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25 Comments
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14You didn't know Putin was a KGB spy and has a black belt? I thought everyone knew that.
His work in East Germany is how he learned German and became friends with Gerhard Schroeder. You might have heard about the pipeline deal he practically gave away to Schroeder upon his retirement. - Firemeboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Maybe that is why nobody tried to stop him from kissing that boy on his belly. They were afraid of his judo chop.
- abhoody, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Stop talking out of your ass, everyone knows Putin is running the show. Those "big fish" behind the scenes are now in jail or dead.
- CTerry, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7He may well be popular, but in some sections of Russian society Stalin is still remembered fondly, Russia has to get past its Nationalist desire to be a great power and concentrate on improving the lot of the average citizen. Yeltsin may of been corrupt, useless and a drunk, but at least under Yeltsin democracy moved forward, under Putin authoritarianism has once again become endemic in Russian life.
- Neilrahc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4A good source of perspective about Putin and the current state and direction of Russia, I think, is offered by Mikhail Gorbachev, who after all got the whole ball rolling with the democratization of the Soviet Union. Some of this perspective can be found in this interview with him that appeared in April in the USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-04-05-forum-gorbachev_x.htm
- szelij, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9What isn't mentioned in the article is that during the fall of the Berlin wall, he was in the East German KGB headquarters, along with some other people still left there frantically shredding and burning documents relating to their activities. When the East Germans started to gather outside the building, he stepped outside and persuaded that them that they were just trade officials, and that it wasn't the KGB building...all whilst his colleagues was inside destroying evidence.
But Mr Putin is a Russian nationalist first-his country means a lot to him. Despite him discouraging democratic activity, he's trying to revive Russia. Despite his tactics, he's doing whats best for his country and his people agree with him.
He's stepping down in 2008, but most of his people would like him to stay... - nstanosheck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4One of his famous quotes when asked it is was true if he was an ex-KGB agent, "There is NO such thing as an EX-KGB agent. Of course the agency has renamed itself the FSB these days.
- bacomage1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@PrometheuZ
....third-world....
WHAT IN THE HELL?
You must have no clue what the term 'third world" actually means if you'd call Russia a third world nation.
That's gotta be the most paradoxical thing I've ever heard. - KCorax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Among russians a kiss on the belly is a sign of paternal affection, not pedophilia.
It's no wonder that the objective us media didn't mention that detail... - comradevik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Whatever anyone says, but looking at two strong countries like the USA i'd choose putin over bush.
- tdk2fe, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7It's easy for the western media to criticize Putin's political tactics and agenda. However, go live there for some time and see what the situation is really like. Then maybe you can understand the position he takes with the country.
tdk - sanman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think Putin is doing the best he can under tough circumstances. He's a lot better than that drunk Yeltsin, who certainly misused state power to marginalize political opponents and artificially preserve his rule. I particularly admire the way Putin stood up to the Chechen terrorists. After that Beslan massacre, I don't care what happens to those guys, they are cruisin for a bruisin. I think a lot of the hostility against Moscow comes from a newly-liberated Eastern Europe and their Cold War memories. It's like the new Zionism -- they're so obsessed with the trauma they suffered under communism that they're hell-bent on slamming anyone they perceive as getting in their way. Nah, I'm not interested in supporting endless tit-for-tat.
- ncsuCrewG, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4He is also a plagiarist: http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2006-78-3a.cfm
- Tirorenn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So it appears to me that a large part of the Bush rhetoric is concerned with how once we bestow "freedom" and "democracy" to the Middle East, as kind, benevolent leaders, then everything will fall into place magically. And yet we see in Russia that free markets, especially in the beginning, did not equal a better life. Democracy is slipping, and the middle class once symbolized by the political party Yabloko is submerging. So what makes many of our leaders believe that if only we can get those Iraqis to vote a few times, then we can create a second Eden?
To me, it only goes to show: people will be people, no matter how "civilized" or "democratic" they are, if the times are bad or good enough, all humans have the capacity to do great or horrible things. - comradevik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1they aren't his opponents, they are not even politicians to be his opponents. they are corrupt bussinessmen, and he's doing right to put them in jail. Putin is one of the best without him the country would be in dissaster.
- mirunit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"Despite his tactics, he's doing whats best for his country and his people agree with him. "
His tactics include censoring the press and jailing/executing his opponents. This is not ok in an state that calls itself a democracy. - obezyana, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I knew all that, but I'm very interested in Russia so I never really thought everybody else knew it.
PrometheuZ: That was a joke, right? It's kind of hard to tell. If it's not a joke I'm a little scared by what you consider a third-world country. - mirunit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Well, TeraByteTyrant, Comments like yours go to show the world that theres nothing not Bush's fault. Seriously, can we have a discussion without including Bush and the evils of America.
- FluffyArmada, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Does anyone have an explanation for why he kissed that kid on his belly? I don't want to jump to conclusions, but that was pretty creepy. :-s
- CTerry, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4You may well be Russian, but polls show that, among many sections of the older generations at least, Stalin is still remembered with a scary amount of fondness.
And just FYI, I'm not American. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4You can't refute the origjnal poster's arguments so you start right off the bat with an ad hominem attack. How typical of you libs.
Putin set Russia back decades. They deserve to collapse into ruin again and the average Russian is already there. Hopefully when they finally are ready to be free again they will have learned from the mistakes they are making with Putin. - TeraByteTyrant, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5are you high? im 100% russian and everyone hates stalin
heres what you should have said:
"Bush may well be popular, but in some sections of American society Clinton is still remembered fondly, America has to get past its Nationalist desire to be a great power and concentrate on improving the lot of the average citizen. Clinton may of been corrupt, useless and a drunk, but at least under Clinton democracy moved forward, under Bush authoritarianism has once again become endemic in American life."
Im surprised how amazingly that describes america - chuffdogg, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Something not mentioned in the article is that Putin's tears cure cancer...too bad he has never cried.
- z3rgRush, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Putin was intended to be, is and always will be a "doll" in the game. The big fish are swimming behind the scenes in mother Russia.
- PrometheuZ, on 10/12/2007, -17/+3@OBKenobi
Why would you expect everyone to know that? Especially when no one gives a crap about their inferior third-world system, whether technologically or economically at this stage.
