Posted on 07/12/2006 2:46:36 PM PDT by neverdem
15 Years After Being Deposed From Power, Former Leader Discusses Russia, U.S.
Mikhail Gorbachev is generally regarded as the man who broke down the "iron curtain" that separated the communist world from the West and thawed the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Now, 15 years after a coup removed him from power and the Soviet Union dissolved, he has some stern words for the United States, whose relationship with Russia has soured lately.
"We have made some mistakes," he said, referring to recent attacks on Russia's democracy. "So what? Please don't put even more obstacles in our way. Do you really think you are smarter than we are?"
The former general secretary of the Soviet Union Communist Party accused Americans of arrogance and trying to impose their way of life on other nations.
"Americans have a severe disease -- worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex," he said. "You want an American style-democracy here. That will not work."
Gorbachev found a partner in former President Bush in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
During their time in power, communism fell in East Germany, when Germans tore down the legendary wall separating the democratic West from the communist East.
The collapse of communism quickly spread across eastern Europe, and the leaders worked together to create a partnership in the changing world
Gorbachev, however, is wry about the current president, George W. Bush.
"He's very determined," Gorbachev said. "You can't say he does not have character."
The former Soviet leader had severe criticism for two of the most important people in the Bush administration: Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
"They are just hawks protecting the interests of the military -- shallow people," he said.
Criticism for Putin
Gorbachev also often has stern words for the Russian government, but frequently advises President Vladimir Putin, who is under fire for his authoritarian tactics.
"I told him I did not understand why he had canceled state elections. There is no glasnost," he said, referring to the Soviet push toward a more open society in the 1980s. "No elections here like there used to be in '89 and '90."
"Vladimir Putin is walking on a razor's edge," he said. "Putin has used and he will continue to use authoritarian measures, but Russia will form a democracy. I know Vladimir Putin. He is a moral person."
Gorbachev said he was ultimately a Putin supporter and was impressed by the president's need to create stability out of chaos.
Although he has assumed the role of senior statesman and remains active in Russian politics, Gorbachev said he was "75 years. Enough is enough."
He has not given up the dream of Russian democracy and hopes to see his two granddaughters live in freedom.
"I want my grandchildren to live in a democratic country -- in a peaceful world," he said. "But it's hard to imagine because there are so many answers we still need to find."
Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures
To Gorbachev:
STFU you communist.
Interesting that the "reporter" never mentions Reagan when discussing the cold war or the collapse of the Soviet Union. The rewrite of history has been going on for a while, but most of us LIVED THROUGH IT, and we know better.
"Do you really think you are smarter than we are?"
Well, yes, actually.
"Do you really think you are smarter than we are?"
Is this a trick question?
LOLOL.....so gorby acknowledging he has 'losers' complex?
I couldn't care less what birdshithead has to say. I put him in the same category as Jimma Carter. LOSER/FAILURE/FORGOTTEN.
How can a winner's complex be a bad thing? Complex and winner don't go together. I think "winner's drive" might be more descriptive, but a winner's complex sounds good to me.
And ol' Gorby Glasnost is clearly suffering from "Loser's Complex".
Him and his pal Jimmah.
And ol' Gorby Glasnost is clearly suffering from "Loser's Complex".
Him and his pal Jimmah.
There there, Mikhail Sergeyevich, just keep telling yourself “I am somebody.”
Gee I just did a Doublemint commercial.
"It's called the winner's complex"
Liberals hate that this country has winners complex. Liberals must make all countries equal. No? Look up Clinton and China...North Korea is their hand puppet.
Correct. How else to explain their reversion to the authoritarian norm.
Nothing about the Gorbachov Institute or, more significantly, Green Cross.
Gore gets his ideas from Gorby's environmental agenda, right down to the "lie, cheat, or steal, we gotta save EARTH!" mentality.
Nah, more like a concrete panel installer in the Big Dig.
OK, somebody start the Gorby 'birdsh*t stain on the forehead' jokes, please.
Actually he'd have probably been locked away in prison after only one or two murders.
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