Posted on 05/27/2007 3:24:37 PM PDT by neverdem
FROM the day Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. officer, died of polonium poisoning in London last November, officials in Russia treated the investigation of his death as if it were simply a matter of bad public relations. They dismissed accusations of Russian involvement as nonsense fabricated by President Vladimir V. Putin’s enemies.
Britain last week punctured Russia’s strategy. A decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to accuse another former K.G.B. officer of the murder and demand his extradition pushed Russia out of the international court of public opinion and into the international court of law.
If recent history is any guide, Russia will not fare well, and the consequences could be profound, deepening the political, diplomatic and social rift between Russia and its European neighbors. In proceeding after proceeding, Russia’s actions have withered under the scrutiny of international justice. As a result, the very concepts of law and justice have become touchstones for larger fears about how Mr. Putin amasses and uses power, and whether he is returning Russia to habits that brought Europe grief in the past.
The implicit criticism in these proceedings has profoundly irritated Mr. Putin’s Kremlin, and that defensiveness has, in turn, only further disappointed those in the West who once hoped Russia would emerge from the Soviet collapse as a member in good standing of the club of democratic, law-abiding nations.
In Mr. Putin’s seven years as president, a Soviet-style cynicism about the law has returned, one in which justice, like diplomacy, is simply a series of political calculations laced with ulterior motives, as opposed to a dispassionate search for truth, fairness and accountability.
The cynicism has been a hallmark of Mr. Putin’s presidency, allowing him to consolidate power by using the law to weaken the media, marginalize opposition parties and imprison political enemies....
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
By restarting the Cold War, Putin’s just doing his bit to counteract global warming. Or at least, that’s what Al Gore and the Moonbat Seranade would probably say...
Due at least in part to SlicK KKKlintler’s idea of treating Russia as if fatcat oligarchs represented Russia, there were Russians starving to death in 1999. Vladimir Putin has simply determined that the oil resources of Russia are the the care and feeding of the Russian people and not for the care and feeding of fatcats. A couple of ****heads who have problems with that have gotten killed along the way, don’t ask me to feel worry for them.
When you allow all the power in the hands of one person this is what happens. Apparently Russians are not freedom loving people.
To give Bush credit, he was absolutely right to try to make Putin a friend and ally. It even seemed to be working for a while.
I doubt very much whether Bush still thinks of him as Pooty Poot. It’s unfortunate, because America and Russia have many common interests, and could have worked together. But Putin is just too damned stupid to understand what Russia’s best interests are—or maybe he just doesn’t care.
I can just see that graphic being the next “Che” on t-shirts, etc.
PS. I confront anyone I ever see wearing Che shirts. Not in a confrontational manner but more of a “I bet you wouldn’t wear that if you knew who he really was” kind of way.
You haven't looked into his soul.
No, they are not. They like "order" and if it takes a "strong man" to deliver it, fine. In fact, they even prefer "strong men" over any other kind of ruler.
Apparently Russians are not freedom loving people.
No, they are not. They like “order” and if it takes a “strong man” to deliver it, fine. In fact, they even prefer “strong men” over any other kind of ruler.>>>>>
As a Russian myself... could not agree more
I don’t think he has one. :)
Putin already has his nation wide Nashi (ours) cult who have unquestioning loyalty to the Kremlin's 'boss'. Nashi thugs instigated the recent rioting in Estonia.
WOW
What can I say?
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