What Dictatorship?
It strains credulity. Why would the outside world, let alone those within Russia who urgently contend that Vladimir Putin has dark aspirations toward dictatorship, believe such a canard? Truth is, this valiant, courageous man of strong convictions and a deep love for his country is entirely selfless, wanting only what is best for Mother Russia. Those troubled souls with a dark cynical essence in their characters truly besmirch his good name.It may appear to the onlooker that he has such tendencies as the willingness to suspend legality in the interests of maintaining his iron grip on national power. It may seem to some that he is guilty of human rights violations in conspiring to eradicate the voices of those who seek the truth, and finding it, threaten to unveil conspiratorial evidence of evil incarnate. They will no longer revel in such righteous activities, having met unfortunate early death.
Coincidences do happen, after all. The war on Chechnya, after all, is a rightful one, battling Islamic terrorists who would do grave damage to Russia - who have in fact, inflicted dreadful wounds on the country. So Russia knows terrorism, and seeks to expunge it from its soil, its proximity. President Putin is also eminently practical and sees nothing amiss in arming terrorist activity in other geographies that do not threaten his own.
All power to the president! And indeed he has great power. He relishes it, and intends to hang on. Indeed, his collegial former KGB pals, enriched by his hold on power, now exercising their power options and lining their pockets have their stake in his presence as well. He will not go quietly into that dark night of anonymity. Surrender power? Not he one to slip into obscurity!
Kremlin nuisance Garry Kasparov and his insipid threat to United Russia can be likened to a moose flicking a mosquito off its flank.
The nerve of the man, suggesting that "This regime is entering a very dangerous phase that is turning it into a dictatorship"! Unequivocal nonsense, and not to be tolerated. Back to prison, with you, Mr. Kasparov. You think you were ill treated in your latest incarceration? Just wait. As leader of Other Russia, you'll be put in your place. There have been other challengers before you, kindly to recall.
You chafe at a handful of days spent in prison? Think of political activist/oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky! He is not a happy man. Remember Alexander Litvinenko? The name Anna Politkovskaya ring a bell? In any event, it is to no avail. Your party is forecasted to win not one single seat. President Putin is playing the scare card, employing fear tactics.
It works. He is set to claim a majority. Again. And then it's smooth sailing for him. In which interest he is warning Russians that to consider casting a vote for your party is to ensure a return to "humiliation, dependency and disintegration". Recalling the sad, bad days of the USSR collapse and the resulting chaos, and economic dislocation.
Still, it's puzzling. Given the undeniable fact of his raving popularity among the population, his support among the youth demographic, why is he extending himself to such a degree? He is assured a win, he will be ushered into the Prime Ministership, primed to return once again as President, so why is he foaming and fulminating so strenuously?
Does he suspect something we don't?
Labels: Political Realities, Troublespots, World News
posted by Pieface @ Friday, November 30, 2007
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