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Putin Scolds Bush Over Democracy Erosion in United States
In closed meetings held in Slovenia with President George W. Bush last week, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin took President Bush to task over the erosion of democracy in the United States.
The particulars included the USA PATRIOT Act, which allows for wire tapping without warrant, along with holding prisoners incommunicado without charges - "not to mention torture in foreign and U.S. prisons as advocated by your Attorney General," Putin noted.
Though Putin showed a certain nostalgia for the United States' use of KGB-style techniques, which derived heavily from Stalinist Russia, he was quick to point out to the President that times have changed.
Putin showed further concern with the seeming "right-wing theocratic takeover" of the Bush Administration, citing Middle-East countries as examples of why religious extremism within governmental structures is a fatally flawed approach.
Said Putin, "That IS what you are now fighting against in order to promote democracy. Is it not?"
Bush, taken aback by a Russian lecturing him on democracy, summoned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to explain to the Russian President what he, Bush, meant by freedom and liberty. Rice brilliantly explained that the President meant that people should be free and liberated.
Putin was said to have retorted if that were the case then why, during the presidential elections, did persons attending the President's rallies have to sign loyalty oaths. "That doesn't sound too free to me," said Putin.
Putin closed his comments by saying that he looked into the President's eyes and concluded that he saw a vast empty wasteland reminiscent of Bush's Crawford, Texas home.
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