Back in the U.S.S.R.
The recent death of a former KGB agent reminded me once again that the Russians just can't seem to quit their Soviet lifestyle. Or perhaps the cultural roots go deeper and further back.
You may recall that Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, the opponent to the candidate backed by Russia (aka Vladmir Putin), ran into a little trouble after having dinner with some folks who worked for the Russian government. Somehow he managed to ingest a whole lot of Dioxin, best known as the active ingredient in "Agent Orange". Let's throw up a before and after picture of him just so what was done can really hit home.
There we go. You see? Some diets really can delivery dramatic results overnight. Well the most recent poisoning actually succeeded in killing the victim (although Viktor is pretty much assured of a painful death by cancer eventually) so Kudos to the Soviets. I mean, the Russians. Why westernize when you can consolidate power and form a new oppressive, elitist government that tramples on the common man?
Most intriguing is this latest development: Traces of Polonium 210, the radioactive element which apparently caused the horribly painful death of Alexander Litvinenko, were found in a Sushi bar where he had met with both former and current Russian agents. That's right Putin, Dioxin doesn't directly kill people and radioactive elements are only slightly more difficult to detect than a Concorde flying nearby given the proper tools and somewhere to look. Oops, your agents are almost as incompetant as ours.
I'm all-for innocent-until-proven guilty, but I think at the very least we've got enough to go to trial with here. Two people, both opposed to Putin, poisoned. Not to mention jailing the richest man in Russia, coincidentally also a potential political opponent, on what many consider to be bogus charges. Throw in some removal of democracy at the local levels and central consolidation of power and I think we've got something to worry about.
Not only is the all quite WRONG but also potentially a national security threat. I mean, do we really want a large nation run by Machiavellian ethics on the loose? There is no "rule of law" so much as there is "rule of Putin" or at least, of party. Imagine how dangerous the United States would be to the rest of the world if George W. could just have his way all the time, and if someone criticized him they would either be thrown in prison or have an unfortunate encounter with unnaturally large doses of a subtance uncommon in nature.
I have no idea what, if anything can be done. I must say I think protesting is particularly wasteful because not only does it accomplish nothing, it also has the side-effect of making the participants feel like they accomplished something. Sorry about that feeling of despair creeping up in your stomach, but don't fool yourself. This world we live in is royally screwed up a million different ways. Let's keep an eye on a few of the more dangerous ones.
- one
