Should We Be Worried About Russia?
Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB spy and political dissident, dies from an apparent case of radioactive poisoning
An award winning reporter, also a dissident, is shot to death in her Moscow apartment. There are no known suspects.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, promises President Bush he will try to restrain Iranian nuclear development. He takes no action and tries to block sanctions against the Iranian hard-liners.
The Russian government openly arranges sales of deadly submarines to Iran.
The Russian foreign ministry does little to control the Syrian government as it spreads its terror message in Lebanon and Gaza.
With these developments as a backdrop, a reporter has to ask the question: Is it time for us to include Russia in the Axis of Evil, or are we just buying time? The Russian government has drifted away from democracy, with Putin using strong arm tactics to stifle and arrest his opposition.
The problem with this return to strongman policy is that it breeds a foreign policy of recklessness and danger.
Another overseas note: Have you seen Citgo’s adds offering free heating oil to American homes? Citgo is owned and operated by Venezuela and its leftist President Hugo Chavez is playing the game again. There is little need for refined heating oil in sweltering Venezuela. That’s why it is easy to offer freebies to needy Americans. Chavez’s public relations gimmick is designed to soften his image as one of the world’s great haters of America.
Chavez is up for re-election next week. Polls show he is ahead, but if it gets too close, he will simply use his military to rig the election. Being King with full dictatorial powers has its rewards,
