I just received this through Google News:
The G8 summit is over and it could not have gone better for Russia. World leaders saved their painful questions regarding democracy in Russia for the unofficial dinner. The topic of continuing brutality in the Russian army wasn’t even mentioned. And the so-called alternative G8 summit launched by the Russian “freedom fighters” Andrei Illarionov and chess master Gary Kasparov went absolutely unnoticed.
One cause of the summit’s success was the pre-summit police work which prevented anti-globalists and other protesters from getting close the heart of the city. One of the protestor’s requests for an anti-globalization march was approved, but with one condition – the protestors had to march in circles around the soccer stadium on the outskirts of the city.
Another success came when the Russian President, a traditional supporter of the Palestinians, agreed with the other world leaders on the Middle East situation. “Under no circumstances can one abduct people and carry out rocket strikes on the territory of one state from the territory of another,” Putin said. It also appears that Putin and Bush reached an agreement that Iran should not be allowed to independently enrich uranium.
“We are satisfied that all our ideas and suggestions were met with understanding” – said Putin, who spent 50 minutes answering questions from the press (more time than any other leader). Tony Blair, in his answers, addressed the problem of human rights and democracy in Russia. Blair said that at the Sunday dinner “Putin answered in detail about the evolution of democracy in Russia, about the future elections, about the new rules of governor’s elections; this was a very detailed analysis, which we were listening to with a great interest.”
Putin convinced the G8 leaders one more time that he will not change the Russian constitution and stay for the third term. Putin also explained that Russia is a nation in transition and cannot simply copy the government system of other established nations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel disagreed with Putin and suggested that Russia should develop a stronger independent court system. That’s when George Bush defended his “friend Vladimir” and asked Putin to repeat the one-on-one conversation they had before the summit started. Jacque Chirac also stood up for Putin, asking the G8 leaders to not forget what a challenge it is to rule such a country as big as Russia.
The alternative G8 summit sponsored by the Russian opposition didn’t make the news…
Now, we are happy to see the Russian President on the covers of Forbes and The Economist this month, while the “alternative G8” has received no attention whatsoever. It seems that the rising standard of living in Russia, the growth in international trade, and the spread of a free market economy has a more positive impact on Russia’s relations with the West than the Cold War-era speculations of Illarionov and his supporters.
What is this about: continuing brutality in the Russian army
So what else is new? The US makes a habit of cozying up to thugs. Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden are two recent examples. Take a look at Central and South America and the murders that Uncle Sam propped up.
How can Americans stomach what their government does to other countries, or do they just not care?
Quite simply Americans are just unaware. Are Americans taught in history class that their government supported the military juntas in South America, how the Americans are responsible for the killing fields in say Guatemala? Or say the involvement of US-based multinational corporations in supporting dictators in say Nigeria? And when those Americans who do bother to figure out what they’re doing to other countries, they’re labelled anti-American. This is typical of a lot of communist countries to – if you complain you’re anti-country. So the US is not unlike Russia.
The most noble country in the world, bar none.
Saving the world yet again…
sacrificing lives yet again and again
This world is on the edge of anhilation otherwise
Power corrupts
http://www.chessninja.com/dailydirt/archives/kasparov_the_magician.htm
for a different view. Mig reports that Kasparov did well. but then Mig is a friend of Kasparov. But apparently the american british sent a representative over to the conference.
Everything in politics happens slowly and it is constantly affected by circumstances.
In 10 years Kasparov might make an impact (politics as usual!).
What I would really like to see is if Kasparov is in it for the long haul.
This will be an interesting study on whether chess players can succeed in other demanding yet rewarding walks of life like politics or business.
Millions of people protested the coming war in Irag and this was literally ignored by the Media. The main stream media is nothing but the mouth piece for the establishment. Marching around a Soccer field in deed. Why bother. Little hope without real journalists covering events.
There is no mainstream media.
Some are just more liberal than others.