Garry Kasparov vs Vladamir Putin

[Wonk]

(snip)

Garry Kasparov, the world's number one chessplayer, calls for the West to put political expediency aside and start condemning the outrageously undemocratic behaviour of Vladimir Putin.

(snip)

When the Ukrainian administration made moves to alter the constitution to maintain its grip on power it was swiftly and severely rebuked by the EU. The current assault on democratic foundations in Russia are far more severe and will result in drastic long-term consequences for the region and the world. If allowed to continue they will also destroy the little remaining credibility the West has in the realm of standing up for democracy abroad.

A suggestion to the West, then. If you don't condemn what is going on in Russia just stay away. If you give tacit approval to Mr Putin's actions by "expressing concern" and doing nothing you may as well present him with open congratulations for rigging elections, imprisoning detractors, and taking control of the media.

more...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/14/wput14.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/03/14/ixportal.html


CBC recently did an interview with Kasparov about this as well.
2.5 M mp3
33 M mp3

[bemildred]

1. Chess players in general are not good at political theory.

Witness Alekhine, just as an example, or Bobby Fischer.
I have mixed feelings about Pooty-Poot, he has clearly
got himself on the shitlist for thwarting US/neo-con
ambitions. It's not like he's a nice guy, he's been a
real dick in Chechnya. But he appears to me to be an
old fashioned Russian nationalist, not say Hitler or
Pol Pot, and I think some of the "undemocratic" stuff is
political cant, I suspect that most Russians are behind
him, and it's hard to see how that is undemocratic. It's
not at all clear what his role in history will be, but
this sort of namecalling seems a bit overdone, at least
for now.

I would be interested in your views.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Putin is a dangerous man

He is decidedly a tyrant with no democratic values. He has intmidated his opposition into submission. That is how he got to run virtually unopposed for prsident. The Gurdian has judged him to be the most powerful Russian leader since Stalin.

I'm afraid I agree with Kasparov on this one. In the past, Kasparov has shown some better judgment that some of the others you name. For example, Kaspoarov denounced the anti-Gorbachev coup of 1991 and welcomed the fall of Communism.

While you're naming chess players and their political judgment, please don't forget to include Dr. Max Euwe ot the Netherlands, who briefly reigned as world champion (1935-37). Dr. Euwe, residing in a Nazi occupied country, had the courage to refuse to play in Nazi organized tournaments.

[bemildred]

3. Just pointing out that being good at chess means nothing, politically.

It doesn't mean you are a fool either, it means nothing.
I didn't drag chess into it. I merely pointed out it is a bogus issue.
Pooty-Poot is neither better nor worse than our own "leaders".
He merely has a different agenda. He seems to be realistic, and
that is better than the sort of looney ideologues that we have
running things. That doesn't mean it's great, just that he's
likely to be less destructive.

[NYC]

4. Thank you for the MP3 link.

Well worth listening to. Thanks for providing it. :hi: