27 Oct 2004 Putin, Explained

From Moscow News, an editorial that explains Vladimir Putin and the Russian political situation:

A year ago Vladimir Putin proved that he was a bad politician but a good power-wielder and a worthy candidate for dictator, who was capable of taking tough decisions and would not allow anyone to mislead or intimidate him, who knew how to destroy his political opponents and to hatch conspiracies…

But at the same time he proved to have no idea about politics, as the art of maneuvering, compromise, observing a balance of interests, of trust and agreement.

Vladimir Putin sees politics as a secret raid aimed at achieving unnamed goals under the cover of the appropriate statements and formal procedures.

The future under Vladimir Putin does not bode well for Russia.

It is hardly likely that after all Putin has done over the past year he will get out of his entrenched position and, suspending all the secret attacks aimed at seizures, reshuffles and recruitments, enter into a dialogue with the political and economic entities operating in Russia. Putin ceased to see any sense in such a dialogue as soon as he ceased to see the difference between himself and the Russian state.

I know this is not about Bush v. Kerry, the MSM, or Iraq, the political blogosphere’s favorite subjects du jour, but Russia matters. Read the whole thing.