I found an interesting quote in an article by Nicholas D. Kristof of the NYT. It read, "Still, a fascist Russia is a much better thing than a Communist Russia." There has been quite a reaction to it and I do mean an over-reaction too. I don't agree with Kristof in his comments at all, but he does make an interesting point. Here is part of the comment he made that many of us right-wing scumbags are leaving out as we comment on this quote, "Communism was a failed economic system, while Franco's Spain, Pinochet's Chile and the others generated solid economic growth, a middle class and international contacts - ultimately laying the groundwork for democracy. Eventually we'll see pro-democracy demonstrations in Moscow like those in Kiev."

 

Most of the time Socialism is a one-way street that leads to Communism. Those who hold power rarely give it up willingly. The passing of power usually happens because the tyrant is staring down the business end of a rifle. What Pinochet did was something that will not probably happen again for a long time. He had a vision that is, or was, quite different from Putin's, whose vision I discussed last week as part of a long-range plan.

 

Kristof does make a few good points however. As he says, if the people of the Ukraine can stand up to Putin so can we. Bush has been doing that, and that is why Putin is so mad at him. Putin made a lot of comments about the year 2000 election in the United States, and unfortunately for Putin, Bush remembers and has made accurate comments regarding Putin's Russia. As they used to say, and probably are once again saying in Russia, "There is no Tas in Pravda and no Pravda in Tas." Or if you prefer "There is no Truth in Proof and no Proof in Truth." By the way a good indicator as to how reliable any source of information might be would be in the name. Truth and Proof are excellent examples of this.

 

Georgia managed to get rid of Shevardnadze and that is what the Ukraine is trying to do with the pro-Russian leader that supposedly won the Ukrainian election. Part of what got Shevardnadze in trouble was his reaction to Russia regarding Cechnya. Russia wanted to enter Georgia to seek out the Chechen rebels who were operating in the region and seeking safety in Georgia. Georgia's leader did the Russian thing and got caught in his web of deceit. He told the Russians to stay of Georgia, but then he backed his troops up about twenty miles so that the Russians wouldn't get caught when they came in looking for the Chechens.

 

Unfortunately for Shevardnadze he got caught out in a lie. He ain't the boss no mo'. Now since we're talking about Chechnya, here's one the media didn't want to go into when it was happening and they will probably always be silent on it. If you're trying to win a war against a bunch of terrorists (or freedom fighters depending on which side you're on) you are going to put your troops in there and once they're familiar with the enemies tactics you're going to let them stay and win. That isn't what they did however. The Russians were rotating troops through that region on an incredibly short cycle of just a few months. Why? Because they needed to have some battle-hardened troops.

 

Fortunately as of this point they haven't been put into play and I suspect most of them are now out of their military.  But what were they planning that never came into fruition? Fascism is the state running everything with the people owning it, but having no say in its use. Communism is the state owning everything and the people having no say in its use. In both cases the state determines everything. Like I said in the title, the boot heel tastes the same. I find it hard to make the determination Kristof makes and I couldn't agree with him less, except from the viewpoint that we need to continue to stand up to Putin.  I would also like to see us yank MFN status from the Chinese since they are no different. Particularly since I know what they are planning. The Communists were well known for saying they would hang the Capitalist bastards with the ropes we sold them. When that is to occur nobody knows but I suggest you all brace yourselves.

Judge Roy Bean used to promise a fair trial before the hanging and so I guess I have to look to that for a good closing quote that was probably heard a lot in his cells. "For now...No noose is good noose."