Good Putin, Bad Putin
September 24, 2003
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2003 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
The U.S. media image of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the nearly charming pro-Western leader of an increasingly wealthy democratic, market-oriented nation, contrasts sharply with another side of Putin -- a dangerous and politically sinister character from an earlier, tragic page of history.
"Good Putin" was the first world leader to call U.S. President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks, and is America's close ally in the war on terror. Putin is also offering Russian oil and gas as a stabile substitute for energy supplies from the Middle East. U.S. capital investment is welcome in Putin's Russia for the development of a free market economy.
Bush is convinced that he has read Putin's soul, and has found him to be a trustworthy individual, an image of Putin frequently portrayed in the U.S. media.
The other aspect of Putin's character is not as readily acknowledged in the American press, TV, and radio, and involves a neo-Soviet approach to domestic and foreign policy.
Putin has filled 77 percent of the top positions in his government with military and intelligence personnel from the Soviet era. One-third of Putin's cabinet is in military uniform.
Critics of the Putin regime fear the rise of a "secret police state," according to a recent article in the German newsmagazine, Der Spiegel.
Citizens are watched, telephones and other communications are monitored, while a "gigantic infiltration of those wearing epaulettes - Army generals, officers, and intelligence services -- are coming into power in government, politics and business," according to a Russian critic of Putin cited by Der Spiegel.
The Putin government is also placing itself above domestic criticism. Although an independent press is necessary for a free election, the Russian media is virtually under the control of the authorities.
Putin recently issued a decree further enhancing his control of the Russian media, which ensures that embarrassing personal details of one's conduct will not appear in public. Putin's decree threatens any media outlet with closure if details are given about a candidate's personal life, or if an analysis is given about the candidate's policies.
The Russian population is already apathetic toward the December 7 parliamentary elections, considering the contests to be between "brand names."
Russia's foreign policy consistently favors nations overtly hostile to the United States, and its economic and political system. Communist China, Cuba, North Korea, the pro-Marxist government of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and the Islamic Republic of Iran are all close friends of the Putin regime.
The Bush administration advocates closer ties with Putin's Russia. Bush regards Russian oil and gas supplies from Russia as more stabile than those from the Middle East, and favors increasing the 3 percent share Russia holds in the U.S. oil import market.
Before the U.S. exchanges vulnerability to Middle Eastern oil for dependence upon Russia, America must assess Putin and his government on the basis of policies pursued, rather than sentiments expressed.
Copyright 2003
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