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Time For Putin
Time Magazine has named Russia's President Vladimir Putin as its "Person of the Year" for 2007.
It's a controversial choice: Even Time's managing editor Richard Stengel admits that Putin "is not a good guy." But it's beyond doubt that the combative Russian leader, set to step down as President in 2008, has done "extraordinary things."
"He's a new tsar of Russia and he's dangerous in the sense that he doesn't care about civil liberties; he doesn't care about free speech; he cares about stability. But stability is what Russia needed and that's why Russians adore him," Stengel added.
The western version of Moscow's reaction to this announcement is bizarre, to say the least.
The Guardian reports that Putin's men called a news conference, hastily organised, to celebrate the announcement: "Under Putin's leadership Russia re-emerged as a constructive and reliable partner in shaping international relations," said Putin's communications spokesman.
"The Kremlin yesterday made little effort to hide its rapture at the award, which it will feel gives Putin the one thing he craves above all - international respectability", the Guardian reports.
Really? Does the leader of Russia really need validation from an American newspaper? Does Russia see Time as an arbiter of what is respectable and what isn't? It is hardly as if Mr Putin has shown any respect for journalists and newspapers in his own country: Why should Time be so important?
And it's hardly an outstanding honour: Both Hitler and Stalin have been named Men of the Year (along with President Nixon, Ayatullah Khomeini and a handful of Russian leaders like Yuri Andropov and Mikhail Gorbachev).
Besides, if Putin really wanted "international respectability", there are better ways of getting it than joining a list of dubious characters put together to give Time Magazine some cross-media promotion on CNN. He could call an end to the Kremlin's suppression of Russia's press, liberal parties and opposition leaders: With his popularity, he doesn't need to bully internal rivals. He could cancel belligerent bomber flights over the Arctic. He could enter international talks on "ownership" of the oil and gas fields under the icecap, rather than promoting corny stunts by land-grabbing nationalist scientists. He could stop playing the bad guy and relieve pressure on the Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia, all of whom have been subject to Moscow's ire in recent months. And he could stop using Russia's energy might to threaten its neighbours (and customers).
From EURSOC Three: A report on Vladmir Putin's nominated successor:
Russia has received an early Christmas present. Its name is Dmitri Medvedev. He will be the new president of Russia. He was hand-picked by his master, Vladimir Putin. His election is merely a formality.
Many Kremlin-watchers thought Putin would nominate one of his ex-KGB cronies. But Vlad is too clever for that. He chose someone who would appeal, on the surface, as acceptable for Western Europe and North America.
Dmitri Medvedev, 42, represents a so-called 'New Russia'. His background is academic and jurisprudence.
However, Tsar Putin will keep a watchful eye on his protege and will act the role of an elder statesman and father-figure. In the nominal position of prime minister.
Vladimir Putin announced recently in a television statement: "I have known him for more than 17 years ... I completely and fully support his candidacy".
Mr Medvedev will take the hot seat. But some political commentators in Moscow say that he is only keeping the seat warm for a return to power for the Tsar.
