White House Concerned Over Russian Rights

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Thu, Oct. 30, 2003

White House Concerned Over Russian Rights
BARRY SCHWEID
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration expressed concern Thursday about human rights in Russia after the arrest and jailing of the head of the Russian oil giant Yukos last week.

"We are concerned about the rule of law," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

There was no direct criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose top lieutenants apparently were behind Saturday's arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, but there was concern about the impact on the fragile democracy in the former Communist state.

"This is something we followed closely," Boucher said. "We are concerned about the rule of law, about maintaining the basic freedom of Russians and the basic fairness of the Russian judicial system."
(snip/...)

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/7143538.htm

[Spazito]

1. ROFLMAO!

ROFLMAO again!

[J B]

2. Presumed innocent by reason of being rich.

No chance he actually broke the law, right?

[LifeDuringWartime]

3. hes in the oil bidness

he's gotta be a good guy! :puke:

[denverbill]

4. Hmm. He must have financial dealings with the BFEE.

Otherwise, why the hell would they care?

[metisnation]

19. transasian pipeline

this will interefere with there grandious plan of making a trans asiatic pipeline to fuel the industrial revelution in China. He must have been in on the plan.

[mbperrin]

5. The rule of WHAT??????!!!!!!!!

Dang, at one time or another, I do remember somethin' about a rule of law, but no, it's the rule of low dealings, ain't it?

[DeathvadeR]

6. Ya? The entire planet is concerned about the rights of Iragies!!!!!

Look how quick they are to step to the plate when one of their rich friends are in trouble.....

[htuttle]

7. They asked Khodorkovsky to come in for questioning

His staff said he couldn't make it, since he was busy, so they picked him up. He's getting investigated for tax fraud.

We should BE so lucky to ever see something like happen in this country to Ken Lay and his ilk...

I think that Bush is bent because Khodorkovsky was going to sell off a chunk of Yukos to Exxon-Mobile before he was picked up. I think that the Bush Crime Syndicate was very much involved with Khodorkovsky (remember Papa Bush's little trip to Russia recently?), and that's why Bush is trying to throw the US's weight around to influence the Russian court. Just another subversion of our foreign policy for his and his cronies gain.

The 'threat' BushCo thinks they are holding over the Russians is that if this goes 'bad', then Big US Money will leave Russia (ie., Bush will characterize it as a 'return to the past totalitarianism' if Khodorkovsky is convicted). However, I'm not sure that someone wouldn't just come right in to take their place, so I don't think it's much of a threat at this point.

[jono]

8. Translation:

"We are concerned about the rule of law insofar as they apply to Russian oil giant heads."

:eyes:


The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is following developments closely, Boucher said. "There are many who say this is a case of selective prosecution," he said, but all the facts were not yet available.


Right. Selective prosecution. We don't know anything about that here in the U.S. - just ask Martha Stewart and Ken Lay!

[lumpy]

9. Good grief , what business is it of the US State Dept.

Boucher is so concerned about the rule of law in Russia. Sick of this US administration mouthing off about other country's basic freedoms. Bushco just can't keep their noses out of other country's business. I am beginning to believe the theory that BUshco is out to rule the world. Reminiscent of Russia's past push to spread Communism around the world.

[ninkasi]

10. It's OUR rights

they're only too happy to suspend in their quest for "terraists". Incredible. This whole administration is nothing but parody anymore.

[qwertyMike]

11. Didn't Bush Sr. visit there?

Last few months?

[snippy]

12. But Whistle Ass has seen Pooty Poot's soul. What's the problem?

[Dover]

13. HEHEHE! HAHAHA! HOHOHO! Putin slammed Daddy Bush's

fingers in the car door. No stealing the keys for the U.S. I guess.
And definitely no free fuel.

Do they think Putin is as dumb as The Bush Stooges in the White House?

[Aidoneus]

14. Jeebus H. Flynt..

US Perle challenges Russia G8 chair
01:58:03 È.Ù
Moscow, Oct 30 - Senior Pentagon Advisor Richard Perle said russia "should be excluded" from the Group of Eight (G8) Industrial Nations for its arrest at gunpoint of its top oil baron, in an interview published Thursday in the business daily Kommersant.

"Not one of the G8 countries would allow itself to behave in such a way with one of its leading businessmen," the US defence department advisor said of the arrest last Saturday of the head of the Yukos oil giant Mikhail Khodorkovsky, warning that Russia was "heading in the wrong direction."
--snip--
http://www.iribnews.com/Full_en.asp?news_id=191398&n=27

The Russian government butchers tens of thousands of Chechens, US politicians defend it. Russian government gives a rich elite oil-man pressure (no deaths), they go ballistic. :eyes:
Now some want to have him run for President against Putin--
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2003/10/30/002.html

[Democat]

15. Rights? No. Oil Rights? Yes!

Anyone who believes anything the White House says at this point is very gullible.

[metisnation]

20. look for yourself

http://almanac.ods.org/kazakhstan/s04_01.html

[MasonJar]

16. Boy, if they aren't

Boy, if they aren't the pot calling the kettle black. The sheer nerve of this crew is beyond belief.

[gulliver]

17. But what about Putin's soul?

I thought Pooty-poot was such a great guy. Junior said so. What gives?

[Dover]

18. The Bushies are already planning the coup

I'll bet Putin and Venezuela's Chavez would have a lot to talk about.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. Yes, that is good

It's almost as good as They hate us for our freedoms.