] ]
] ] "It's not entirely clear to me why they go out of their
] ] way to keep opposition candidates from fully
] ] participating in the electoral process," said Powell, who
] ] added that this does not mean there is yet cause to worry
] ] that democracy in Russia is crumbling.

Not clear? NOT CLEAR? NOT CLEAR!?!

Jesus... and to think, I sometimes entertain that Powell is sincere. Putin is a dictator. Putin's people are FSB (aka domestic KGB). He came to power by promising a hardline solution to the "Chechyna Problem" after terrorist attacks leveled several apartment buildings and killed hundreds of people in Russia. Terrorist attacks that were quite likely carried out by the FSB (I'm not talking wild conspiracy theory here, an FSB agent was arrested shortly before these attacks attempting to plant explosives in the basement of an apartment building) under the order of Putin.

Upon taking office, Putin began a large scale program of nationalizing privatized businesses, and appointing FSB higher ups to their boards. He has ended freedom of the press. He has renationalized every national TV station. He has waged a war in Chechnya in a manner that has killed most Chechyn males, and leveled every single city in the region. He has an official youth party who's doctrines compare to those of the Nazi youth.

He toppled Berezovsky. Xodorkovsky is in jail. Anyone that dares to oppose him and has the means to do so is destroyed.

And its "not clear" why he doesn't allow opponents to access media outlets? He's a strong man. The only way he's leaving office is in a box. Russia has chosen Dictatorship to Oligarchy. This election was rigged, just like the last one. And the one before that. Democracy in Russia has never existed, and probably never will.

Everyone that follows Russian politics knows this. Even Bush, when he "sees into his soul," as he looks into his pretty eyes.

RE: Putin's victory criticized by foes