26 NOV 07 / "Putin Imprisons Kasparov"

Russian president Vladimir Putin imprisoned former world chess champion Garry Kasparov on Saturday on charges of helping to organize the widespread political protests against the Kremlin that took place during the weekend. Beyond the fact that the national television stations are under state control, Putin's willingness to single out the famous and much-admired Kasparov is perhaps the most telling indication that democracy is in jeopardy in the former Soviet Union.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled in Russia on 2 DEC, but Putin said in a recent convention speech that he would be interested in serving as prime minister if his party wins a majority in the Duma and after term limits force him from the Russian presidency in May. It is clear that Putin wants to continue to exert his influence in the Kremlin even after he leaves the presidency.

Kasparov's 5-day prison sentence and aggressive tactics by Putin to crackdown on the demonstrations against his policies in numerous cities have been widely condemned by democratic leaders around the world. Opposition leader and presidential aspirant Boris Nemstov was arrested and detained on Sunday in St. Petersburg. The presidential election is scheduled for March.

What does this mean for the United States? At a time when Americans need Russians to help in the fight  against global Islamic terror, Putin has instead charted an anti-western course that is reminiscent of the Cold War nationalism of the last century. We certainly cannot afford to again have Russia as an adversary while trying to protect ourselves from terrorists using weapons of mass destruction against us.