This is why I have no money invested in Russia. Even if there's enough accounting transparency that you can tell you made a profit, in the kleptocracy of Vladimir Putin you can't cash out. Hu Jintao? Barely better, if at all.
Duhbya flattered Putin - no judgement.
The reason trial by jury is so important is not to get the facts right in an ordinary criminal trial. We've all seen cases where it failed to do that, cough OJ cough. Juries restrain the power of the king - or in this case the new czar - to imprison whoever he doesn't like.
Of course, of course, that's why Vladimir Putin's stand-in Dmitry Medvedev has ended it for national security trials. Hey, if America can have a small gulag without habeas corpus, why shouldn't Russia fire up its secret police again?
I'm actually glad David Addington and John Yoo took their surly, unaccountable Bushism before Congress. Maybe if they piss off enough Representatives and Senators, those two war criminals among others will wind up hog-tied on a slow boat to the Hague.
There is very little in intent that distinguishes the Bushists from Vladimir Putin (or even Robert Mugabe). Sadly, there is very little in effectiveness that distinguishes our Congress from the Duma or whatever rubberstamp legislature Mugabe is bullying at the moment.
I am dying to hear these words, "Sergeant-at-Arms, take these men into custody."
Remember those heady days when Russia was a fledgling democracy trying to build institutions of democratic succession? Well, the new tsar has put an end to that Western nonsense.
As for who lost Russia back to authoritarianism, there's plenty of blame to go around. Most of it belongs with Russians, of course, but a couple of U.S. Presidents failed to engage strongly, and there's then-Harvard economist Jeffrey Sachs, whose plan to reform the post-Soviet economy was an abject failure.
Of course, I'll always remember Duhbya's insight-free assessment of Vladimir Putin's (non-existent) soul. Not that Bill Clinton did much better.
Vladimir Putin has done what Karl Rove wanted to do - create a permanent majority. Condi Rice has been expressing the Bushists' dismay, but they're really only jealous.
