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Putin bans BBC broadcasts in Russia

iht.com — The BBC said Friday its Russian-language FM broadcasts have been taken off the air by its Moscow distributor, which said its programs were "foreign propaganda." Critics say Putin's government has stifled media freedoms and quashed political opposition as part of a broader effort to increase Kremlin control over Russian political life.

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  • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -27/+50Soap box politics. The West sold "Terrorism & Fear" to buy itself an authoritarian state. It looks like Putin has decided to resell the Cold War with a fresh topping of Corporate US Imperialism to reinstate his. Britain is after all Platform One.

    Try stopping longwave Vladimir.
    • RadiantBeing, on 10/10/2007, -16/+50Your comparison is totally absurd. Come get me when America suspends governor elections, seizes control of foreign companies, kicks out NGOs, stamps out opposition parties, assassinates critics with polonium. Oh yeah, "AIRSTRIP One" hasn't exactly stopped broadcasting the BBC and you can read, watch, or listen to it in the USA.
      • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -15/+12You need to go back and read it again. I am saying America is an authoritarian state and I am saying Putin is trying to return Russia to an authoritarian state. You can however have different types of authoritarian state and I did not say Russia and America were the same type of authoritarian state.

        If you do not think the US is authoritarian, where have you been?

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarian#Forms_of_authoritarian_government
        • bobcrotch, on 10/10/2007, -9/+10"Democracies rarely exhibit much authoritarian behavior, except in transition to/from authoritarian states or when martial law is imposed (during war, for example). Many (if not most) citizens of authoritarian states do not perceive their state as authoritarian until late in its development. This makes it difficult to label modern states as 'democratic' or 'authoritarian'. People make this difficulty worse when they use these terms without clear definitions."

          How about you read your own link there. America is not and will never be an authoritarian state, no matter how much you hate 'the fed'
          • Stormflux, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5According to that quote, if America was moving toward authoritarianism, the public might not know until it was too late. The best way to guard against it, then, would be to watch for gradual encroachment or erosion of civil liberties (which is happening).
          • GhostCow, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1America isn't a democracy, it's a democratic republic.
        • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -2/+17Habeas Corpus removed? Warrantless tapping? Detention Centres? 25% of the world's prison population? NSPD-51? Marriage of big business to state? Censorship & Controlled Media? No government accountability - ignoring subpoenas/creating 4th branch of government? Compulsory medication? Evidence of vote rigging? Compulsory acquisition laws? Projected external threat? Industrial-Military complex? Disregard for the constitution? War and conquest? Resistance to independent inquiry? Increased surveillance?

          Which one is it that wakes you up to the fact that the America you want to exist and the one that actually exists are not the same? (notice I haven't mentioned the fed)
          • Euler2718, on 10/10/2007, -8/+2There are abuses in any government. Now I don't like most of Bush's any more than the next digger but if you truly think America is a authoritarian you're a dumb ass. Notice how in another year in a half, we'll have a completely new leader who will more likely than not, get rid of most of Bush's programs. When Bush has a third term, then I'll be worried.
          • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5Abuses of power? All hail the King of Understatement.

            If you think Bush thought his policies up himself then you are blind. If you think the same people who have Bush in their pocket don't have Giuliani, Tancredo or Clinton then you lack imagination.

            But when you have to argue that it is not an authoritarian state, despite the constitution being in tatters, because there's an election in the future then you're just plain desperate.
          • fatesdefiance, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Constitution in tatters? *****. Hyperbole and reactionary nonsense.
          • KlayBorg, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Mike Gravel FTW
          • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The constitution was written on moraled principle once ignore one aspect of it, it all becomes fair game for the memory hole. And yes, it has been hacked at for a while.

            George W Bush: "It's just a goddamned piece of paper"
      • tjanson, on 10/10/2007, -3/+19What he's right about, though, is that both countries use similarly ridiculous reasonings to justify their actions. Sure the situation in Russia is worse, but both administrations love to point at various "threats" to restrict the peoples rights.
      • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1*****, I was half expecting him to tell me that this was all part of some huge plan to consolidate countries in Asia like the EU and AU have. Then I suppose he's also suggesting the next step after that would be the institution of world government.
    • bobcrotch, on 10/10/2007, -16/+18I don't know what it is about people and their fantasy about America being imperialistic and turning its self into an authritarian state.
      • potp, on 10/10/2007, -5/+24Because the whole world is seeing it coming except for the Americans themselves. America for now might not be authoritarian but it sure is imperialistic.
        • onewingedangel9, on 10/10/2007, -3/+18Some of us Americans see it coming, just not enough of us.
          • Stormflux, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I think most Americans do see it coming. But the media shapes reality. Outside of work and the Internet, people don't talk to eachother about politics. Everyone goes home, turns on the TV, and the TV tells them what they're supposed to think. Al Gore wrote a book about it, called "the Assault on Reason".
          • Lowrads, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I don't bring it up in frank terms, but few that I know has even considered it. Fewer still have concrete notions about the subject. My deepest suspicion is that they don't know how to think about it - at least in exteriorized terms.

            Sure, there are people that have a generally angry or discontent stance, but it kinda seems like all the apparently well educated persons of majority that I know are preoccupied with the "high-brow" activities of speculation in flipping residential properties, engaging in conspicuous consumption, or digging themselves deeper into the byzantine world of health benefits and erata. An authoritarian spectacle waxes on oppositional spectacle of course.

            If I had to put my finger on it, I'd say that there is essentially no ideological activity going on in most parts of the continent or its representative institutions. There is neither a single ideology at play, nor a constellation of ideologies. There is some widespread notion of rather less-than-classical liberalism, but it is understood and practiced as a cultural more or religion rather than an active ideology.
        • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8America looks very like Britain during the old days as we were coming towards our end of reign. Turning from brilliance and towards might. It's a pity really, if Britain had let go and allowed their private citizen revolution to continue the world would be a much better place. The same holds now for the US.
      • Bdog2g2, on 10/10/2007, -3/+23Yea I know, its not like we go into other countries under false pretenses to fight wars.
      • bobcrotch, on 10/10/2007, -11/+1America is just as Imperialistic as any other non-imperialistic country, by definition.
      • userini, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2It's simple, really. The majority of American citizens were brought up in relative comfort, with most of their needs catered to since birth. Most citizens born into the middle-class need not struggle for food or shelter or employment, due to the extensive support network of social welfare and charities, as well as family assistance. Those people who did not have enough ambition and motivation to strive to achieve further goals simply sunk down to the lowest common denominator of middle class living standards. They search for the reasons for their failures not in themselves, but in the society around them. Thus they turn to blaming successful individuals and corporations. According to the dissatisfied masses, we live in an "authoritarian state", controlled by "evil corporations", and these corporations and politicians are to blame for everything. See the movie The Corporation if you need a bigger example.

        I am eagerly waiting to be dugg down for what I just wrote.
        • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Read the book 'The Corporation' to see how you've completely grabbed the wrong end of the stick.
    • maiku00, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Poor Russian people. And I thought it was going bad in the states under King George..
  • carpespasm, on 10/10/2007, -7/+57they must be doing something right then.
    • drlha, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5Truth hurts.
    • DarkSideofOZ, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5So does peeing on an Electric Fence.
    • DarkExodus, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0It's not like the BBC is exactly hard hitting. I can't remember the last time they said anything about Chechnya that wasn't "poor russians are victims of terrorism like us".
      No, they have more important things to talk about, like baby animals.
    • quadvods, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2In Soviet Russia.. news bans you!
  • jerryparid, on 10/10/2007, -33/+8On the otherhand; Al Jazeera is banned in the US
    • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -4/+19Al Jazeera English broadcasts from......Washington. If you want the Arab version you just subscribe.

      Censorship dies anyway when Jeremy Paxman arrives on US screens in about a month's time. He's without mercy, personally I believe it is why Rove resigned - just don't ask him to read the weather.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuqNWG9sbuE
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMAt8ZXqtbc&mode=related&search=

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuqNWG9sbuE
      • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Is Paxman going to the US?!?

        They don't know what's going to hit them.

        British politics has always been course. There's little respect involved and frankly it amazes me our people can keep going with such egotistical politicians. Paxman is a ringer, he will make the 'no spin zone' look like neutral territory (excepting that Paxman is actually reasonably neutral). An absolute star, even if he is mostly wrong he gets people talking.
        • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3He's signed for BBC America, starting in the fall/autumn, doing a 'Newsnight' type programme based on international current affairs and with US politicians being interviewed.

          Puts me in mind of Jurassic Park when they lower the cow.
          • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Somebody is going to have to point out when he gets going, I'd love to see this. I think the dinosaurs are afraid of Paxman. I don't mean to be disparaging to Americans but I find the politics to be quite soft and focusing on comfortable issues there. Paxman is a shark, he will ask all the difficult questions and won't give a crap about morality or social convention.

            This is assuming he doesn't toe the line. I'd imagine he'd be back quite quickly if he was forced to.
    • atomicpurple, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Actually, Al Jazeera English is free-to-air in North America. You just need a 1 meter+ dish. There's are also over 100 foreign channels on the same sat. All unencrypted and legal. See: http://www.lyngsat.com/galaxy25.html for the list.
      Note: the beige channels are the ones that are unencrypted aka free-to-air.
  • reeder, on 10/10/2007, -9/+111I don't know what you guys are worried about, Bush already said he looked into his heart and saw a good man.

    Being in the solidly retarded 25% of Americans, I believe everything Bush says.
    • clinko, on 10/10/2007, -2/+40Mental Illness Strikes 26 Percent of US Adults - http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/973/62
      Bush's Approval rating: ~26 Percent: http://www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/Approval.htm
    • MosaicM, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11WOW! I hate bush as much as the next guy, but somehow you turned a article about Putin banning the BBC (which has nothing to do with the U.S. at all) and bashed bush with it. You sir... are a genius.
      • expiredmeatbag, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I agree, they still have CNN international
    • etnu, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Since less than half of Americans who are eligible to do so actually vote, and less than half of voters voted for him the first time around (slightly more the second)...26% sounds about right.
      • Stormflux, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Actually, that's true. Look at what Karl Rove's job was; it really involved only one thing: getting that 26% to show up en masse on election day in key states. And unfortunately for the other 75%, it worked like a charm.
    • Frnnkdlxx, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1How many times must I retype this. It's all a new lead up to a false cold war. Alright, a good analogy would be the one paralleling the novel 1984. You stratify whole subgroups and unite others. You have the North american union(entire american union eventually - oceania), you have the whole asian union, and the european union combined with the african union. that way, you can wage false attacks against eachother until everyone eventually gets incredibly pissed at their incompetent gov'ts and the same people that forced this upon you say, hey, lets all just get along and unite! one world! and we will never wage war again.

      That said, you need these false flag terror events to prepare for it. you need false cold wars to scare the people into believing there is an enemy hell bent on destroying you that you must nationalize and make concessions for. those concessions are stated above and are also pretty self explanatory, as we do it today.

      If you'd research history, antony sutton, carol quigley, and zbignew brezezinski, you'll sstart to see, ww1 2 and cold war were all massively exploited, giving new meaning to the term, wars are one before the first shot is fired.

      i'll leave you to figure out the rest of it, but i'll suffice it to say, that you should go and watch the google video: the money masters. i've plugged it about one million times already.
    • toetagger, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Maybe the Ruskies just don't like the iPlayer...
  • AriaStar, on 10/10/2007, -14/+28I grew up around red-blooded Americans embracing all things American. Back when this country was something better than it is now.

    In the last year or so, somehow everything's changed, and most of those I know are from the former USSR. I have a friend in Moscow, my boyfriend is in Ukraine right now (goddammit, I want him home already so I know he's safe), and most of my other friends are from Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, etc.. One thing I've learned in depth is that the former Soviet-countries are still under so much oppression. The US is only slightly better off at this point, though we are slipping and at risk of being even worse. Denial of information is nothing new, and it happens here as well as there. This isn't meant to be yet another anti-America tirade.

    Quality of life in general still is pretty poor in those countries. What visitors see and use to make claims that it isn't so bad is just that - how those countries want to represent themselves.

    In the overall scheme of Russian life, BBC broadcasts being banned is a minor issue. They still have access to the internet, and do have many other things to worry about, such as being warm in winter when heat is kept low by landlords and trying to keep their feet dry.
    • bobcrotch, on 10/10/2007, -16/+22America is only slightly better than post soviet countries? Are you ***** kidding? If all your friends live in post soviet countries then why don't you move over there with them if America is only _SLIGHTLY_ better.
      • krnldmp, on 10/10/2007, -4/+8Don't get all itchy. In the last several years PBS has been losing government funding left and right, and while better off people can still receive BBC news TV via satellite and cable, it's still broadcast over air mainly due to private donations. If it were up to the Bush Administration, PBS would be shut off altogether.
        • Stormflux, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Yep. If I remember the press release correctly, PBS is a "waste of taxpayers' money". That money's needed for Iraq, not liberal "education" channels with their "facts" and anti-God "science".
      • oddtom, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Ah, yes, nothing like a bumper-sticker intellect. The last refuge of an argument: "love it or leave it." How about they stay and you learn how to deal with differing opinions? Or is that 1st Amendment too un-American for you?
        • fatesdefiance, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Last I checked, telling someone to "love it or leave it" is protected speech too. And I tend to agree with it--if you don't love America, you damn well should leave.
          • UglieJosh, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Pay for me to move and I will.

            I'd prefer Luxembourg, but Canada will do.
  • miriclaire, on 10/10/2007, -9/+22The closer Russia and China become, the more they act like one another. Does Putin have a National Propaganda League yet?
    • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Yes. He has been using it to indoctrinate children on summer camps.
      • potp, on 10/10/2007, -1/+810 bucks says you saw this report on the BBC. :p
    • Bdog2g2, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Hey one thing out of Russia that seems pretty good. They're encouraging their citizens to have SEX to fight their population decline.
      • ikoul, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3As a Russian, I can assure you that sex with Russian women isn't all that great. And they have the same (sometimes probably more) bad personality traits as women everywhere else.
        • Bdog2g2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3So you're saying I shouldn't get a mail-order Russian bride huh? Damn, I was hoping to strike that off the to-do this weekend.
        • miriclaire, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2As a woman who has had sex with a Russian--it wasn't that great, either.
      • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2WHAT????

        Sex is evil. It says so in the bible (don't you kids read the bible, it's the absolute work of god damn it). We must free the Russians from this perverted madness. Damn it, next they will be saying that sexual deviance is fine as long as you get her pregnant first. Sickens me it does.
        • Stormflux, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Godless Commies with their "sex" and "evolution" and who knows what else.... Don't worry though. Karl Rove is forming his army of right-wing evangelical voters as we speak. We'll bring 'em Democracy yet, boys!
    • narc, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Russia + China + 15 years from now = NATO PWNAGE
      • warriorscot, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1They sad that 20 years ago.
        • narc, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12007 - 20 + 15 = 2002
          July 1 2002 - A Russian passenger jet and a cargo plane collide over the town of Uberlingen in Southern Germany; 72 are dead (see Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937).
          That's what I call WAR
  • neiltc13, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7What did they say about Friday? Why would they just say Friday?

    Better link where they can speak proper English:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6951710.stm
  • 7Mystery, on 10/10/2007, -11/+5My fav world leader!
  • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -17/+22Putin is a ***** idiot.
    • potp, on 10/10/2007, -7/+22and so is bush. doesn't it feel great that 99.9% of the worlds nukes are in the hands of these two.
      • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Yay, let's bring Bush into absolutely everything!

        God, you'er boring.
        • Stormflux, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2It's not his fault Bush is messing up absolutely everything...
    • ThatEvilGuy, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3And you're a genious right?
      • cs02rm0, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7A genious? Ouch.
      • Bdog2g2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Well he's probably ahead of a GENIUS like you.
      • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7No, just a genius. I'm not clever enough to be a genious.
    • thewindfish, on 10/10/2007, -4/+0.
    • nonchai, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The really worrying thing is that actually he isnt.
      Shame the US has to put up with a retard by comparison. Putin is in the ascendancy while Bush goes quack and walks around with a hobble
    • Nigative, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0i think u just scared
    • userini, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Some people should have never learned to read and write.
    • BabyWookie, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Putin is a lot of things, but is in no way as dumb as Bush.
      • jay2000, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Agreed Putin did more for Russia then Both Bush Combined.
  • JJsays, on 10/10/2007, -19/+6Soviets are back. Whats the plan Democrats?
    • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6Appease?
      • onewingedangel9, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4build more nukes?
        • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -4/+0Naa, the Dems won't do that. They'll fold.
        • Lowrads, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0@funkmasheen
          You can't fold when you never even attempted to win.

          (This comment system is so impossibly borked.)
  • empirefalling, on 10/10/2007, -20/+14Russia feels threatened by Washington’s aggressive intervention in central Asia and eastern Europe and is seeking to restore its role as a moral regional and global broker. Its hands have been strengthened by rising oil and gas revenues, as well by the American defeat in Iraq. To restrict American aggression, Russia and it’s newly formed alliances with China and Iran have begun the task of “cutting” off Americas few weak allies.

    The World Body is fearful of the rise of American Fascism. Something must be done to prevent it’s spread. The Soviets defeated Hitler’s fascism in the Great Patriotic War, the Russians with it’s “allies” can defeat American Fascism in this century. Hopefully this will be done through economic means. An invasion of the American Homeland would be violent. The American people need liberation….but...
    • JJsays, on 10/10/2007, -11/+13Get that from your soviet handler?
    • UtahApocalyse, on 10/10/2007, -8/+9Interesting way to look at things. The US used to be the "Allies" now were becoming the "Axis"
    • shabuzen, on 10/10/2007, -7/+9Hahaha thats funny. Russia, China, and Iran have trouble feeding their own people let only mounting an invasion to "liberate" the US. BTW it's those former countries who need to be liberated from their oppressive governments.
      • thewindfish, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Yeah, let's get in there and start liberating! We sure liberated the ***** out of Iraq.
    • noahhoward, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Isn't it great to have an excuse to lean on.
    • Tanishh, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5Regardless of Bush's ***** and all that, America is hardly fascist and is hardly the "Axis". Stupidest comment I've read all day.
    • allan17, on 10/10/2007, -5/+5I wish these ***** retards who think the US is ANYWHERE near as bad as China or Russia would get the ***** out of their basement for a few days and take a trip to China. Where you'd be shot for saying anything negative about the government. You think the US is losing it's democracy? Look at what Putin's done in Russia.
    • Taorluath, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Is this retard serious?
    • LucasKane, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1American Fascism? Your lucky this entire country isn't united and blindly following Bush. if you think what we have now is facism you're a paranoid fool
  • JJsays, on 10/10/2007, -16/+6Remember when the Democrats told you the cold war was over, remember when they told you there is no terrorism.
    • soot, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Remember when Bush invited Putin to Camp David and kissed his ass?
  • ShogunWarPig, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12Here we go again.....
  • stimpack, on 10/10/2007, -25/+5Well done Putin. BBC is UK Government TV, stupid propaganda machine should be banned everywhere. BBC taxes the people and jails those who refuse to bow down to them.
    • cryptomystic, on 10/10/2007, -6/+5fascist.
    • soot, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3I find more than a lion's share of irony in your suggesting that state-wide government intervention in the name of curbing 'propaganda' is a good step.
    • Bloc, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10Actually if you'd done your research you'd know that the BBC isn't UK government tv. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bbc
      • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2He would also know that the government went directly against the BBC in the Hutton report scandal which led to the director general of the BBC resigning.

        Stimpack, you are a ***** idiot.
    • noahhoward, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8How many people have the BBC jailed?
    • tjanson, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Damn, my irony detector is broKen..!
    • Ramble, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8The BBC isn't controlled by the government in any way. It's mearly public funded that is all, the BBC answers directly to us.
      • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Let's be honest. They answer to themselves.
    • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The BBC may well be questionable (I'm a libertarian and consider any monopoly questionable) but right now you cannot say that the BBC are the government propaganda machine.

      I hate the British government. They have taken a largely liberal movement and turned it into an authoritarian mess. However the BBC are certainly anti government.
    • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The BBC have even held reports on it. The BBC is a Non Democratic Public Body(NDPB). Therefore it does not receive corporate funding nor is it corporate owned. It is funded directly by the tax payer and the license fee. The Blair Government tried to insert themselves into the BBC to control it, they made it so they could have more of a say on its board of governors, but importantly the majority of the board still remains outside Government control. Secondly there is no love lost on the government by the BBC. Greg Dyke was forced to resign over the Hutton Inquiry and the entire BBC signed a petition against the government's failure to assume responsibility. They even took out full page adverts in the broadsheets at the time with a complete list of the petition.

      And then in the last few months the BBC even held an investigation into itself and the finding was that it should regain the center ground where traditionally it had always occupied. It was a direct snub against the government. The Guardian ran the story. Shortly afterwards Blair made his anti-media speech shortly before he stepped where he criticised the media for being to critical of him.

      Some people say the BBC is left wing, maybe it is but its main political show; Daily Politics which covers PM Questions and This Week are both presented by right wing Andrew Neil. And that is the nature of the BBC. A complete hotchpotch but by their charter they naturally lean neither left nor right but away from the government, which is how it should be. Critical, investigative and not corporate funded.
    • stimpack, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Bleh go stew in front of Eastenders BBC lowbrow fools.
  • allyant, on 10/10/2007, -12/+5Well if it's the same as over here in the UK I don't blame them, load of crap on it.
  • ziedoros, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4Putin wants Russia to be as it was in the Soviet times and most Russians agree with him: life was certainly better for the common folks back in those days and Russia lacks a democratic tradition. The solution would be a younger generation to grow with the Western principles of freedom in their mind, but this will take some time, but it's an inevitable, IMO.
    • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5Back then they had an empire to steal from and give back to the motherland. As my American friends would say, there is no such thing as a free lunch. The problems with Russia have been because they have tried to maintain services built on slavery and theft in a time where the only people to enslave and steal from were their own. It's much more difficult when you haven't got slaves.
  • DjOverEZ, on 10/10/2007, -7/+10Insert "In Soviet Russia..." joke here.
  • WaterDragon, on 10/10/2007, -8/+4Few will realize that this is actually an act of friendship toward the US -- not toward the people, but our own corrupt and ever-more-repressive central government.
  • HenvY, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3Early reports suggest this may be a result of the BBC wikipedia edit calling George Bush a wanker. Due to Bush and Putin's close relationship and similar dictatorial styles, Putin was said to have been very upset.
  • madcow11, on 10/10/2007, -7/+0Looks like Russia is about 4 years ahead of Bush's program. I'm surprised Bush and Putin aren't best pals.
    • brstilson, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1too bad for Bush he's got less than 2 years left to be here.
  • fantrl, on 10/10/2007, -11/+5Buried for inaccuracy. Putin didn't ban it, the station took it off the air.
    • AcesFullMoon, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Yep, seems like this fellow has a very strong grasp of how politics work. Especially in corrupt, former Communist countries. I'm sure you're right and Putin had nothing to do with it. He probably liked BBC. They speak so well of his policies.
  • Endeavorer, on 10/10/2007, -5/+11This is hilarious. I was in Russia, and around midnight they have North Korean radio, Chinese Radio, even Malaysian radio.. all of which are 100 times more "propagandy" then BBC! North Korean radio was pretty funny. They have lessons in Korean and they talk about how great Kim Jong-il is. Chinese radio is similar. My grandpa listening to Voice of America every evening, lol

    Now that BBC is gone all that is left is Voice of America, Radio Liberty/Freedom, and Echo of Moscow for fair coverage of news
    • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Or you can just put your radio onto longwave and pick up BBC Radio 4.
    • Eoneossi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0they have msian radio in Russia..that is cool..:) anyway whatever it is trust that perhaps Putin do it for his best interest and the people..only he knows what is good for his people..not someone else
    • etnu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Or use the internet.
  • brstilson, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Of course Russian people could always pick up the shortwave broadcasts from the BBC if they wanted it.
  • cuervoman914, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1what an interesting turn of event. be as it may, the Russian govt taking it off or the broadcaster taking it off, there's still no excuse for this sort of thing to happen. Russia is once again clenching its old, cold fist. and America is too entangled in its own mediocrity. we're not sleeping giants anymore, and the dire visions of old may in the end come true. how ***** ironic.
  • craterburnsu, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Poor Russians. No Doctor Who, Torchwood or Jekyll for them.
  • icewater, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Both Bush and Putin are exercising propaganda and stifling free thought and we all know that both of them are a couple of wienies. Perhaps someone has already said it but thankfully we have the Internet which is much bigger than one program.
    Wienies.
  • aelias, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3The man's grasping at straws. The information age is in full swing, and the current generation of infants will grow into a world we can only dream of. Too bad it will get worse before it gets better.
  • KarmaPoIice, on 10/10/2007, -3/+13Russia is on the verge of entering yet another bleak period.
  • Hauk2004, on 10/10/2007, -9/+3Haha. Go on the Putin!

    He's basically saying, "I'm the leader, I don't want that crap playing in my country."

    I can see where he's coming from! :D
    • soot, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Alright then, Stalin.
    • Mattintosh, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Are you sure you translated that correctly?

      I *swear* it was more like "I'm the decider"...
  • wil2200, on 10/10/2007, -2/+13wtf is going on in the world
    everyone is suspicious, fearful, everyone knows best and any alternative thought to that is considered terrorism, dissent, propaganda
    holy ***** crap there are so many assholes out there with some sort of control complex
    i think the entire world needs a revolution, i mean this ***** is not local to just one country anymore, its like a disease
    ***** hell
    • CiXeL, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2poisons in the environment making us go insane. like lead with the romans.
      if you cant think straight how can you expect society to function properly?
      the thing is it takes someone not exposed to the chemicals to see a problem and theyre pervasive in our water and atmosphere. even snowing down on the polar ice caps. we're screwed.
    • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Well 9/11 hasn't helped. It was tragic and deserving of reasonable response but Bush treated it as if you had been nuked. The response and eventual fear from America was sadly well off the scale and the current situation is a result of that.

      The real tragedy is that we need to be doing otherwise. Right now the West has serious opposition. The US and Britain are by far the most military prepared nations in the west yet we waste our resources in Iraq. Both nations have serious recruitment troubles now. No one trusts their own nation and rightfully so.

      In this background a real danger is growing, it is one we need to prepare against. The emergence of China and Russia is worth a million Iraq's. The best peaceful strategy is to back India. They are democratic and free by all modern definitions of the term. The west should be making overtures in their direction and trying to counterbalance this issue.
  • JasonCox, on 10/10/2007, -13/+15I'd trust Putin with my life before I'd trust Bush. 'nuff said.
    • Buelldozer, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11You are crazy.
    • Taorluath, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4I agree with xen, start by learning how to work in a factory and speak russian.
    • AcesFullMoon, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2You hate Bush so much. You're so cool. Seriously, a lot of us...the vast majority, of us, don't care for Bush. But, c'mon now. Did you expect all your fellow Bush haters would come out and say, "Oh yeah, Commie dictators are alot better than lousy presidents?" Pull your head out of your ass and get a little perspective.
    • trovoltex, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Poor blind americans!
    • jamyz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Some polonium in your tea sir?
  • ThatEvilGuy, on 10/10/2007, -8/+9WTF are you all complaining about? it's not like BBC is being banned in your country, I don't see Russians complaining.
    • ThatEvilGuy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Nobody spotted the irony in my post?
    • etnu, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2They tried complaining, but were executed before they could press Submit.
    • Taorluath, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Oh crap, I thought you were being serious.
    • AcesFullMoon, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Irony is a dying art form. Blame the idiots that make comments so outlandish that clever irony becomes impossible to identify. For the record, I laughed when I read your post.
  • Hunterville, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8sweet I finally get to start hating russians again
    I think I'm going to go watch rocky iv
    • kpsk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Excellent logic, even a better idea.
    • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Just stay away from Rambo 3.
      • Hunterville, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0too late I made the mistake of seeing it when I was 10
    • Nigative, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0lol, how american it is to hate hate nation instead of person.
      • Hunterville, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I guess outside america jokes must be state sanctioned
        hold on and I'll see if I can get you a laugh at stupid joke pass
  • GorfTron, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Those old, rusty curtains are just the ticket, there Vladamir, old chap...
  • tom500k, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4The real question is this: why does US "Public" TV broadcast only shallow propaganda from BBC, but is too scared to show urgently needed analysis from BBC like the "Politics of Nightmares" ? See it on
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYH8eM910fs You wont find it on PBS!
  • nobody98, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5good on russia for growing some balls again. its been sleeping for too long we need it to wake up to check the yanks.
    • LucasKane, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Woohoo let's divide the world in two again and live every second in fear of nuclear war!
      • pocur, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1well its better than fear of american bombs
    • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Deferring responsibility got you into this mess. 'Yanks' don't need another country to work as a check, they never did. They need Yanks to keep Yanks in check. Preferrably on a 1:1 basis. Each American keeps him or herself in check or they all just share the load. Some 'Yanks' just need to wake up to this responsibility to one's self.
  • CaptainCanuk, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Did anybody even read it? It said "The decision by Bolshoye Radio — and similar moves by two other radio station in the past year — leaves the BBC's Russian-language services available only on medium and shortwave broadcasts, the BBC said in a press release." So first of all people can still catch their favorite broadcasts on short and medium wave bands. Second it has nothing to do with Putin, at all. The title of digg was wrong that Putin banned it, the Herald Tribune called the article "BBC's FM broadcasts knocked off the air in Russia".
  • tzon, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Nice place to live---NOT.
  • Buelldozer, on 10/10/2007, -8/+8Welcome to Digg and the leftist agenda. We have here an article about RUSSIA blocking the BBC because it is "propaganda" but somehow 75% of the comments are about AMERICA becoming fascist?!?!

    Not only are you NOT discussing the article you've completely taken the discussion off course and into "America sucks" territory! Are you people even aware of the incongruity of how you've twisted the discussion?

    What in the hell is wrong with you people?
    • Taorluath, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I agree with you, but it's stupid to call it "leftist" agenda. It's just that a lot of people hate America, plain and simple.
      • syxle, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4We don't 'hate America'.
        We hate what's happening in America.
        • trovoltex, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1As a Russian I like the behavior of your president Bush because it helps to restore the power of my country.
          As an intelligent human being I don't like the behavior of US because it destabilize the world.
  • thewindfish, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3would you like to play a game?
  • givemereplay, on 10/10/2007, -6/+3Did I read this wrong? I don't see the word BAN once in the article. I don't see any decree from Putin. It seems to me that a Russian station decided to not broadcast it. How has it been banned?
    • AcesFullMoon, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1You're not the sharpest tool in the shed, are ya? Here, a few words to jog your memory: Cold War, Stalin, corruption.
      • Albionshores, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Stalin is dead, corruption is sadly universal and the cold war takes two baby.

        Givemereplay is right. There was no ban. You can still get BBC on cable, internet and on radio - you just need to flip your radio to shortwave and you get BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.
  • Richandler, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2I honesltly think the Russians have grown tired of revolting against their government.
    • pocur, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2no, we're just tired of "democracy". Putin has 80% support.
  • nihilite, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3it is only a coincidence that China and Russia are holding joint war-games while putin repeatedly screams "***** YOU" at the US.
  • schrutefan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2It's only a matter of time.

    USA ==> Russia ==> China
  • ciaran036, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2It's true. Have you ever even heard the BBC's totally biased reporting?
    • Jexie, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Yeah how dare they not push the neo-con agenda! bastards.
    • hamildan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The BBC is one of the least biased news organisations in the world. if not the least biased.

      this is internationally known.

  • tomis, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Putin and Bush are both stuck in a cold war mindset. It's rather amazing how they're repeating the same mistakes the previous generation did, and doing it so quickly.
  • andrewmcintyre, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2BBC Podcasts FTW
  • nastronomical, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1And the cowardly liberals happily agree.
  • mattmoto, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Wow! Whats with all these people calling the U.S. an authoritarian state?! What kind of authoritarian state can it's citizens buy and operate assault rifles! What kind of authoritarian state can people go to court AGAINST the government... and WIN?!
    • AcesFullMoon, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Haven't you heard? All the cool kids hate Americans. Even if they themselves are American. We are just that terrible a people that we do nothing but self-loath. Hell, I wish Putin would just put us out of our misery. Do any of their nukes still work?
  • vamos, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Putin only accepts Fox News, where you get nothing but the truth!
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