April 2,2008:
The increasing use of police raids against government officials is
interpreted as an effort to crack down on corruption. But some of these "clean
up" operations appear to have more to do with intimidation than clean
government. A common tactic is to accuse foreign businessmen with espionage, in
order to get a better deal for Russian businesses. Or, in the case of a deal
between Russians, the intimidation is to encourage a win for the pro-government
player. The intimidation is part of a policy that has the government talking
democracy and practicing police state. Public opinion is paid attention to, but
much effort is also made to control what people think. Newly elected president Dmitry
Medvedev recognizes the problem, and says he wants to persuade Russians to
accept rule of law, rather than rule by fear and intimidation. This is part of
a struggle to make some fundamental changes in Russian culture. Many Russians
recognize that Russia cannot really compete with the industrialized nations
unless there is an environment that tolerates entrepreneurs and innovation. For
centuries, Russians were conditioned to look over their shoulder for approval.
This included creative and scientific issues. Eastern Europe and China were not
ruled by the communists as long as Russia, and retained more of their tradition
of working without being smothered by tyrants and a police state. China is
still a police state, but has found a way to let the entrepreneurs do their
thing. Russians are jealous, and are trying to figure out how they can do that.
Russia
remains hostile to neighbors (like Georgia and Ukraine) joining NATO, and to an
American anti-missile system in Eastern Europe (for protection against Iranian
ballistic missiles.) The U.S. is trying to placate Russia by discouraging
Georgia and Ukraine from joining, and offering to keep the anti-missile system
turned off unless Iran gets close to activating missiles that could reach
Europe. Despite the media playing up differences between the U.S. and Russia,
diplomats from the two nations have been in constant touch on several key
issues. This includes the 1991 START-1 nuclear disarmament treaty. Negotiations
are under way to work out a new version of START-1, after the current one
expires in 2012. The diplomats are also trying to dissuade Russia from getting
involved in Balkans politics (where Russia supports Serb ownership of Kosovo,
where the majority Albanians recently declared it an independent nation.)