Medvedev, Obama, and the Rule of Law
If our president isn't willing to call out Russia on its human rights abuses, why shouldn't the Kremlin think it can, quite literally, get away with murder?
In a strange and eerie twist, the Russian paper Novaya Gazeta revealed that attorney Robert Amsterdam, who represents Khodorokovsky and knows Ponomarev well, reported that just before Ponomarev was attacked his Wikipedia page was revised by a member in the Russian city of Ryazan and stated that he’d been killed.
Let’s be clear: Reflecting on cases like that of Markelov and firebrand journalist Anna Politkovskaya, it’s clear that both Solovyov and Ponomarev were lucky, because they lived to fight another day. Ever since Vladimir Putin came to power, one opposition figure after another has been killed in cold blood, and no one has been convicted for these crimes. This corruption of the Russian court system is widespread and debilitating. Russia scholar Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation wrote in the Washington Times:
During the Boris Yeltsin presidency, the Russian courts, despite their corrupt practices and lack of judicial sophistication, slowly inched toward more independence. In 2002-03, however, a reversal began. The rulers increasingly use “telephone justice” — senior state officials call upon judges and tell them how to decide cases under the guise of protecting “paramount state interests.”
Both Obama and Medvedev are lawyers (though, to be sure, the Russian education of a lawyer bears little similarity to its American counterpart). Yet Obama chose to ignore the law. Following his meeting with Medvedev, Obama focused on the issue of nuclear arms reduction, showering Medvedev with praise “for taking the time to visit with me today” as if he were a supplicant and declaring, almost like a breathless schoolboy, that he was “excited” about being invited to visit Moscow in July. Not a word about human rights issues of any kind, much less any indication that any sort of challenge had been offered or any questions asked. Under such circumstances, why shouldn’t the Kremlin think it can, quite literally, get away with murder? In essence, it is being rewarded for doing so because Russia is far less able than the U.S. to wage a nuclear arms race given the total collapse of the Russian economy, and Obama seems to be offering the perfect pathway towards avoiding such a contest and therefore maximizing the impact of Russia’s nuclear forces.
More importantly, why should anyone who might consider standing up for human rights in Russia, like Solovyov or Ponomarev, think America’s so-called liberal president will have his back? It seems Barack Obama is willing to aggressively attack perceived human rights violations by the U.S., at Guantanamo for example, but not to stand up for oppressed peoples and American values abroad. That’s exactly the wrong message for America to be sending Russia at a unique historical moment when Russia is receptive to pressure because of its economic downturn and confused leadership structure. In a few more years, if the economy rebounds and Putin is firmly ensconced as “president for life” and Obama does nothing to reverse the trend, we will face a brutal new Cold War with a hardened neo-Soviet enemy.
George Bush looked in Putin’s eye and saw a trustworthy soul. A river of Russian blood followed. Medvedev just spat in Obama’s eye, and Obama seems not to have noticed. We can predict what will follow.
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Kim Zigfeld is a New York City-based writer who publishes her own Russia specialty blog, La Russophobe. She also writes about Russia for the American Thinker and for Russia! magazine and is researching a book on the rise of dictatorship in Putin’s Russia.
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18 Comments
1. Meryl:“Whether obama will be duped by this is anybody’s guess.”
Based on what he has already willingly done to weaken America, I think that the assumption that he must be duped to motivate him to yield to Russia is wrong.
He may later try to claim he was duped to buy time for himself.
I have been reluctant to use antiChrist language where obama is concerned, but realize that there is very little left at this point to argue against the possibility. If he were the antiChrist, I can’t think of much that would have to be changed in today’s headlines, including his bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia.
Apr 3, 2009 - 2:47 am 2. MiamaMan:Not a good meeting with Russian Mevdevev, you only had to notice the face of the Russian, there is no admiration, but disdain.
I fear that by now the world knows what many of us who did not vote for him knew all along, that Obama is a weakling.
I was hoping at least for a decrease in tension. How naive, actually it is the opposite what will happen as our enemies ascertain out weaknesses and act accordingly.
Ms. Clinton does not help either.
Apr 3, 2009 - 3:23 am 3. David S:After Bush provided Russia a complete pass to wage war against their citizens and neighbors, Obama must be careful and deliberate while building the foundation for future criticism. Russia no longer takes us seriously, because for the past eight years, we have not been worthy of their respect, and barely worthy of their disdain.
Obama is a different kind of leader, who will not judge Russia so generously as Bush – and will take the time and effort to make sure we have leverage before acting.
Peace.
DS
Apr 3, 2009 - 5:51 am 4. SAF:I think it is impossible for any American president to cause human rights to be improved anywhere. How many billions did it take to make Afghanistan and Iraq have better human rights? And once we leave will it even stick? Oh and if you didn’t notice we had to bomb the hell out of each place.
If the Russians value human rights they need to get it for themselves. We need to be strong so other countries know not to mess with us. The arrogance that we have that it matters what we think is expensive and we can’t afford it anymore if we ever could.
I don’t view not telling Medvedev off as a sign of weakness.
Apr 3, 2009 - 6:23 am 5. William:Anyone who thinks Russia or any other G20 leader cares what Obama thinks is a fool. These leaders have just as large or larger egos than Obama and they will not allow their citizens to think The One has any influence over them or their country. After all, Obama doesn’t control any votes outside of the US. As for Russia, they have finally climbed out of the stagnation caused by central planning and are well on the way to developing their vast natural resouces which dwarf not only ours but the whole world’s, and they won’t be held back by any “green” restrictions. They are engaging in a large milatary build-up and it won’t be long until you see more political excursions into the affairs of their neighbors. What will we do? Not much. We are broke and will soon be in much the same position Gorby was at Reykjavik. Putin will be the one in the position to say, “Put up or shut up”. Put this note in your calander 5 years from now, then you can look it up and call me a genius.
Apr 3, 2009 - 7:26 am 6. Pops in Vienna:#5 William, I agree with you. Can you be considered a genius when it’s so painfully obvious? Perhaps you can, with so many Kool Aid drinkers around these days.
I think a paleocon like Pat Buchanan would have no problem letting Russia get her empire back. Why should a Leninist like Obama get in their way?
As for human rights, I feel sorry for the voices of freedom that are being silenced in Russia. But how can we be critical of Russia when we borrow money from an even worse regime (China) to keep our hedonistic country afloat? If we had an scrupples we wouldn’t take money from tyrants.
I find it humiliating that we have to mortgage our country to a corrupt communist regime. It doesn’t speak well of capitalism or our honor, does it?
Apr 3, 2009 - 8:45 am 7. typos_R_us:Excuse me, I’m not a fan of the Usurper, but I have to point out that his program toward Russia is no different from Bush’s. Bush was sitting in the Oval Office when Russia invaded the sovereign state of Georgia.
Apr 3, 2009 - 9:47 am 8. Pops in Vienna:The culprit here is the Department of State. The Russians will play Machiavellian politics to get what they want. State refuses to recognize the existence of Machiavelli, must less the political rules he codified several centuries ago. So the USA is helpless against Russia diplomatically. It’s like playing against Tiger Woods and only using your 5 Iron.
The time and place to stop Russia was in Georgia last summer. A B-2 with the proper bomb load could have shut down the tunnel the Rooskies need to keep their Motor rifle division supplied. No supplies and the Georgians win. Make the Russians grovel a bit to get back their soldiers and it would end the careers of those in the Kremlin who advocated the rape of Georgia. Because Bush was a coward and refused to fight in Georgia where the conditions favored us, we will now get a chance to fight in the Ukraine, where the conditions favor Russia. If we refuse that war, then the next opportunity will be in Poland. Russia does not fear war. So they will keep pushing until they get one. After it’s over they will fear war, but that will be to late for millions of humans.
#7 Typos:
You make some very good points. There are a lot of rumors that Russia will find an excuse to move into the Ukraine this summer. It’s much more likely to happen now after the Russkies had a chance to size up Obama in person.
Apr 3, 2009 - 9:53 am 9. SAF:#7 and #8:
We are powerless to stop the Russians. Using the B2 would have been considered an act of war.
If the people of eastern Europe want freedom, they need to earn it. If the people of western Europe want not to fear the Russians they need to stand up to them. It isn’t our job anymore.
Apr 3, 2009 - 12:27 pm 10. William:I forgot to metion in my previous post that when it comes to oil and natural gas supplies, Russia has its hands around Europe’s throat, they are just not squeezing – yet. With Europe’s North Sea fields in decline, it’s going to be hard for Europe to have any leverage against Russia.
Apr 3, 2009 - 2:32 pm 11. AThinkingPerson:The Russians are playing Obama’s weak nature like a violin concerto. He’s such an easy target for them. He’s so willing to throw Americans and their interests under the bus just to be seen as the savior of the world. Embarrassing for all Americans who have to sit by and watch our dignity being trampled on.
Apr 3, 2009 - 7:35 pm 12. typos_R_us:“Using the B2 would have been considered an act of war.”
Absolutly. That isn’t the question, however. War is inevitable, it is delusional to think otherwise. Therefore the question becomes; ‘How big a war do we get?’ Do you want a small, non nuclear war or a big, glow in the dark craters type war? I’m in favor of a small war, in a small place where the effects of modern weapons shocks certain people enough to make them see reason.
Apr 3, 2009 - 11:32 pm 13. SAF:Russia is run by mostly old men (70’s and 80’s) that think they got screwed when the Soviet Union fell and want a do-over. They think things would be different this time around. They are wrong.
Russia doesn’t have any modern weapons. All they have are left overs from the cold war. No value except as targets.
Those tired old men don’t understand that. A B-2 would drive the point home in a very economical manner.
No way the Sov……err, Russians can track a B-2, much less get a lock and fire on one.
So a demonstration of modern military equipment would make the Russian stop and think. What they would think about is building their own.
It takes a 21st century society and a 21st century economy to build a 21st century military. So by the time Russia built their society and economy up to where they could create the military they need, they wouldn’t need that militay, since they would be able to sit down and work things out without all the death and destruction.
The age of tyrants is coming to a close. The future belongs to consensual government and universal suffrage. These last few decades will be rough The tyrants will not go gently into the night.
Appropriate applications of force will speed up the process.
Louis IVX had “The final argument of kings” inscribed on the sides of his cannons. Those days have passed, but there are those that didn’t get the memo. So we need to keep a supply of bigger and better cannons around. It doesn’t hurt to resend the memo every now and then. Wrapping it around a cannonball is a real attention getter. Just ask Saddam. Oh wait, you can’t. They hung him and put the video on youtube.
The best way to achieve peace is to be ready, willing and a little bit eager for war.
typos_R_us:
Actually the Russians aren’t the Balkans and they can easily track the B2 and regularly do using spy satellites. The British have shown how to track stealth aircraft using, of all things, background clutter from cellphones.
While I do believe in force I think it needs to be the West ganging up on a tyrant not just the US. Europe needs to suffer a while and get back into the game. We should not go it alone.
Apr 4, 2009 - 5:02 am 14. misanthropicus:While media is making a huge fuss about Obama’s Europe tour (Part II) and popularity, little is said about his unreal obedience and propensity to acommodate everyone’s views and interests (from Russia to… Iran) – except America’s.
It is unreal to see the US president abroad engaged in a relentless exercise of blaming the US for anything and apologizing for everything – but then, when we remember that Obama’s presidential career began with the “God damn America!” as cri de guerre, we have the proper context for this situation.
And very few find something disturbing here…
Apr 4, 2009 - 8:17 pm 15. misanthropicus:RE #8 Pops in Vienna RE #7 Typos: [...] There are a lot of rumors that Russia will find an excuse to move into the Ukraine this summer. It’s much more likely to happen now after the Russkies had a chance to size up Obama in person. [...]
An exception and an approval:
Traveling recently in Eu (and Eastern Eu) I heard a lot of about this – however, I don’t think that Putin/ Medvedev have this intention, and this for two reasons:
1) the crappy act that the Europeans have put so far when they (Russians) keep tightening the gas/oil noose around their neck signals to Russia that military action in Europe is unecessary;
2) Ukraine is in a very bad shape and a military intervention there would only complicate the situation, which I think that anyway tilts towards Russia.
However, this (military intervention) is much more likely to happen now, after the Russkies had a chance to size up Obama in person.” – unfortunately, your prediction might materialize, the Russians having (had) a good opportunity to get an encouraging assessment of Obama’s personality traits:
While media is making a huge fuss about Obama’s Europe tour (Part II) and popularity, little is said about his propensity to acommodate everyone’s views and interests (from Russia to… Iran) – except America’s.
Apr 4, 2009 - 8:41 pm 16. kabud:It is unreal to see the US president abroad engaged in a relentless exercise of blaming the US for anything and apologizing for everything – but then, when we remember that Obama’s presidential career began with the “God damn America!” as cri de guerre, we have the proper context for this situation.
And very few find something disturbing here… so, it might be that the Ukrainins will be the first to experience on their skin the community organizer’s ways.
in the recent years kremlin acquired many new sophisticated weapons
they tested unique ICBM missiles launched last fall including launches from the submarines
they are reforming their military exactly according to the concept of US colonel Doug McGregor – the brightest strategist in conventional force
When you hear about N Korean launch of a ICBM : don’t fool yourself there is no sovereign N Korea. It is Russian-Chinese alliance that launched that
When Taliban promises a coming devastating attack on USA again: do you civilized people actually believe the nonsense that people with towels on their heads in caves with the goats actually can threaten USA?
Dont forget there are 2.3 mil people employed by KGB . You think they also wear towels?
Wrong. They play chess, they have advanced degrees in mathematics and physics
they want to kill millions of us here and looks like they are going to get a chance on killing everyone here.
Of course coward comrade Obama hopes that kremlin will warn him.
But out of his ignorance he never studied well in college, probably thats why he hides his records in every school he went: he has no idea that when kgb will start an operation top behead American Government – they will fry Obama on the priority basis. It is a pity he got little kids because all of them will be wasted by spetsnaz.
CNN and state department(if they will have a window of couple of hours before they will suffer the same) will call it `islamist` but they will speak fluent russian of course.
Apr 4, 2009 - 9:15 pm 17. Pops in Vienna:#15, You make some very good points and what you described could easily end up being the scenario. On the other hand, I’ve worked with Russians and the one thing you can count on is that they are very unpredictable.
We’ll just have to wait and see but Obama has certainly given them opportunities.
Apr 4, 2009 - 11:17 pm 18. Steve J. Nelson:I guess Kim started censoring me over here too, and not just at La Russophobe. Well guys, the story of who Kim Zigfeld is and who “she” serves is on my blog, Russophobes Exposed.
Apr 6, 2009 - 9:04 pm