International
Wiemar on the Volga
Historian Niall Ferguson, author of the fascinating books Colossus: the Rise and Fall of the American Empire and Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order, among many others, had an essential article in the Sunday Telegraph this week. Excerpts follow: Putin is heading for a worrying future Seven years ago, the economist […]
May 30, 2007 | Continued
John McCain on Putin’s Russia
US presidential candidate Senator John McCain is one of the few top western politicians to realize that Russia’s decline into dictatorship is a topic of critical importance for the world. He has demanded that Russia be ejected from the G-8 for supporting Iran’s nuclear ambitions and failing to adhere to democratic standards. He called for […]
May 30, 2007 | Continued
Standing Ovation at Euro Parliament for Kasparov
We hope Europe’s leaders were awoken by the applause for Other Russia leader Garry Kasparov after his address to the European Parliament on May 23. Kasparov was received by EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering and met personally with six different EP political groups (roughly 300 MP’s by his count) as well as the presidents of every […]
May 25, 2007 | Continued
Lugovoi Faces Litvinenko Murder Charge
The BBC and others are reporting that the UK’s director of public prosecutions has recommended Russian former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi should be charged with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Himself a former KGB member, Litvinenko had asylum in England and was killed by the radioactive substance Polonium-210. He died on November 23, 2006. The […]
May 22, 2007 | Continued
Meek White House Reaction to Putin’s “Nazi” Remarks
With the world’s headlines stating the obvious, “Putin compares US to Third Reich,” the Bush White House has decided to meekly swallow the insult whole. “Moreover, in our time, these threats are not diminishing,” Putin said. “They are only transforming, changing their appearance. In these new threats, as during the time of the Third Reich, […]
May 11, 2007 | Continued
Time to Back the Other Russia
French philosopher Andre Glucksmann wrote an impassioned editorial in Le Figaro, which has been translated and reprinted across Europe. It is available online in English here. A few excerpts: Khodorkovsky and Trepashkin are locked up in deepest Siberia. Every fourth or fifth Chechnen has lost his life. Gary Kasparov and his friends are receiving threats […]
May 4, 2007 | Continued
World Press on Yeltsin’s Death
As during his reign as Russian president (July 10, 1991 – Dec. 31, 1999), Boris Yeltsin is many things to many people in memoriam. A sampling of descriptions from the world media include “revolutionary,” “flawed hero,” “a muzhik,” “hero, villian, buffoon,” “a drunk,” “courageous fighter.” Russia’s first, and some might say last, freely elected president […]
Apr 25, 2007 | Continued