Putin as Prime Minister of Russia may be a good thing.

[JSDOUVRES]

Parkol, Typical of you to have such backward views like always, Russia controls Europe? Really? Russians don't even have freedom of movement in Europe and I am sorry to say that it has very much less power than you seem to believe. Maybe it was written in your Russian book. Must be true. Unlike films that apparently everybody thinks are true. Does Russia have any telling input into European law and regulations? My ass do they! There is more to life than just your oil you know!
I suppose you read in a book that it was the FBI that flew the planes into the towers. And you think we are the dumb ones?
And I have to say that without doubt there is more of a democracy in the USA than Russia. The amount of Asylum seekers I have met here can back me up there for sure. I don't know how many American/ Western European Asylum seekers you have in Russia but it is probably just below 1. And wiithout doubt, 90% plus of the worlds population would rather live in the USA than Russia given the choice, that is for sure.
And yes you have bombs but so does everybody! At least we have James Bond! Ive seen him in action, He is very good you know. Be careful!
Try closing your books and watching a film from time to time, they may not be true (yes we know!) but they might actually make you feel good for a few seconds, although I doubt it with you. Before acting like everybody else is stupid look at yourself first.

[glennjridge]

actually greg I thought what I said was pretty complimentary.
I just dont think your a very realistic guy when you talk about politics.thats all.

[Parkol]

I ask you to watch that movie, it's better if US guy tells you truth than me.

James Bond?

I am afraid your James Bond will get pizda as he arive here.

Democracy?

I read that if black man buys a flat in white block - all immovable property is getting cheapper. Is that democracy?

We all have sins.

I forget English, but I have to say that the best English teacher I had was - American, his name was Rob. He was from Washington state
Stop thinking we all monsters here.
We are normal people!!!

[JSDOUVRES]

Hey, They are all normal people in the US and UK too!
And if a Chinese man buys a property in Russian appartment block, would the same happen? Probably not, He would not be there long enough to make any difference.
Parkol, please look at your own countries problems which are considerably worse than what you accuse on others. And don't believe everything you read in a book!

[Deschanel]

Oops, two more Russian journalists violently murdered in 2008:

>Ilyas Shurpayev, Dagestani journalist responsible for news coverage of Northern Caucasus on Channel One, was strangled with a belt in Moscow.[7]

Gaji Abashilov, chief of Dagestan outlet of VGTRK, shot in his car<


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_jo ... _in_Russia

Wikipedia:
International concern over killings of Russian journalists

Concern about the killings of Russian journalists in the several years up to 2008 has been voiced in many quarters. Russian authorities have been repeatedly criticized for not arresting and prosecuting the murderers, and critics have noted that many of the journalists killed were critical of the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin. [3]
The board of the World Association of Newspapers passed a resolution in June 2007 calling on Russian authorities to investigate journalist deaths more vigorously:[4]
The brutal murder on 7 October 2006 of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, known for her critical reporting on the conflict in Chechnya in which she sought to expose human rights abuses, was yet another reminder to Russian journalists that violence awaits those who investigate or criticise," the resolution read. "It is estimated that 21 journalists have been killed since Russian President Vladimir Putin came to power in March 2000. In the great majority of cases, no one has been convicted and sentenced for the murders.[4]
American journalist Anne Applebaum wrote, concerning the murder of Politkovskaya: "Of course, if this murder follows the usual pattern in Russia, no suspect will ever be found, and no assassin will ever come to trial."[5]

According to Reporters Without Borders, an international organization of journalists, 21 journalists have been murdered since March 2000. In 2007, the International News Safety Institute said Russia was the country with the second largest number of journalists killed in the previous 10 years.[10]
[edit]


Aside to Glenn: I forgive your hateful characterization of me, and I'm praying you realize that recognizing your powerlessness over alcohol is the first step in recovery.
God bless you, and I accept your apology.

[glennjridge]

hey hey, dont knock it. lets not forget some peoples powerlessness over alcohol is the only way your ever guaranteed to get some action on a saturday night

[Yula]

Of course there is no democracy here. Same as there's no democracy in the EU and in the USA.
The thing is our western friends need to create a monster to make a drama out of something, as they are too bored. Plus, they repeat what their mass media tell them.

[Danny C]

Of course there is no democracy here. Same as there's no democracy in the EU and in the USA.

Our democracies aren't perfect, of coure they're not. But at least we can say half our political parties aren't banned from standing, and political opponents of our governments aren't routinely murdered or imprisoned, both of which happen with alarming regularity in Russia.

Keep on peddling the official line that it's all just a Western conspiracy to make Russia look bad though, if it makes you feel any better.

[Janet Street-Porter]

Our democracies aren't perfect, of coure they're not. But at least we can say half our political parties aren't banned from standing, and political opponents of our governments aren't routinely murdered or imprisoned, both of which happen with alarming regularity in Russia.

Keep on peddling the official line that it's all just a Western conspiracy to make Russia look bad though, if it makes you feel any better.

Yes but what is an effective democratic system? I get one vote once every four/five years and because I live in a safe Tory seat, it 'means' sweet F.A. anyway. Still, at least I can vote for Boris on 1st May.

[Danny C]

Well, I fundamentally agree that our democracy is in need of reform, and the political party that I am a member of is very much at the forefront of the campaign for proportional representation

However, as flawed as our elections are, at least I am able to stand in elections without fear of beng imprisoned or assassinated; you cannot say the same about any of my Russian liberal counterparts!

[gregf]

In Pakistan this week there were joyfull scenes in parliament as as the new
prime Minister took his place.

President Pervez Musharraf is now politically isolated.

This is an example of how a strong parliament is better than a strong President.
One man in an office is answerable to no one. He can make bad decisions and there
is no one to stop him.

A Prime Minister in a parliament faces question as do the ministers.

In this one regard only, I say it may be good for Putin to be PM.
He may strengthen the Russian parliament and limit the powers of the president.
And that will be good for Russia in the long run.

[Danny C]

You should take off those rose-tinted specs, Greg

Medvedev is Putin's puppet. Putin is still President in everything but name only. The difference is that now he's also Prime Minister.

Don't think for one moment that this means that the power of any individual will be curbed; if anything this is a consolidation, not a dilution, of power.

[gregf]

Of course I know what sort of person Putin is. |rolly eyes|
I am not naive.

But I do accept that this classical dramatic idea,
that a bad person may accidentally do something good,
may not be clear,
so I apologise.

Thank you and good night.

[Janet Street-Porter]

But I do accept that this classical dramatic idea,
that a bad person may accidentally do something good,
may not be clear,
so I apologise.

I suppose Robert Mugabe could discover a cure for cancer.....

[Fugitive1979]

.....or he could just die.