The Diplomanglator scolds Putin for derailing democracy

President Bush risked further stoking a testy dispute with Russia over a new U.S. missile defense system on Tuesday, saying Moscow has "derailed" once-promising democratic reforms.

In a speech celebrating democracy's progress around the globe — and calling out places where its reach is either incomplete or lacking — Bush said that free societies emerge "at different speeds in different places" and have to reflect local customs. But he said certain values are universal to all democracies, and rapped several countries for not embracing them.

"In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development," Bush said, speaking at a conference of current and former dissidents.

[snip]

With the Iraq war raging and that country far from a stable democracy, critics say there is widespread skepticism about Bush's "freedom agenda" — the byproduct of his promise to advance democracy in every corner of the globe.

But Bush claimed the mantle of democratic warrior.

"I pledged America to the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world," he said. "Some have said that qualifies me as a dissident president. If standing for liberty in the world makes me a dissident, then I'll wear the title with pride."

Earlier, Bush defended the plans for the missile shield here against fierce opposition by the local population as well as Russia. Czech leaders chimed in to back him up, as did Poland's prime minister from afar.

So now he's the Dissident president? Does he know what that word means?

dissident:

adjective 1. characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards 2. disagreeing, especially with a majority

noun 1. a person who dissents from some established policy.

Hmmm. Maybe he does....




C'mon Vlad! Yah get somebody's kid to go all terrorist on yer country, THEN yah take away Habeas Corpus, the right to vote, the freedom from religion, the right to privacy, the right to travel abroad. Yah get to gut the treasury for yer friends, spy on yer enemies, and make'm disappear, ignore the rule of law and set up a thousand year rule!

All the while talk about how you're protecting freedoms and shit. Yah useda be mah bestest bud, Vlad! It'll be fun!