Putin Vetos Restricting Media Reporting During Crises
	found on ABC News written by furryape, edited by John (Plastic) [ read unedited ] posted Mon 25 Nov 5:19pm
		"In the aftermath of the Russian theatre siege, the Russian parliament voted to increase their powers to restrict media reporting during crises," furryape writes. "President Vladimir Putin has now written letters to the Russian parliament vetoing this new bill, a suprising move for a man considered a hardliner and who suffered badly at the hands of the media during the Kursk accident. Is this a move just to counter criticism from the media, or does Putin genuinely belive in free speech?"

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1.  Let's just get this out of the way:   by nme!       at Mon 25 Nov 6:12pm score of 1.5 funny     Wow. In my lifetime, the Russkies have become more free than us.* Interesting reaction to his own personal Waco. -nme! * In some respects.** ** Ok, I can only think of one.*** *** This one **** **** Whover the hell started footnoting their posts, I curse at thee. Virgo: (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) It's all over but the shouting, but don't worry: It's going to be great shouting.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

7.  Re: Let's just get this out of the way:   by Field Marshall Stack       at Mon 25 Nov 11:30pm score of 1   in reply to comment 1     re: footnotes, I'm pretty sure it was Old Sailor. And though he ain't been around lately, I can tell you that most folks 'round here still don't take too kindly to people cursin' at him. "Nobody ever lends money to a man with a sense of humor." -Peter Tork   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]   17.  Re: Let's just get this out of the way:   by snarkism       at Wed 27 Nov 6:53pm score of 1   in reply to comment 7     I can tell you that most folks 'round here still don't take too kindly to people cursin' at him. That earns you a keel-haulin' in these waters. Cap'n Snark That's using your ass.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

2.  Wow.   by bitflip       at Mon 25 Nov 7:39pm score of 1     I'm impressed. Really, truly impressed. My faith in humanity has been destroyed by his failure to do exactly the wrong thing. Crap. Now I have hope. I'm not psychotic. I'm disturbed.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

11.  Re: Wow.   by kallisti       at Tue 26 Nov 10:02am score of 1   in reply to comment 2     That's probably the most cynical thing I've ever read. Beautiful! *Applause*   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

3.  he just knows what he's doing   by Acefantastik       at Mon 25 Nov 7:43pm score of 2 astute     the televising of the theatre siege was a brilliant stroke of luck for Putin, as he is able to act based on the emotions of his citizens. When people see something horrifying AND true on television, they usually demand their government take quick, brutal action. That's why Putin would prefer these events to be aired--it galvanizes Russian opinion in favor of brutal retaliation in Chechnya. Its the same reason that firefights and suicide bomb cleanups are shown live on Israeli TV, and its why the impact footage of Sept. 11, 2001 has become a profitable TV special in America. Populations react to acts of war with a thirst for vengeance. Russia is no different.   Its not that far a leap to assume that governments will start staging fake attacks for the benefit of television in order to whip up public support for any military actions. Tonkin Gulf , anyone? iDanza y musica!   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

10.  Tonkin? Try 'Remember the Maine'.   by Mephron       at Tue 26 Nov 9:42am score of 1   in reply to comment 3     That was the first press-started war of modern times. The Maine blew up; no one knew why; Hearst started proclaiming it was Spain that did it; war happened. Tonkin was the 2.0 version. I fear the 3.0 version. Brazil has decided you're cute.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

4.  Acting Like a Western Ally   by NH4       at Mon 25 Nov 9:43pm score of 2 astute     Whether or not President Putin was a big fan of freedom of speech and/or freedom of the press fifteen years ago is irrelevant. Today, he is President of a country that is climbing into bed with the United States. When Americans think of "human rights," the very first ones they think of are the ones set forth in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Putin knows how Americans feel about these rights as well as anyone. Standing up for freedom of speech and/or freedom of the press in Russia is probably the single most powerful thing that President Putin could do to make American intellectuals feel good about him, about Russia, and about the developing alliance between our countries. In truth, President Putin acts more and more like a Western ally every day -- and, Chechnya notwithstanding, it's time to treat him like one. * * * OT: The single thing the U.S. could do that would most quickly strengthen Russia, making it a more useful ally in the War on Terrorism, is to prop up its currency as we propped up the Mexican peso a few years ago. The $30b we pledged to keep the peso at 10 to the dollar was never actually spent, never even left the Federal Reserve's grasp, yet it accomplished its goal. If the Fed pegged the ruble to the peso, it probably wouldn't cost the American taxpayer a cent, the average Russian would experience an immediate boost in his/her standard of living, and the Russian government would be in a position to spend what it deemed necessary to control Muslim extremists within and beyond its borders. When Putin increased oil production in Russia last year, it had an immediate and positive effect on American living standards. We ought to pay our Russian friends back in kind.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

9.  Re: Acting Like a Western Ally   by furryape       at Tue 26 Nov 7:41am score of 1.5 astute   in reply to comment 4     Today, he is President of a country that is climbing into bed with the United States. I'd disagree with this. Russia and France were two of the most vocal opponents of military action in Iraq. Their Foreign Minister, Yevgeny Primakov, said in 1998 "Resorting to force is not desirable in the current situation, and would not solve the problems we are confronted with,". This position hasn't changed, earlier this month the Russian U.N. Ambassador, Sergey Lavrov said Russia still has concerns that references to ``material breach'' could trigger an attack on Iraq. Compared to Tony Blair, Putin isn't in bed with the US, he's hardly in the bedroom.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]   14.  That's just economics   by LostBoyJim       at Tue 26 Nov 11:06am score of 1   in reply to comment 9     That's just economics...Russia is owed billions by Iraq, and has billions more in existing contracts that could be voided if a new government takes over. I assume that bush promised Putin that those obligations would not be erased, and thus brought him on board. jim   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]   16.  Re: Acting Like a Western Ally   by NH4       at Tue 26 Nov 3:38pm score of 1   in reply to comment 9     Compared to Tony Blair, Tom Daschle isn't in bed with the U.S., Furryape. Distinctions between the U.S. and Britain these days are as meaningful as differences between Germany and Austria were in 1930. Putin may not be in favor of the invasion of Iraq, but Russia is certainly on board for the War on Terrorism. I consider the proposed War on Iraq only superficially connected to the War on Terrorism. I'm glad Russia is on board for the war that I care about; we'll need the help.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

5.  Who needs censorship laws...   by waterfowl       at Mon 25 Nov 10:52pm score of 1.5 astute     when you already control the media. Putin has no need for laws (which are obvious and usually caught by civil-liberty radar) when he's already managed to take indirect control of the remaining media not already controlled by the state. Witness the NTV battle of the past few years, where state-controlled Gazprom hijacked NTV and other media outlets owned by oligarch Gusinsky. Defending the action as legitimate business (Gusinksy owed Gazprom money) does not explain why NTV management was fired and why its news reporting changed overnight. The whole 'Use an Energy Giant to Undermine Media Freedom' trick was used again with the only independent television broadcaster other than NTV, TV-6. As food for thought, I recently came across a statistic claiming that a surprising 30% of Russians believe that an independent media (meaning media not controlled by the government) was harmful. Is this what happens when you learn to live with censorship over the better part of a century? How do you make Russians understand the value of a free press, especially if we all expect Russia to evolve into a friendly and familiar Western-style democracy? get your war on   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

6.  Irony   by marduk_kur       at Mon 25 Nov 11:29pm score of 1.5 scholarly     Russia's failure was not Communism, it was Totalitarianism. Our success was not Laissez-Faire Capitalism, it was a reasonably Egalitarian Democracy. Too bad Russia is learning it's lesson at the same time that we are forgetting ours. Sad lad, he really couldn't handle starting from scratch on the very first level. But he died the death of a warrior.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

8.  Nice teacup we have here...nice storm, too.   by Violator       at Tue 26 Nov 1:01am score of 1     When more Russians get online and read the New York times or any Murdoch-owned media sewer outlet of the West, they will have all the free speech they could ever possibly want. Except, they will have swapped communist censors for capitalist censors who report what they feel will do the best for their shares and the politicians they are exchanging hand-jobs with. True, the government can't censor much media in the West, but the owners of the newspapers certainly can and often do. No press is 'free', except perhaps the internet. But who believes anything that they read on a livejournal? Nevertheless, in a wired up world, Russians will have access to a multitude of points of view, most of which are not controlled by their communist government. If Putin is really upholding free speech (finally) then it is hardly going to change the ultimate course of events. the same is true if this is just a ruse or a bit of wool over the eyes. Consistently modded down for being an asshole since 2003   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]