NYT editorial, Vladimir Putin’s Russia: Nuclear-armed, wealthy, increasingly authoritarian

[DeepModem Mom]

Vladimir Putin’s Russia
Published: February 27, 2008

The eight years of Vladimir Putin’s presidency have faithfully reflected his formative years in the Soviet secret police. Mr. Putin’s term ends this spring, but he is nearly certain to become prime minister. That means, we fear, that little will change. The next American president will have to deal with a Russia that is not only nuclear-armed but increasingly wealthy and increasingly authoritarian.

Mr. Putin has not tried to reimpose the bankrupt Communist economic system or reopen Stalin’s Gulag Archipelago. He has used the Kremlin’s full powers to quash all serious political opposition, recreating a virtual one-party state. That was the depressing message reported this week by our colleague Clifford J. Levy in an account of December’s parliamentary election contest in Nizhny Novgorod, a city once synonymous with Russia’s brightest hopes for democratic renewal....Mr. Putin’s allies have used threats of physical harm and other tactics — chillingly reminiscent of Soviet days — to crush rivals. A foreman warned workers that they risked punishment if they did not vote for Mr. Putin’s party. Children were told by their teachers that their grades could suffer unless they encouraged their parents to vote correctly.

Mr. Putin’s party would have triumphed without these tactics. The goal was to create a climate of permanent political intimidation. How like the credo Mr. Putin learned in his old K.G.B. days.

President Bush, and soon his successor, will have to come to terms with the authoritarian Russia that is — not the democratic Russia that recent American administrations had hoped would take root after Communism. They will have to deal pragmatically with the realities of Russian power, as the Nixon and George H.W. Bush administrations once did, seeking cooperation when possible over issues like Iran, Kosovo and arms control.

And, as in the Carter and Reagan administrations, America will need to champion Russia’s persecuted democrats, journalists and other embattled minorities: amplifying their voices and calling international attention to the very real dangers they face. Descending back into cold war rhetoric and reflexes will not help anyone. But neither will pretending that Mr. Putin and his allies are people of good will and democratic intentions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/opinion/27wed2.html?hp

[bemildred]

1. We like authoritarian governments as long as we own them.

It's the independents that annoy the pundits at the NYT.

[Kolesar]

2. President Clinton had a program to establish independent media &other democratic institutions

...in the early years of post-Soviet Russia. We actually spent money in Russia to build TV stations. I recall that there were some "study abroad" programs for Russian students to visit the USA. It looks like Putin has disposed of all that during the bush* years. Like bush* gives a sh--.

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. Just like us except................

we are Nuclear-armed, increasingly authoritarian, and Broke

[Hydra]

4. This is ENTIRELY our fault

Putin looked at Bush and said, "If he can do it and get away with it, so can I!"

All of those morons in the CIA missed having carte blanche to screw around in the world without oversight. They thought the war of terror would be enough, but hell! Why not have the cold war all over again.

Unlimited military budgets
License to spy, invade and torture at will
Suspension of law

What dreams these little fools have.

[katty]

5. putin to bush: hey, georgie...just keep looking over there!gotcha!