Putin Accuses U.S. of Meddling in Russian Politics

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright December 8, 2011
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                When street protests broke out in Moscow Dec. 7 over Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s decision to run for president next year, the Russian Federation’s response was predictable, blaming it on American meddling in Russian affairs.  Putin wants the Russian public to believe that their protests over another 12-year term were caused by “mercenary” U.S. dissidents trying to sabotage Russian elections.  Putin’s decision to seek another 6-year term consolidates his Politburo-like control over the Russian government.  “She set the tone for some opposition activists, gave them a signal, they heard this signal, and started active work,” Putin told supporters, preparing for March elections to return to the presidency.  Blaming the U.S. serves as a convenient excuse to justify returning to power, something frowned upon by Western powers, especially the U.S.

            Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently blasted the Obama administration for going ahead with missile defense in Poland in the Czech Republic.  Obama gave the green light to Boeing Defense Systems, prompting Medvedev to threaten retaliatory strikes against U.S. missile sites.  Whatever groundswell of opposition to Putin’s third term as president, he wants to blame unrest on the U.S.  “Pouring foreign money into electoral processes is particularly unacceptable,” said Putin, blaming Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for Moscow street protests.  “Hundreds of millions are being invested in this work.  We must work out forms of protection of our sovereignty, defense against interference from outside.”  Back in 2003, prior to his reelection bid, Putin made sure that his rich rival, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once head of Russia’s Yukos Oil monopoly, was arrested for corruption.

            When Putin flexed his muscles in 2003, Khordovsky, Russia’s richest man and potential rival, was charged, arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to solitary confinement in Siberia where he’s still holed up.  Locking up Khordokovsky, his main rival, Putin showed ruthless KGB side.  Khordokovsky found out the hard way what it’s like to deal with Putin’s Soviet-era tactics.  Had he played his cards differently, he wouldn’t be in solitary confinement eating fish soup.  Putin suffered a minor setback Dec. 4 when his party lost seats in the Russian Duma or lower house of parliament.  Despite the loss of votes, Putin remains the overwhelming favorite to win March’s presidential elections, potentially keeping the 59-year-old Prime Minister, former KGB agent and President in office until 2024.  Unlike Medvedev, Putin knows how to threaten and play hardball with the West.

            About 5,000 protesters took to the streets in Moscow to oppose Putin’s new attempt to take over Russia.  They’ve seen his strong-arm tactics before, knowing that Putin doesn’t tolerate dissent or threats to his authority.  “The most important thing today is to calm one’s nerves and allow the new parliament to star work,” sad Medvedev in Prague with talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus.  Medvedev is trying to get Klaus to void its agreement with the U.S. to install antiballistic radar in the Czech Republic.  Medvdev’s recent warning about installing a Star Wars missile defense system goes to the heart of U.S. national security.  Medvedev warned the U.S. Nov. 23 to remove  antiballistic missile defense radar in the Czech Republic and Poland or face almost certain attack by the Russian Federation.   Obama must see the linkage between antimissile defense and Russian bilateral relations.

              Recent wayward U.S. predator drone attacks in Pakistan killing 24 military shows the limits to preemptive military action.  Foreign countries see the U.S. as the aggressor, staking out an aggressive foreign policy designed to protect U.S. citizens.  If the U.S. gets into another world war, it’s going to be perceived as the aggressor, not a helpless victim to forces beyond U.S. control.  Already committing to war against Iran, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have already committed to attack Iran to prevent the regime from getting nuclear weapons.  Meanwhile, there’s no evidence that even if Iran had an A-bomb, they’d turn it over to terrorists or drop it on Israel. Iran knows the meaning of Mutual Assured Destruction and wouldn’t risk the ayatollah’s power by nuking Israel or any other country.

            President Obama needs to take a refresher course in linkage, where improved bilateral relations increases the chances of negotiating arms control agreements and keeping the peace.  Barack’s “reset” with Russian starting in 2009 was a step in the right direction but isn’t compatible with pushing ahead installing Star Wars missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic.  “Nobody will acknowledge that something did not go right and that the political situation is changing, and not in favor of the authorities.  And so the easiest thing is to explain it as meddling by external forces,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia’s Foreign Affairs Journal.  With Putin returning to power next year and before U.S.-Russian relations hit rock bottom, Obama needs to apply some common sense, pay attention to linkage and reverse his recent decision to go ahead with missile defense in Eastern Europe.   

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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