Posted on 09/17/2004 6:05:53 AM PDT by OESY
...After NTV fell to the Kremlin, many journalists censored themselves. Regional governors hailed Monday's constitutional overhaul, well aware that their welfare (financial as much as political) depends on Mr. Putin now....
The passive response to Mr. Putin's restoration makes many people pessimistic about Russian civil society.... A rise in capital flight suggests anxiety about the direction of Kremlin policy. Exchange kiosks reported heavy buying of dollars, the safe currency, after Mr. Putin's speech Monday. Repealing the Yeltsin-era decentralization, which managed to keep Russia unified after 1991, will certainly invite problems in months to come from frustrated regions far from Moscow -- and do nothing about the terrorism.
Russia has been down the authoritarian path before. Whenever the Kremlin puts greater distance between itself and the people, it's safe to expect trouble. Mr. Putin, who once enjoyed sky-high popularity, has weakened his political legitimacy. Shaped by the KGB, and without any prior experience in politics, the president may well think he's doing the right thing, because he doesn't know much else.... Yet four times in the past century -- 1905, twice in 1917 and in 1991 -- Russia went through revolution when the government didn't answer to the people.
Mr. Putin and his crowd sound supremely confident. Corruption may be rampant and security appalling: The two problems met, as it emerged this week, when female Chechen suicide bombers bribed their way for as little as $30 past the police to board the two jets downed Aug. 24. But the Kremlin now holds all the reins of power in its hands. If Mr. Putin planted the seeds of the next counterrevolution, his compatriots aren't holding their breath. "Russian democracy is in the grave," says Mr. Kovalyov, "but it's not dead yet -- I hope."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Consider yourself pinged.
I agree with your assessment that he doesn't want to return to a Communist goverment, which would explain why even the Communists if Russia are protesting him (when the old party Communists are scared...).
The nature of his new style Soviet does worry me when considering his alignment with two other what-to-be world powers, Germany and France.
I hope the rest of Europe isn't asleep.
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