The Next President Should Heed Cheney’s Warnings About Russia

The Sunday morning news shows -- on cable and broadcast television -- covered the bitter-sweet farewell between arguably the two most powerful leaders in the world: President George W. Bush and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

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While President Bush may have looked into Putin's eyes and seen his soul, I've had -- along with other pundits -- the opportunity to cover Russian mischief throughout the world, and one must be cautious about speculating whether or not Putin even possesses a soul. There is so much to write about the Putin's Russian government, that it's difficult to be pithy and comprehensive at the same time. However, let's just review a few news stories regarding our "friends" the Russians: In the run-up to the war in Iraq, the Russians not only assisted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein with weapons, military advisors and materials, but they also provided Hussein's military with the US-led coalition's invasion plan. It's believed they obtained the invasion plan from a "mole" in either Central Command (CentCom) or the Pentagon. While appearing to be allied with the US in stopping Iran's nuclear program and curtailing it's military buildup, the Russians have been selling the Iranians weapons systems, arms and other military equipment. Along with the Chinese and North Koreans, the Russians have been selling weapons systems and arms to Venezuela's madman neo-Marxist President Hugo Chavez. The Russian government has allowed racially motivated crimes to go unpunished and has even aided in violating the human rights of many Russian citizens. It's also banned non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, from working within Russian. At the close of 2006, the Russian's expressed their anger over Vice President Dick Cheney's accusation that President Vladimir Putin's government is actively restricting the freedom of its own people while using its energy resources as "blackmail" to inhibit democracy in other countries. Putin's spokesman responded angrily to Cheney, saying it isn't using energy (oil, natural gas) for political leverage and that the US should get used to Russia's more active role in geopolitics. At the time, the denizens of the US news media appeared to be quaking in their shoes. For instance, USA Today wrote, "Washington's strongest rebuke of Russia yet comes at a tense moment in US-Russia relations as the White House pushes for Kremlin cooperation on Iranian nuclear issues and many Russians say their country has returned to a Cold War footing." However, Cheney didn't back down and, in fact, he continues to voice his concerns over the Russian's Bear's insatiable appetite for political drama. Cheney has repeatedly said, "In Russia, opponents of reform are seeking to reverse the gains of the last decade." In many areas of civil society -- from religion and the news media to advocacy groups and political parties -- the government has unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of her people," he claimed during a press conference. The blunt VP pointed to Russia's difficult relations with three neighbors: Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Experts on Russian politics and society have noted that Moscow punishes gas customers, such as Georgia and Ukraine, which follow a democratic path, while subsidizing the energy supply to autocratic allies such as Belarus. The bad guys get the energy, the good guys get the shaft. "No legitimate interest is served when oil and gas become tools of intimidation or blackmail, either by supply manipulation or attempts to monopolize transportation," Mr. Cheney said. "And no one can justify actions that undermine the territorial integrity of a neighbor, or interfere with democratic movements." The VP's comments regarding territorial integrity were clearly aimed at Moscow's support for separatist movements in Georgia and Moldova. Moscow's reaction was quick and bitter. "We cannot accept some statements today by Mr. Cheney," Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said last night. Russia has a right to defend its own interests, Mr. Peskov told USA Today, "The energy sources that Russia possesses must be used for our own people, not to help development of democracies in neighboring countries." The West also confuses the actions of Russian companies with Moscow's policy, the Kremlin spokesman added. The argument between the two former Cold War adversaries was ostensibly about Russia's energy policy and the democratization of former Soviet states, but tensions have been rising between the two countries on many other fronts in recent months, including the revelation the Russia sold Iran a state-of-the-art defense system designed to counter aircraft or helicopter attacks. The Russians are also believed to have sold Iran advanced missile technology. Many Americans wondered why the United States appeared so reluctant to openly criticize Russia as the US tries to encourage support at the UN for action against Iran's nuclear program. Russia refuses, however, to turn against one of its major trading partner, especially in the lucrative business of weapons sales to Iran. At the time, liberal-left lawmakers in Washington were fearful that the US-Russian flap would have serious repercussions. Their response to Cheney's comments was similar to that which President Ronald Reagan received when he called the Soviet Union "The Evil Empire." How can the US call the Russians "evil?" In fact, reading The Nation's column on Cheney is proof the left believes the US is evil -- that is Bush who is evil and Cheney who is evil -- not Russia. Oh, how they miss the good old days of Stalin and his ilk, especially the New York Times which became Stalin's and the Soviet Union's biggest cheerleader in the United States.