sickens me. I'm angry that they are being taken for a ride by those who sure as hell know better and I try to avoid contempt where possible.

[nuconvert]

I know I was attacked for daring to question how he handled Beslan.
The Putin sympathizers have been out in force. I don't understand it. Everyone got all mushy on him after Beslan.

[jmc813]

This should serve as a warning to folks who are eager to give up liberty for security. I could see very similar things happening under a Hillary administration in the name of the "war on terror".

[ex-Texan]

The Russkies briefly adopted 'democratic reforms' and now are stumbling blindly into neo-fascism.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Putin uses war on terrorism to tighten grip on democracy [No more elections for governors.]
The Telegraph ^ | 14SEP04 | Julius Strauss
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1215159/posts

Geopolitical Diary: Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004
STRATFOR ^ | September 14, 2004
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1215449/posts

[GBA]

I personally hope that you're wrong about the idea of Russia becoming the Soviet Union again. Certainly looks possible, though.

You've got some of the elements necessary: a very popular leader, an enemy that the common everyday citizen can recognize, a nostalgia for past national greatness and glory, gradual and not so gradual steps toward a consolidation of power, a populace willing to surrender liberty for the illusion of safety, etc.

Historically, in Europe and other places, we've seen these conditions lead to a very grim place.

[watchout]

communism.

[Indie]

warning to folks who are eager to give up liberty for security

Fascism. The Left. NObody does it better.

[Redbob]

Let's not overlook the very distinct possibility that this whole mess with Chechnya was dreamed up to benefit Putin's candidacy, and to distract from Boris Yeltsin's legal problems - which of course were solved by Putin's pardon immediately after his election.

[Moonman62]

Communism is obviously bad, but the real danger here is a totalitarian state, whether it's communist or not.

[GBA]

Communism is one. Fascism is another. I'm not saying that Putin is another Hitler, but Hitler started his politiacal career with some historically similar conditions.

The world has changed, though, and Islamic terrorism is a common enemy we all face. On the other hand, so was Nazi Germany, but I'm still hoping for the best.

[watchout]

Free Tradw with Communism is nuts

[50 Cal]

Who didn't see this coming. After all Putin was once part of the KGB and has shown a very Kerry like gutlessness in dealing with the Islamic terrorist freely operating in Russia.

Why deal with the problem when oppressing the populace is so much easier!

[maestro]

"The administration in Moscow is unable to see all that is happening in the regions. The Beslan events prove that," he said. "Such a vertical power structure cannot be effective in fighting terrorism because it removes all local initiative and requires a long chain of approvals for any decision." Other initiatives include creating a unified anti-terrorism agency and appointing associate Dmitry Kozak to oversee the northern Caucasus, which covers Chechnya, Ingushetia and Northern Ossetia.

Putin is doing what now has to be done......to protect any kind of future for Russian citizens.

Putin is doing what now has to be done......to protect WMD.

Pray for Russia....

Putin is doing what now has to be done......to protect Rome.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[marron]

I have tended to give Putin the benefit of the doubt for a number of reasons, but this is a move that clearly increases the power at the center.

Whether it is a return to Soviet Russia or not, I defer judgement. It is at the very least a move toward an increasingly third-world Russia. There is nothing more typically third world than governorships appointed by the central government. You see this again and again in third world countries, all tax revenues must be doled out by the central government, and key positions are appointed by the central government, which means that, even when these countries are technically democracies, the whole process at every level is subservient to whichever party is in control, rather than the people.