Putin Laments Death of the Soviet Union

ABC News ^ | Feb. 12

[nickcarraway]

Russian President Vladimir Putin Laments Death of Soviet Union in Campaign Speech

MOSCOW Feb. 12 — President Vladimir Putin used a campaign speech Thursday to declare the demise of the Soviet Union a "national tragedy on an enormous scale," in what appeared to be his strongest-ever lament of the collapse of the Soviet empire. Putin, a former agent of the Soviet KGB spy agency, has praised aspects of the Soviet Union in the past but never so robustly nor in such an important political setting.

"The breakup of the Soviet Union is a national tragedy on an enormous scale," from which "only the elites and nationalists of the republics gained," Putin said in a nationally televised speech to about 300 campaign workers gathered at Moscow State University.

The president's language was sure to send a chill through the 14 other former Soviet republics that have been independent from Moscow rule for more than a decade.

In the past and to audiences from the former republics, Putin has sought to ease fears about Russia having designs on rebuilding the old empire.

In September remarks after a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States the grouping of former Soviet republics Putin said:

"The Soviet Union (was) a very complicated page in the history of our people," adding "that train has left."

But on Thursday, he spoke in a much stronger tone, appearing to play to Russian nationalism.

"I think that ordinary citizens of the former Soviet Union and the post-Soviet space gained nothing from this. On the contrary, people have faced a huge number of problems," he said.

"Today we must look at the reality we live in. We cannot only look back and curse about this issue. We must look forward," he said.

Across town, meanwhile, Putin challengers in the election next month refused to debate among themselves in a television program called for that purpose. The candidates said a debate was meaningless without Putin, who says he doesn't need the free television advertising.

At the taping of what was to be the first debate ahead of the March 14 vote, four of Putin's six challengers answered questions from the studio audience, but then rejected the host's appeal that they debate each other.

"Bring Vladimir Putin here and we will have a debate," independent liberal candidate Irina Khakamada said, winning applause from the audience.

Calling it pointless to debate with anyone but Putin, "my main competitor", Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov said that by ignoring the debates, "Putin is depriving the population of the right to choose."

Also at the taping were candidates Sergei Glazyev of the populist-nationalist Homeland Party and Oleg Malyshkin of Vladimir Zhirinovsky's ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party.

Regardless of Putin's public declarations about campaign advertising, state-controlled television channels already lavish him with extensive coverage as on Thursday when state-run Rossiya showed his remarks live.

Addressing a packed auditorium at Moscow State University, Putin said: "The head of state should not engage in self-advertising."

"Nevertheless," he continued, "I am simply obliged before my voters and the entire country to account for what has been done during the past four years, and to tell people what I intend to do during the next four years."

Responding to a question after his state-of-the-nation-style speech, Putin said that the 1991 Soviet collapse which most Russians regret led to few gains and many problems for ordinary citizens.

Turning to global politics, Putin said that Russia must become a "full-fledged member of the world community" and assailed those in the West who still have a Cold War-era distrust of Russia. They "can't get out of the freezer," he said.

Putin reiterated his stated opposition to prolonging his time in office, limited to two terms. But he indicated he would choose a preferred successor, saying that the task of any top leader "is to propose to society a person he considers worthy to work further in this position."

Some Putin opponents had considered boycotting the presidential election, saying a fair vote was impossible in Russia today, and the refusal to debate in Thursday's program reflected the candidates' anger at the president's dominance of the campaign.

Some political analysts said, however, the public does not expect Putin to debate.

"They see the head of state as a monarch who shouldn't participate in discussions with those below him in the hierarchy," said Andrei Ryabov of the Carnegie Institute in Moscow said.

The Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe said the state-controlled media's parliamentary campaign coverage was slanted toward pro-Putin forces and accused the government of pressuring news media, to limit opposition views.

[GOP_1900AD]

To quote Kagan and Kagan from "While America Sleeps": `Russia is restive.'

[GOP_1900AD]

We must be careful not to confuse capitalism with oligarchic fascism. Hard to say which it is.

[GOP_1900AD]

It is instructive that Reagan, during his first term, prior to said "friendship" (or the appearance of it) was highly effective in rolling back Communism, other Leftist ideologies not to mention even a few strains of Fascism. However, during his second term, the detente bug bit him, and lo and behold, the stage was already set for a Western loss of will, an era of false post-Versailles-like "peace" and idiotic draw down and excessive disarmament. We never learn.

[GOP_1900AD]

Do not blame us true conservatives of the Burkian Right for the failure of the GOP to follow true conservative principles. It is the anti conservative factions of the GOP who are to blame for these things.

[GOP_1900AD]

Firstly there are no Communists on my property. As for where I clear them out, my operations are applied to places you might not guess. Enough written on that. As for your claim that I support Berezovsky, that is a lie. You are obviously alluding to what I wrote on a past thread, where I wrote that on a single issue, I agreed to Berezovsky and commented on how rare such a thing was. It was a statement of irony, not of any level of support.

[GOP_1900AD]

To me, the Cold War was a symptom of a Western culture that had lost martial excellence, had succumbed to irrational fears regarding war between great powers, and, had fallen for the siren song of utopian, globalist, commercially oriented intellectuals, for whom the notion of total victory would discredit their global ecomomic and humanist socialogical theories. The Cold War was a shameful draw, a cowardly excuse for inaction, and an open invitation to those who would suck the teat of government under the guise of "aiding national defense."

[Agamemnon]

So that's all the perspective an advanced degree in poli sci buys you these days, is it?

[RusIvan]

prior to said "friendship" (or the appearance of it) was highly effective in rolling back Communism, ===

Accually he helped to strenthen soviet power when tolked about "Evil Empire". Party propaganda at that moment told people: "See America threatens us".
Reagan helped to dessolution of SOviet Union when he supported Gorby and went for peace and disarmament.

If there was real hostilities toward SOviet Union it helped to come to power someone new Stalin and USSR stood there today.

[GOP_1900AD]

Marmema: While the fact that your first communication with me on this thread is an ad hominem attack does not surprise me, I am a bit disappointed that the nature of the attack is so obvious to anyone familiar with discrediting operations. What I find remarkable is that you claim to be a Westerner who adopts Russian children, and who works with Christian groups in Russia. I'll accept that for now. But certainly, the fact that you are utilizing a classic old KGB tactic, namely, an attempt to smear those who do not kowtow to contemporary Kremlin power, with assertions of psychiatric disfunction, does make me wonder about who you really are. As for me, I have nothing to hide from this forum. I have always practiced transparency and disclosure and have never had a hidden agenda (if anything, I must admit that I lack candor and call a spade a spade in an insensitive manner - forgive my manliness and lack of so called sensitivity training!). I'll disclose the following things right now: I am leading overt anti Communist efforts world wide including funding of them. I have turned in suspected Al Qaida terrorists to the authorities. I would die for the freedom of the USA and West. I am a card carrying GOP member and will vote for G. W. Bush, in spite of my major disagreement with many who currently steer my party onto the rocks. I don't do drugs and do not even take aspirin for most of my vary rare illnesses such as colds. I am nearly a teetotaller (not unlike Putin). I am involved in community service. I practice martial arts. I take advantage of my 2nd ammendement rights. I am a manager in a Fortune 500 corporation but am very concerned about all the liberals, leftists and globalists who have undue amounts of power in corporate structures and in government. Oh, and most importantly, one of my own family lines is a respected Russian one, stretching back through centuries of faithful service to the pre Communist Kremlin. How's that for obejctivity against all odds to the contrary? So, no matter how much you try to paint me as a medicated idiot who is on the margins of society, sorry to pop your witto bawoon, and dash your attempted smear to pieces. En garde! KGB tactics fall short and neither nick nor pierce.

[RussianConservative]

You know what is amazing...many here on FR act to Putin on same level as they accuse American left of acting toward Bush.

[RussianConservative]

Interesting that said same West then give comfort to criminal oligarchs who run from jail. All at same time Western economies rocking from own oligarchs.

[AlbionGirl]

If Putin wants to lament the truly lamentable, then let him go here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38176-2004Feb12.html

[RussianConservative]

Hmmm gospodin total war, I ask you, you ever wear form of soldier? You ever see the dead bodies rotting in fields? I have feeling of no. Your total war would end all Western civilization and leave land open to Islamic conquest...very good plan...I am much happier that less fanatic and ideologe minds sit on thrones of both sides.

As for Cold War farce, ask that of widows of men who die in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, MiddleEast and throughout Africa and South America.

[RussianConservative]

As for me, I have nothing to hide from this forum. I have always practiced transparency and disclosure and have never had a hidden agenda (if anything, I must admit that I lack candor and call a spade a spade in an insensitive manner - forgive my manliness and lack of so called sensitivity training!). I'll disclose the following things right now: I am leading overt anti Communist efforts world wide including funding of them.

Vision of grandure?

[RussianConservative]

Read my post of earlier in this thread, to understand what is being said.

[AlbionGirl]

With all due respect, RC, I read the piece, I understand what it says, so I don't need you to explain it to me. If you'd like to offer an alternative analysis of stats and figures, I wouldn't be opposed to reading it.

Now maybe it wasn't your intent, or maybe it's that English isn't your mother tongue, but your assumption that you need to explain it to me is condescending and off-putting.

[Pagey]

"Paging Hillary Clinton, Paging Hillary Clinton---Hillary, Please pick up the white courtesy phone at the front desk. Paging Hillary Clinton"!

[Finalapproach29er]

Minnesota didn't build 30,000 nuclear warheads and promise to "bury" the United States. You're young or have a short memory.

Read a little Russian history, its a little different than US history. You may learn about forced expansion. Ask Ukraine,Latvia,Lithuainia,Estonia, E.Germany, Poland (double team agreement w/hitler),................

I was obviously referring to the Russian government, not civilians who pose no threat.

BTW: Did you know Russia continues to build underground facilities. Or that they extort us to pay many bills when they could easily provide oil or other natural resources as return payment?

[Finalapproach29er]

No, I just don't want give a long thesis on the historically obvious.

[JudgemAll]

Interesting that said same West then give comfort to criminal oligarchs who run from jail. All at same time Western economies rocking from own oligarchs.

Nice to see that some are ready to forget forgiving individuals for sake of forgiving communism as Putin is doing and you are obviously doing.

You are not impressive.

Your total war would end all Western civilization and leave land open to Islamic conquest...very good plan...

Islam and communism are like two fingers on a hand, or rather a finger on the hand. The way Islam gobbles up women and communism gobbles up the rich... same difference same cannibalistic origin... and Putin regrets the fall of communism.