Some news stories

It's been a while since I cited much from the news, which is far more important in the grand scheme of things than my petty life, so, here are some.

Back to the U.S.S.R.?

Spreading freedom is a Bush theme. But in Russia, guess who's defending democracy? The Communists

Back in the United States, George W. Bush was delivering thumping speeches to ecstatic crowds about how "the world is becoming more free" thanks to his administration's policies. But in central Moscow last week, on a narrow street opposite the general prosecutor's office, a handful of demonstrators took a different view of the status of freedom in Russia under Bush's close ally and friend Vladimir Putin. "Our society is now lurching towards a dictatorship," said one protester, Vladimir Ulas. "Putin is making a mockery of democracy." Who was this brave voice, defending principles that America holds dear? Ulas is first secretary of the Moscow city committee of the Communist Party.

Such is the ironic course of post-Soviet Russia these days. As President Putin continues to move his country away from democracy—putatively in an effort to stop future terrorist attacks—the Russian people's former oppressor, the Communist Party, is among the few voices still speaking out against his actions, if squeakily. Last week, in one of his boldest moves yet, Putin revived some of the cardinal structures of the failed Soviet Union. He announced that the Kremlin—not local voters—will start choosing governors by the end of the year. He also pledged to make changes to Russia's political system that will deny voters the power to directly choose representatives in Parliament.

Almost as noteworthy as Putin's power play was the fact that there was barely a peep of protest about it throughout Russia. Not even from the governors themselves. The tiny Moscow protest was the only known public demonstration—limited in size by a city order allowing only 20 demonstrators—and was largely ignored by Russia's increasingly restricted media. On TV and in newspapers, commentators talked bluntly about the need for a return to Soviet methods after a horrific series of terror attacks, especially the hostage takeover of a school in Beslan that left at least 338 children and adults dead. "This crisis presented a good opportunity," said Kremlin expert Olga Kryshtanovskaya. "The idea is to take some of the best methods of ruling a big country that the U.S.S.R. had to offer—a more authoritarian approach. And, at the same time, to have a market economy."

>> Full Article [Newsweek]

How Not to Win Muslim Allies

There are many in Europe who want to keep Turkey out of the EU because it is large, poor and, most important, because it is Muslim

Here's a quiz: over the past two years, which developing country has undertaken the most dramatic economic, political and social reforms in the world? Some hints: this country has deregulated its economy, simplified its tax code and brought its fiscal house in order, resulting in 8.2 percent growth this year and a 10 percent rise in productivity. It has passed nine packages of major reforms that have reduced the military's influence in government, enshrined political dissent and religious pluralism, passed strict laws against torture, abolished the death penalty and given substantial rights to a long-oppressed minority. The answer is Turkey. Even if it were not a Muslim country situated in the Middle East (sort of), its performance would be stunning. And yet, thanks to events last week, its long-sought quest to become a full member of the European Union may be thwarted.

The Turkish government's insistence on introducing a law making adultery a criminal offense might have derailed matters. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has angrily pointed out that the issue of adultery is not part of the criteria laid out by the EU. He's right technically, but foolish politically. The reality is that there are many in Europe who want to keep Turkey out of the union because it is large, poor and, most important, because it is Muslim. The adultery law gives them a highly public issue to symbolize their fears.

But even if the adultery law passes, so what? European hysteria about this is absurd. Many are claiming that this represents the dangers of Islam in Europe. Have Europeans forgotten their own history? Adultery is banned in the Ten Commandments and was a criminal offense in almost every European country until very recently. Ireland abolished such a law in 1981, France in 1975, Italy in 1969. In America, 23 states still have such laws on the books. Don't get me wrong: I am opposed to the Turkish law. But to judge a developing country like Turkey by the standards of postmodern Europe circa 2004 seems to miss the point. If Turkey were a fully modernized society, it wouldn't need EU membership. Besides, were Turkey to become an EU member, the adultery law would quickly be null and void since the European courts would rule against it.

>> Full Article [Newsweek]