Russia's new approach to dealing with "extremists"

[Don Corleone]

It’s the law every president wants.

Don't kid yourself, it's the law every head of state already has, including W. This is my point. Only a fool would close their eyes and say their government would never do such a thing. But only a bigger fool would actually have a law publicly passed confirming that they are indeed engaging in such a policy. That's the part that makes no sense to me. With our without the act passed by the Russian parliment, Putin could snuff somebody in London, or in East Peoria, Illinois for that matter, any time he feels like it. What could he possibly gain by having his legislative body draft a law confirming for all the world that he is in fact engaging in such activities and is authorized to do so.

What's more, it's a nonsense law. The Russian Parliment doesn't have that kind of authority that it can decide what's legal and what's illegal in other countries. Trust me, if one of Putin's assassins gets picked up in Barcelona for offing a particularly troubling CIA agent, that law isn't going to be worth the paper it's written on.

[cegorach]

Trust me, if one of Putin's assassins gets picked up in Barcelona for offing a particularly troubling CIA agent, that law isn't going to be worth the paper it's written on.

To us or to him ?

I remind you the Stalin's constitution of 1930s - many beautiful slogans which were violated on daily basis.

Russian legal tradition has one fatal flaw - noone really cares what is written, it is seen as the requirement of the civilied world to create certain rules, only to violate them when required. It is just to keep some people happy... a game of deceit as in the XVIIIth, XIXth and XXth century.

I must admitt it is quite bold though, never before it was announced so openly.

[yesdachi]

Don't kid yourself, it's the law every head of state already has, including W. This is my point. Only a fool would close their eyes and say their government would never do such a thing. But only a bigger fool would actually have a law publicly passed confirming that they are indeed engaging in such a policy. That's the part that makes no sense to me.

It is a power many heads of state have (even W) but not all of them have the power made into law.

I am not sure of the benefit of making this so public unless it is an attempt to make Putin (who I kind of like, he seems tough but not in an evil coo-coo sort of way) look bad.

[Banquo's Ghost]

I am not sure of the benefit of making this so public unless it is an attempt to make Putin (who I kind of like, he seems tough but not in an evil coo-coo sort of way) look bad.

I'm amazed, yesdachi. Putin is one of the most dangerous world leaders extant. He is leading his country back into the dictatorship and totalitarism that so bedevilled the last century.

He has completely stripped out any freedom of the press. He utilises state power for personal economic gain and to enrich friends - trampling over international treaties as he goes. He bullies other nations using both resource hegemony and military threats. He owns the political process and has eliminated almost all opposition - and that elimination includes assassination and subversion of the judicial process, such as it is. He is about to overturn the constitution to ensure he has a third term.

There's a huge level of evidence to implicate him in the Moscow apartment bombings, which he blamed on the Chechens, allowed him to start one of the most brutal wars of a brutal time, and secure his road to the presidency. (If you doubt me, look up the FSB and the Ryazan bomb discovery in 1999).

A certain kind of Russian likes this kind of strong man, as they liked Stalin. You will see many of them defending him. A free citizen should never think he is anything other than dangerous.

The west is so consumed by islamic terrorist threats, they can't see what goes on in this old enemy - perhaps because we connived at making Russia what it now is. It's ironic that the UK has warned about radioactive terror attacks but the people who actually contaminated parts of London with an isotope only available to government are supposed to be "friends".

[lars573]

Given how things are in Russia Putin (or a man like him) is the lesser evil. When the choices are your nation always being on the verge of socio-economic collapse or a much more stable dictatorship. What would you choose? I'd choose the dictatorship.

Russia is finding it's own way. We can't expect them to act like a western nation. They aren't geographically or culturally. In fact many in Russia look unfavorably on western ideals. Seeing them as being corrupt and trying to steal the position of proper Russian ones. I know exactly how that sounds, but the majority of Russians think Putin is the best way.

[CrossLOPER]

At all of you:

I think you are all too paranoid. That is all I really have to say.

[lars573]

I'm not paranoid about Russia, they're not out to get me and mine. But if I was from Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, the baltic states, or any other former soviet republic I would be. Even then not really. After all it's only paranoia if there not out to get you. Putin's Russia has shown that it is out to get the former soviet republics.

[CrossLOPER]

Funny you should mention the CIS states. They are more oppressive and sometimes very cruel when compared to Russia.

[econ21]

If the BBC says there is such a law, I would be inclined to believe it. The BBC is quite a conservative (small "c") broadcaster and would be in big trouble if it were wrong on this. Russia is not exactly a two-bit country and would jump down the BBCs throat if this were incorrect. (Note - the BBC has been very careful to say there is no evidence of Russia's involvement in the recent London radiation poisioning death).

The less certain part of the report is about FSB assassinations etc. But on the law, there either is a law or there isn't.

[yesdachi]

I'm amazed, yesdachi. Putin is one of the most dangerous world leaders extant. He is leading his country back into the dictatorship and totalitarism that so bedevilled the last century.

Well, other than that he’s ok.

Russia seems like a rough and corrupt place, I see Putin as a “strongman” who is keeping his rough and corrupt country under control and even nearing… prosperous. Even Russia’s pussycat leaders have been tough mothers compared to most of our western leaders, Putin is no different.

“He has completely stripped out any freedom of the press”
This is not good but I don’t see this as completely bad, the press in the US is insanely powerful, often making the news rather than reporting in.

“He utilizes state power for personal economic gain and to enrich friends”
Doesn’t sound very nice but considering that the people he has wrestled the economic gain from were corrupt companies who often opposed the state or the people; I don’t see this as completely bad either.

“Trampling over international treaties as he goes”
It is difficult for me to say he is trampling when other countries are ignoring the same or similar treaties or agreements.

“He bullies other nations using both resource hegemony and military threats”
May not be nice but who doesn’t?

I don’t care much for the political control he has or how he has secured the position he is in and I do think Russia needs to be carefully monitored but Putin and Russia are not making wild threats of genocide or to wipe other countries off the map, He is struggling to control an unruly country while maintaining his authority and power without rape rooms, wmd use or ethnic cleansing . It’s just my 2 cents but I don’t see Putin or Russia as a “threat” like I see North Korea or Iran, Putin’s goals and self control are far more rational.

I am wide open to changing my mind on this topic, my information is limited but I do have some Russian friends that have given me a little insight.

[Pannonian]

Putin may be a tyrant, but he's a predictable, rational tyrant. Better that than anarchy, which was how the numerous Russian mafias started, and which could easily result in worse in a country as formerly powerful as Russia (imagine Iraq with nuclear weapons). As for the turned spy getting killed - isn't that part of the espionage game?