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Main
Date: 04 Dec 2007 06:01:27
From: [email protected]
Subject: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
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VOICE OF DISSENT
Our Struggle Against Tyranny
I was treated reasonably well in jail this past week. But I didn't
dare eat the food.
BY GARRY KASPAROV
Sunday, December 2, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST
For years the governments of the U.S. and Europe have tried to accept
Vladimir Putin's Russia as an equal. Western diplomats now acknowledge
that there are differences between Russia and the West, but say these
differences are minor, and--in the words of one European Union
official--within an "acceptable range." For me and for a dozen of my
associates last week, that "acceptable range" was 120 square feet.
That's the size of the jail cell I occupied for five days as
punishment for "disobeying the orders of a police officer" at an
opposition rally in Moscow last Saturday. That's the charge a Moscow
district court added after the fact, a charge not mentioned in the
handwritten testimony of the arresting officers.
This was the least conspicuous of the many curious aspects of my
arrest and trial. After our rally of several thousand people, we
attempted to meet up with another group led by well-known human rights
leader Lev Ponoev. From there we intended to deliver a petition of
protest to the office of the Central Election Committee. The police
had blocked the underground pedestrian passageways, so we had to cross
the broad street instead and were soon blocked by more police. When
they moved in close, I spoke with commanding officer Maj. Gen.
Vyacheslav Kozlov, whom I had met previously. He warned us to turn
back, saying we would not be allowed to approach the CEC offices. I
offered to send a small delegation of 20 people to present the
petition. He again told us to turn back, which we did. Of course it is
inaccurate to say that the police commander was the one in command.
KGB officers in plain clothes were clearly in charge even at the
police station, and the arrest itself was as choreographed as the
trial to come. When the special security forces known as OMON pushed
in past everyone else to arrest me, we could all hear "make sure you
get Kasparov" on their walkie-talkies.
From the moment of our detention, we were not allowed to see our
lawyers, even when charged at the police station. Three hours into the
trial, the judge said it would be adjourned to the following day. But
the judge then left the bench and returned to say that we had misheard
her, and that my trial would go forward. No doubt another example of
what we call "telephone justice."
As in the street and at the police station, the KGB and the OMON
forces were in control. The defense was not allowed to call any
witnesses or to present any materials, such as the videos and photos
journalists had taken of the ch and the arrests. After the show
trial was over, I was taken to the police jail at Petrovka 38 in
Moscow, and here the procedural violations continued. Not with regard
to my treatment, which was respectful and as hospitable as a small box
with metal furnishings and a hole in the floor for a toilet can be. I
wasn't allowed a phone call and all visitors were refused access. Even
my lawyer Olga Mikhailova and Duma member Vladimir Ryzhkov were
forbidden to visit me, despite having the legal right to do so. My
world chess champion predecessor, Anatoly Karpov, for years my great
rival, generously attempted to pay me a visit but was also turned
away. My other concern was food, since it was out of the question to
consume anything provided by the staff. (Nor do I fly Aeroflot.
"Paranoia" long ago became an obsolete concept among those in
opposition to the Putin regime.)
On Sunday, thanks to growing external pressure, they allowed me to
receive food packages from home. In a fitting conclusion, even my
release was handled illegally. Instead of letting me out at the jail
into the crowd of media and supporters, many of whom had themselves
been arrested and harassed while picketing, I was secretly taken to
the police station where I was first charged. From there I was taken
in a colonel's automobile all the way to my home. This may sound like
good service, but it was obvious the authorities wanted to avoid the
festive scene that would have occurred outside the jail. When I was
arrested last April and fined $40, some poked fun at the trivial
amount. And five days in a Moscow jail is not the worst fate that can
be imagined. Some commentators even suspected I wanted to provoke my
own arrest for publicity, a chess player's far-sighted strategy. First
off, the penalty is not the point; the principle is. Are we to have
the rule of law in Russia or not? Second, I have no intention of
becoming a tyr, or in leading an opposition movement from prison. I
had no illusions and now I can confirm it is not a pleasant place to
be.
And this is not chess, with its cold-blooded calculations. This is
about honor and morality. I cannot ask people to protest in the
streets if I am not there with them. At the rally on Saturday, I said
our slogan must be "We must overcome our fear," and I am obliged to
stand by these words. It is also essential to point out that these
arrests are only the tip of the iceberg. Such things are taking place
all over Russia on a daily basis. Opposition activists--or just those
who happen to be in the way of the administration--are harassed and
arrested on false charges of drug possession, extremism, or the latest
trend, for owning illegal software. There is little doubt today's
parliamentary elections will be as fixed as my trial. The presidential
elections on ch 2 will be a different sort of performance, more
improvised, since even now Mr. Putin and his gang are not sure how to
resolve their dilemma. The loss of power could mean the loss of
fortune and freedom. Outright dictatorship would endanger their
lucrative ties with the West. The campaign rhetoric of Mr. Putin and
his supporters is genuinely frightening.
Here we have an allegedly popular president who dominates the media,
the parliament and the judiciary. He and his closest allies are in
total control of the nation's wealth. And yet his recent speeches are
hysterical rants about "enemies within" and "foreign antagonists"
trying to weaken Russia--language characteristic of totalitarian
states. So far this campaign has been largely ineffective, at least in
my case. During my five days in jail I had the chance to speak to many
of the ordinary consumers of Kremlin propaganda. They were generally
sympathetic, and showed no signs of believing the many lies the
Kremlin and the youth groups it sponsors have spread about the
opposition. For them I was still the Soviet chess champion and the
idea that I was an "American agent" sounded as ludicrous as it is.
So why is Mr. Putin so scared if things are going so well? He is a
rational and pragmatic person, not prone to melodrama. He knows the
numbers, so why the heavy and heavy-handed campaigning if he knows he
and United Russia are going to win? The answer is that he is very
aware of how brittle his power structure has become. Instead of
sounding like a Tsar, high above the crowd, he's beginning to sound
like just another nervous autocrat. As George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The
most anxious man in a prison is the governor."
So demagoguery it is and demagoguery it will be. A violent pro-Putin
youth group, Nashi, has already released a poster celebrating Mr.
Putin's "crushing victory" on December 2. It also warns against the
"enemies of the people of Russia," myself included, attempting to
disqualify the results. These terms jibe nicely with Mr. Putin's own
rhetoric of threats and fear. The ground is being prepared for greater
oppression. The Other Russia will continue our activities because,
simply, some things are worth fighting for and will not come without
being fought for. All of the "minor differences" between Mr. Putin's
Russia and the nations of the free world add up to one very large
difference: that between democracy and tyranny.
Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
Journal.
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Date: 06 Dec 2007 19:02:09
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
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OUR BOTSTER
Greg Kennedy does not wish to sign himself as
Greg Kennedy largely because of past ... well, he
reappeared here a couple of years back under a new
monicker "nomorechess." He had likely tried to read
some books in the interim -- though like most would-be
autodidacts he could not organize an efficient program.
He began well enough for a half dozen or so postings.
Then came the babbling, the bile, and the constant
stream of errors. GM Larry Evans was the first to say,
"That's good old Kennedy right enough."
And so he was.
We offered Greg several chances to reappear here
under his old name, but he had already done the dirty
on himself. And, too, he sometimes forgets about
trying not to be our Greg, writing in effect under his
true identity.
Besides the prattling and the tell-tale
mistakes, Greg could not stanch his hatred of his
betters. We have read the spite he peddles about
Bobby and Garry Kasparov. He seethes. And true
enough, Greg believes that had he grown up near the
shall or Manhattan chess clubs, he coulda been a
coulda, coulda, coulda. Another hate is that factory
where he works, of which he has spoken in the past.
He hates Indiana. Above all else, to be sure, he also
hates himself. Hence the name help bot even when most
readers on this forum already know his real identity.
Yours, Larry Parr
[email protected] wrote:
> A COWARD AND A LIAR
>
> <Mr. Helpless Bot added the word "loaded" to the orignal line, which
> actually was written "Instead of answering the question truthfully".
> This type of dishonesty is
> typical of cowards.> -- Mike Petersen
>
> Mike,
>
> We all know about dingbats like help bot (aka Greg Kennedy) who failed
> at mastering chess and enviy their betters -- an invincible
> combination of malice and ignorance.
>
> My advice is just to sit back and watch him continue to shoot off his
> mouth, as I have enjoyed doing for years.
>
>
>
> Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod) wrote:
> > On Dec 5, 1:21 am, help bot <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > On Dec 4, 9:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
> > > > world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
> > > > Journal.
> > >
> > > A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
> > > December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
> > > grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
> > > apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
> > > Polgar -- as caught on videotape. Putin-bashing and
> > > Chavez-bashing are all the rage in the media these
> > > days, along with China-bashing, but if there is to be
> > > any hint of believability in such articles, they will need
> > > to find a more credible proponent of "democracy" than
> > > Gary Kasparov.
> > >
> > > -- help bot
> >
> > You are pathetic
> > -- no class, no imagination, no sensitivity, no compassion, no brain.
> >
> > Wlod
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Date: 06 Dec 2007 13:27:18
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
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A COWARD AND A LIAR
<Mr. Helpless Bot added the word "loaded" to the orignal line, which
actually was written "Instead of answering the question truthfully".
This type of dishonesty is
typical of cowards. > -- Mike Petersen
Mike,
We all know about dingbats like help bot (aka Greg Kennedy) who failed
at mastering chess and enviy their betters -- an invincible
combination of malice and ignorance.
My advice is just to sit back and watch him continue to shoot off his
mouth, as I have enjoyed doing for years.
Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod) wrote:
> On Dec 5, 1:21 am, help bot <[email protected]> wrote:
> > On Dec 4, 9:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > > Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
> > > world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
> > > Journal.
> >
> > A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
> > December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
> > grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
> > apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
> > Polgar -- as caught on videotape. Putin-bashing and
> > Chavez-bashing are all the rage in the media these
> > days, along with China-bashing, but if there is to be
> > any hint of believability in such articles, they will need
> > to find a more credible proponent of "democracy" than
> > Gary Kasparov.
> >
> > -- help bot
>
> You are pathetic
> -- no class, no imagination, no sensitivity, no compassion, no brain.
>
> Wlod
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Date: 06 Dec 2007 05:11:05
From: Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 5, 1:21 am, help bot <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Dec 4, 9:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
> > world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
> > Journal.
>
> A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
> December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
> grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
> apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
> Polgar -- as caught on videotape. Putin-bashing and
> Chavez-bashing are all the rage in the media these
> days, along with China-bashing, but if there is to be
> any hint of believability in such articles, they will need
> to find a more credible proponent of "democracy" than
> Gary Kasparov.
>
> -- help bot
You are pathetic
-- no class, no imagination, no sensitivity, no compassion, no brain.
Wlod
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Date: 06 Dec 2007 03:39:32
From:
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 6, 4:47 am, help bot <[email protected] > wrote:
>
> > Instead of answering the loaded question truthfully,
>
Everyone, please note the above "quote". Mr. Helpless Bot added the
word "loaded" to the orignal line, which actually was written "Instead
of answering the question truthfully". This type of dishonesty is
typical of cowards. He lists the rest of my quote accurately in the
feeble hope that you won't notice the lie he perpetrates. I wonder
how many other lies he's spreading?
So, go ahead, Helpless, call me some more names. Spew more of your
bullshit. It won't make any difference. You're like the cockroach:
when the light turns on, you scurry back into the darkness. You will
never be more than a nameless, cowardly, lying schmuck.
How sad.
- Mike Petersen
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Date: 06 Dec 2007 01:47:22
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 5, 9:03 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> > > Why are you afraid of using your real name?
>
> > Perhaps a better question might be: why are you
> > concerned with my "real" name? In the past, the
> > only people who have shown the slightest concern
> > for names here are the ad hominists, who "need"
> > personal information with which to "personalize"
> > their ad hom. attacks.
>
> > Rather than mindlessly assuming a motive of
> > fear, think of how much fun it must be to keep
> > the poor ad hominists groping in the dark. :>D
> Nice try, schmuck.
Kiss this, fart breath!
> You sound just like a politician.
Mike Huckabee, I presume. (I warned them to
watch out for that guy, but they wouldn't listen.)
> Instead of answering the loaded question truthfully,
> you spin and spin, rewording the question to meet your own
> sophistry.
You have it back-asswards, moron. The Sophists
were the type to ad hominize, like you do. The tell-
tale sign is the *loading of questions*, the mindless
assumptions regarding the motives of others, and
of course, sheer stupidity. LOL
> I am not afraid to sign my own name.
Wow. That's very impressive, kid.
> Unlike you, I have nothing to be ashamed of.
So you're blaming your problem on others?
> Don't bother trying to spin another piece of bullshit. No one will be
> listening.
Bye bye kid. Tell Skip we miss him.
-- help bot
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 18:03:18
From:
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 5, 2:14 pm, help bot <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Dec 5, 12:14 pm, [email protected] wrote:
>
> > Mr. Bot...
>
> > Why are you afraid of using your real name?
>
> Perhaps a better question might be: why are you
> concerned with my "real" name? In the past, the
> only people who have shown the slightest concern
> for names here are the ad hominists, who "need"
> personal information with which to "personalize"
> their ad hom. attacks.
>
> Rather than mindlessly assuming a motive of
> fear, think of how much fun it must be to keep
> the poor ad hominists groping in the dark. :>D
>
> -- help bot
Nice try, schmuck.
You sound just like a politician. Instead of answering the question
truthfully, you spin and spin, rewording the question to meet your own
sophistry.
I am not afraid to sign my own name. Unlike you, I have nothing to be
ashamed of.
Don't bother trying to spin another piece of bullshit. No one will be
listening.
- Mike Petersen
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 11:14:06
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 5, 12:14 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> Mr. Bot...
>
> Why are you afraid of using your real name?
Perhaps a better question might be: why are you
concerned with my "real" name? In the past, the
only people who have shown the slightest concern
for names here are the ad hominists, who "need"
personal information with which to "personalize"
their ad hom. attacks.
Rather than mindlessly assuming a motive of
fear, think of how much fun it must be to keep
the poor ad hominists groping in the dark. : >D
-- help bot
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 16:07:04
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
"help bot" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Dec 5, 12:14 pm, [email protected] wrote:
>
>> Mr. Bot...
>>
>> Why are you afraid of using your real name?
>
> Perhaps a better question might be: why are you
> concerned with my "real" name? In the past, the
> only people who have shown the slightest concern
> for names here are the ad hominists, who "need"
> personal information with which to "personalize"
> their ad hom. attacks.
So tell us why, do not protest of others. It is true, these days, that
employers will audit you, and this is an inhibition to candid comment in our
time, except to we the self-employeed. I do not envy anyone in another
situation.
Still, and yet, why persecute others, if this is your own case? Should they
be so different than you?
> Rather than mindlessly assuming a motive of
> fear, think of how much fun it must be to keep
> the poor ad hominists groping in the dark. :>D
A shadenfreude observation, for sure. Coward, some would say, I would! How
much fun is it in the dark?
Dammit, you are an American and are content with this? You sound like some
samizdat desperado from the SU.
Phil Innes
>
> -- help bot
>
>
>
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 09:14:25
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
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LOVIN' IT!
<Perhaps a much better work was GK's original "Fighting Chess" --
written before the man's ego became quite
so bloated, before he started his long career as liar and cheat
extraordinaire.< -- help bot
Watching a man who is afraid to sign his own name vent his spleen
against his betters is an endless source of amusement.
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 09:14:22
From:
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
Mr. Bot...
Why are you afraid of using your real name?
- Mike Petersen
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 08:03:10
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 5, 10:32 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected] > wrote:
> "Kasparov did not take his hand off the knight, so he had a perfect
> right to change his move," said the chief arbiter. "My conscience is
> clear. I have the feeling my hand was still on it," added Kasparov.
Other accounts claimed the arbiter did not see
the cheating because he was purportedly standing
directly behind GK, his view of the board obstructed.
In my experience, no virtually TD has the guts
required to intervene in this kind of situation,
enforcing the rules *evenhandedly*.
> Yet we all know the naked eye can be fooled. A camera crew was filming
> the game and a replay revealed that Kasparov removed his hand for
> exactly 1/4 of a second! Deliberate foul or did he try to change his
> grip in order to reverse direction? Who can say for sure?
For an old geezer who has no skill at blitz chess
a quarter of a second might not seem like much,
but to a skilled player like GK, it's plenty of time to
know whether or not one has deliberately released
a man. That's what makes such players great:
their amazing quickness, relative to the rank and
file. I expect that strong bullet-chess players
like Skip Repa do this sort of thing routinely.
> His enemies promptly called it cheating.
It makes no difference who is friend or enemy,
as the rules of chess decide the matter.
According to the laws of chess, releasing his
hand obligated GK to leave the man where he
originally put it. The cheat move is not the
important aspect here, as his original move was
not a loser as it appeared at first blush; what is
important is that GK first lied, and then later, upon
being told of the video, /changed his lie/ to fit the
new (to him) situation. This ready adaptation to
circumvent the evidence is a smoking gun, if the
videotape proof were not enough in itself.
As many writers have pointed out, these
inconsistencies are a hallk of GK. An
article by Edward Winter, supposedly a book
review, was devoted almost entirely to listing
the multitudinous inconsistencies and have-
it-both ways ploys which plague GK's works!
Unfortunately, GK's close association with
hack writer Ray Keene made it neigh well
impossible for EW to take a more even-
handed approach, telling readers the good
points, along with the bad ones. If I recall
correctly, that particular book was titled
Child of Change, and it's still being sold at
my local chess club. Perhaps a much better
work was GK's original "Fighting Chess" --
written before the man's ego became quite
so bloated, before he started his long career
as liar and cheat extraordinaire.
-- help bot
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Date: 05 Dec 2007 07:32:22
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
TOUCH MOVE!
From THIS CRAZY WORLD OF CHESS by GM Larry Evans (page 267)
Since the rules specify that a protest must be lodged during play,
nothing could be done after the game was over. "I didn't want to cause
unpleasantness during my first invitation to such an important event,"
she [Judith Polgar] explained. "We were both in severe time pressure.
I was also afraid I would be penalized on the clock if my protest was
rejected."
"Kasparov did not take his hand off the knight, so he had a perfect
right to change his move," said the chief arbiter. "My conscience is
clear. I have the feeling my hand was still on it," added Kasparov.
Yet we all know the naked eye can be fooled. A camera crew was filming
the game and a replay revealed that Kasparov removed his hand for
exactly 1/4 of a second! Deliberate foul or did he try to change his
grip in order to reverse direction? Who can say for sure?
His enemies promptly called it cheating. But Robert Solso, a noted
cognitive psychologist, said that a time span of 250 milliseconds
might be too short to make such a conscious decision.
Chess One wrote:
> "help bot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > On Dec 5, 7:51 am, "Chess One" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> > A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
> >> > December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
> >> > grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
> >> > apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
> >> > Polgar -- as caught on videotape.
> >>
> >> What a nonsense - its my understanding that JP accepts his explanation to
> >> her.
> >
> > You will no doubt understand if "your understanding"
> > is not taken seriously here, due to your abysmal
> > record.
>
> At least I AM someone, cowardy pants! If you can't write your own name, what
> a massive hypocrite you are to obsess over those who can - always putting
> them down!
>
> <..>
>
> > "Um, er, what I meant to say was that I, um, did
> > not realize that my hand (the wicked dog!) had
> > released the Knight. So you see, it was the hand,
> > not I."
>
> invented dialog by corn-bot! enough of this subject! he doesn't want to hear
> anything else so that he can continue to dislike a famous strong player...
> whats new about that?
>
>
> >> Garry Kasparov has been risking rather more than his opinion on usenet,
> >> some
> >> say risking his life. Certainly the US government are concerned about
> >> coercion of votes, threats issued, and a goverment controlled media
> >> auditing
> >> the news.
> >
> > The question is, in what way is taking such risks
> > beneficial to "democracy" in Russia? As far as I
> > have seen, the result was a loss. It reminds me
> > of the split with FIDE over money and power; in
> > fact, GK specifically mentioned control over
> > Russia's money in his rant, just as Sam Sloan
> > does when complaining about the USCF. One
> > has to wonder, what is the /real motive/ here?
>
> I expect you would have a clearer idea if you got to stand around in a
> frozen square with the riot police looking on. What you wonder is not nearly
> enough since you never lived in a country where the knock on the door comes
> at 2am, and the rubber truncheons... Orwell wrote that in 1941 about just
> such a defence of the West against dictators.
>
> You may not appreciate your freedom to express yourself, in which case at
> the next election vote for English George, rather than President Washington,
> since you won't appreciate his time in the wilderness either.
>
> > In the past, GK has expounded upon some
> > democratic ideals in chess, but when the voters
> > preferred Jan Timman, he showed his true colors
> > via a cut-and-run, leaving the "democrats" to
> > twist in the wind. Is that the sort of man you
> > wish to lead Russia, instead of Mr. Putin?
>
> Laugh! Certainly!
>
> And because I am no True Believer, and would back anyone anyday who can
> answer for themselves, saint or sinner, than prefer the product of the KGB
> in a "100%" democracy
>
> >> Kasparov may not be the best proponent of democracy in Russia
> >
> > You got that right.
> >
> >
> >> but he /is/ credible
> >
> > No, he's not. But like Sam Sloan, he does get
> > a lot of attention out of this.
>
> Unlike Sam Sloan, he commits himself to considerable risk for something far
> beyond his personal interest.
>
> >> and in consideration of who else represents the issue, he is the
> >> leader of something now very important to something in the modern world -
> >> not just in Russia, but in the USA too - at least the US President seems
> >> to
> >> think so.
>
> What follows seems to be on another topic, and is 'net-wisdom' rather like
> urban legends, but here we see how the third estate would be if issued from
> a cornfield:-
>
> > One day, Mr. Innes, you will perhaps learn to
> > /think for yourself/, and not rely upon the likes of
> > GB or LP to do it for you. A good start would be
> > to reevaluate positions which are not supported
> > by the facts. Here's a fact you might want to
> > consider, once you make the decision to start
> > /thinking for yourself/: Yuri Averbakh was used
> > by LE in support of one of his rants, but when
> > the book finally appeared, it turned out that LE
> > was just blowing hot air: YA stated that Vassily
> > Smyslov was the Kremlin's favorite, not GM
> > Botvinnik! LOL As a chess player of nearly-
> > an-IM strength, you surely can do simple
> > pattern recognition? Try this on for size: in
> > another article by LE, the dishonest kook used
> > TK in support of his position, but it turned out
> > that TK had reversed himself, and no longer
> > supported LE.
>
> What a passion!
>
> > Now, this is not overly complex:
> > what is the pattern here? That's right, bucko:
> > the simple pattern is one of deception and lies
> > emanating from Larry Evans. Food for thought.
>
> Corn-mush, in fact?
>
> And thereby rests the defence of free speech of the modern epoch - by
> innocently quoting Averbakh, the agent who even Taylor Kingston knows may
> not be entirely truthful about his own role in the secret world of Soviet
> chess manipulations.
>
> Pravda, anyone? It reads pretty much the same, then and now.
>
> Phil Innes
>
> >
> > -- help bot
|
| |
Date: 05 Dec 2007 05:28:53
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 5, 7:51 am, "Chess One" <[email protected] > wrote:
> > A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
> > December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
> > grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
> > apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
> > Polgar -- as caught on videotape.
>
> What a nonsense - its my understanding that JP accepts his explanation to
> her.
You will no doubt understand if "your understanding"
is not taken seriously here, due to your abysmal
record.
This event was just one in a long line of dishonest
actions by GK; luck would have it that it is also the
one caught right on videotape. Now, die hard GK
apologists can try to brush off the act as some fluke
wardrobe malfunction, but reporters caught the scum
in a baldfaced lie, whereupon GK changed his story.
"I never released the Knight -- you are mistaken."
"Mr. Kasparov, here is a videotape showing you in
fact released the Knight; would you like to see
yourself cheat a girl, frame by frame?"
"Um, er, what I meant to say was that I, um, did
not realize that my hand (the wicked dog!) had
released the Knight. So you see, it was the hand,
not I."
"Okay, the videotape supports that excuse; the
wicked hand indeed is the only one which released
the Knight; the arm and body mainly acted as
passive observers, and the mind of Gary Kasparov
is above reproach?!?"
> > Putin-bashing and
> > Chavez-bashing are all the rage in the media these
> > days, along with China-bashing, but if there is to be
> > any hint of believability in such articles, they will need
> > to find a more credible proponent of "democracy" than
> > Gary Kasparov.
>
> Garry Kasparov has been risking rather more than his opinion on usenet, some
> say risking his life. Certainly the US government are concerned about
> coercion of votes, threats issued, and a goverment controlled media auditing
> the news.
The question is, in what way is taking such risks
beneficial to "democracy" in Russia? As far as I
have seen, the result was a loss. It reminds me
of the split with FIDE over money and power; in
fact, GK specifically mentioned control over
Russia's money in his rant, just as Sam Sloan
does when complaining about the USCF. One
has to wonder, what is the /real motive/ here?
In the past, GK has expounded upon some
democratic ideals in chess, but when the voters
preferred Jan Timman, he showed his true colors
via a cut-and-run, leaving the "democrats" to
twist in the wind. Is that the sort of man you
wish to lead Russia, instead of Mr. Putin?
> Kasparov may not be the best proponent of democracy in Russia
You got that right.
> but he /is/ credible
No, he's not. But like Sam Sloan, he does get
a lot of attention out of this.
> and in consideration of who else represents the issue, he is the
> leader of something now very important to something in the modern world -
> not just in Russia, but in the USA too - at least the US President seems to
> think so.
One day, Mr. Innes, you will perhaps learn to
/think for yourself/, and not rely upon the likes of
GB or LP to do it for you. A good start would be
to reevaluate positions which are not supported
by the facts. Here's a fact you might want to
consider, once you make the decision to start
/thinking for yourself/: Yuri Averbakh was used
by LE in support of one of his rants, but when
the book finally appeared, it turned out that LE
was just blowing hot air: YA stated that Vassily
Smyslov was the Kremlin's favorite, not GM
Botvinnik! LOL As a chess player of nearly-
an-IM strength, you surely can do simple
pattern recognition? Try this on for size: in
another article by LE, the dishonest kook used
TK in support of his position, but it turned out
that TK had reversed himself, and no longer
supported LE. Now, this is not overly complex:
what is the pattern here? That's right, bucko:
the simple pattern is one of deception and lies
emanating from Larry Evans. Food for thought.
-- help bot
|
| | |
Date: 05 Dec 2007 10:02:39
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
"help bot" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Dec 5, 7:51 am, "Chess One" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> > A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
>> > December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
>> > grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
>> > apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
>> > Polgar -- as caught on videotape.
>>
>> What a nonsense - its my understanding that JP accepts his explanation to
>> her.
>
> You will no doubt understand if "your understanding"
> is not taken seriously here, due to your abysmal
> record.
At least I AM someone, cowardy pants! If you can't write your own name, what
a massive hypocrite you are to obsess over those who can - always putting
them down!
<.. >
> "Um, er, what I meant to say was that I, um, did
> not realize that my hand (the wicked dog!) had
> released the Knight. So you see, it was the hand,
> not I."
invented dialog by corn-bot! enough of this subject! he doesn't want to hear
anything else so that he can continue to dislike a famous strong player...
whats new about that?
>> Garry Kasparov has been risking rather more than his opinion on usenet,
>> some
>> say risking his life. Certainly the US government are concerned about
>> coercion of votes, threats issued, and a goverment controlled media
>> auditing
>> the news.
>
> The question is, in what way is taking such risks
> beneficial to "democracy" in Russia? As far as I
> have seen, the result was a loss. It reminds me
> of the split with FIDE over money and power; in
> fact, GK specifically mentioned control over
> Russia's money in his rant, just as Sam Sloan
> does when complaining about the USCF. One
> has to wonder, what is the /real motive/ here?
I expect you would have a clearer idea if you got to stand around in a
frozen square with the riot police looking on. What you wonder is not nearly
enough since you never lived in a country where the knock on the door comes
at 2am, and the rubber truncheons... Orwell wrote that in 1941 about just
such a defence of the West against dictators.
You may not appreciate your freedom to express yourself, in which case at
the next election vote for English George, rather than President Washington,
since you won't appreciate his time in the wilderness either.
> In the past, GK has expounded upon some
> democratic ideals in chess, but when the voters
> preferred Jan Timman, he showed his true colors
> via a cut-and-run, leaving the "democrats" to
> twist in the wind. Is that the sort of man you
> wish to lead Russia, instead of Mr. Putin?
Laugh! Certainly!
And because I am no True Believer, and would back anyone anyday who can
answer for themselves, saint or sinner, than prefer the product of the KGB
in a "100%" democracy
>> Kasparov may not be the best proponent of democracy in Russia
>
> You got that right.
>
>
>> but he /is/ credible
>
> No, he's not. But like Sam Sloan, he does get
> a lot of attention out of this.
Unlike Sam Sloan, he commits himself to considerable risk for something far
beyond his personal interest.
>> and in consideration of who else represents the issue, he is the
>> leader of something now very important to something in the modern world -
>> not just in Russia, but in the USA too - at least the US President seems
>> to
>> think so.
What follows seems to be on another topic, and is 'net-wisdom' rather like
urban legends, but here we see how the third estate would be if issued from
a cornfield:-
> One day, Mr. Innes, you will perhaps learn to
> /think for yourself/, and not rely upon the likes of
> GB or LP to do it for you. A good start would be
> to reevaluate positions which are not supported
> by the facts. Here's a fact you might want to
> consider, once you make the decision to start
> /thinking for yourself/: Yuri Averbakh was used
> by LE in support of one of his rants, but when
> the book finally appeared, it turned out that LE
> was just blowing hot air: YA stated that Vassily
> Smyslov was the Kremlin's favorite, not GM
> Botvinnik! LOL As a chess player of nearly-
> an-IM strength, you surely can do simple
> pattern recognition? Try this on for size: in
> another article by LE, the dishonest kook used
> TK in support of his position, but it turned out
> that TK had reversed himself, and no longer
> supported LE.
What a passion!
> Now, this is not overly complex:
> what is the pattern here? That's right, bucko:
> the simple pattern is one of deception and lies
> emanating from Larry Evans. Food for thought.
Corn-mush, in fact?
And thereby rests the defence of free speech of the modern epoch - by
innocently quoting Averbakh, the agent who even Taylor Kingston knows may
not be entirely truthful about his own role in the secret world of Soviet
chess manipulations.
Pravda, anyone? It reads pretty much the same, then and now.
Phil Innes
>
> -- help bot
|
| |
Date: 05 Dec 2007 01:21:38
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 4, 9:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected] > wrote:
> Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
> world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
> Journal.
A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
Polgar -- as caught on videotape. Putin-bashing and
Chavez-bashing are all the rage in the media these
days, along with China-bashing, but if there is to be
any hint of believability in such articles, they will need
to find a more credible proponent of "democracy" than
Gary Kasparov.
-- help bot
|
| | |
Date: 05 Dec 2007 07:51:00
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
"help bot" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:c394a816-338c-4565-b89b-023ff74cce13@d61g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 4, 9:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
>> world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
>> Journal.
>
> A picture of GK appeared in Investors Business Daily,
> December 4, 2007 as well. It is very strange to see him
> grumble about honor and whatnot, as he never even
> apologized for his shameless cheating against Ms.
> Polgar -- as caught on videotape.
What a nonsense - its my understanding that JP accepts his explanation to
her.
> Putin-bashing and
> Chavez-bashing are all the rage in the media these
> days, along with China-bashing, but if there is to be
> any hint of believability in such articles, they will need
> to find a more credible proponent of "democracy" than
> Gary Kasparov.
Garry Kasparov has been risking rather more than his opinion on usenet, some
say risking his life. Certainly the US government are concerned about
coercion of votes, threats issued, and a goverment controlled media auditing
the news.
Kasparov may not be the best proponent of democracy in Russia, but he /is/
credible, and in consideration of who else represents the issue, he is the
leader of something now very important to something in the modern world -
not just in Russia, but in the USA too - at least the US President seems to
think so.
Phil Innes
>
> -- help bot
>
>
|
| |
Date: 04 Dec 2007 10:53:32
From:
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
On Dec 4, 8:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected] > wrote:
> VOICE OF DISSENT
>
> Our Struggle Against Tyranny
>
> I was treated reasonably well in jail this past week. But I didn't
> dare eat the food.
>
> BY GARRY KASPAROV
>
> Sunday, December 2, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST
>
> For years the governments of the U.S. and Europe have tried to accept
> Vladimir Putin's Russia as an equal. Western diplomats now acknowledge
> that there are differences between Russia and the West, but say these
> differences are minor, and--in the words of one European Union
> official--within an "acceptable range." For me and for a dozen of my
> associates last week, that "acceptable range" was 120 square feet.
> That's the size of the jail cell I occupied for five days as
> punishment for "disobeying the orders of a police officer" at an
> opposition rally in Moscow last Saturday. That's the charge a Moscow
> district court added after the fact, a charge not mentioned in the
> handwritten testimony of the arresting officers.
>
> This was the least conspicuous of the many curious aspects of my
> arrest and trial. After our rally of several thousand people, we
> attempted to meet up with another group led by well-known human rights
> leader Lev Ponoev. From there we intended to deliver a petition of
> protest to the office of the Central Election Committee. The police
> had blocked the underground pedestrian passageways, so we had to cross
> the broad street instead and were soon blocked by more police. When
> they moved in close, I spoke with commanding officer Maj. Gen.
> Vyacheslav Kozlov, whom I had met previously. He warned us to turn
> back, saying we would not be allowed to approach the CEC offices. I
> offered to send a small delegation of 20 people to present the
> petition. He again told us to turn back, which we did. Of course it is
> inaccurate to say that the police commander was the one in command.
> KGB officers in plain clothes were clearly in charge even at the
> police station, and the arrest itself was as choreographed as the
> trial to come. When the special security forces known as OMON pushed
> in past everyone else to arrest me, we could all hear "make sure you
> get Kasparov" on their walkie-talkies.
>
> From the moment of our detention, we were not allowed to see our
> lawyers, even when charged at the police station. Three hours into the
> trial, the judge said it would be adjourned to the following day. But
> the judge then left the bench and returned to say that we had misheard
> her, and that my trial would go forward. No doubt another example of
> what we call "telephone justice."
>
> As in the street and at the police station, the KGB and the OMON
> forces were in control. The defense was not allowed to call any
> witnesses or to present any materials, such as the videos and photos
> journalists had taken of the ch and the arrests. After the show
> trial was over, I was taken to the police jail at Petrovka 38 in
> Moscow, and here the procedural violations continued. Not with regard
> to my treatment, which was respectful and as hospitable as a small box
> with metal furnishings and a hole in the floor for a toilet can be. I
> wasn't allowed a phone call and all visitors were refused access. Even
> my lawyer Olga Mikhailova and Duma member Vladimir Ryzhkov were
> forbidden to visit me, despite having the legal right to do so. My
> world chess champion predecessor, Anatoly Karpov, for years my great
> rival, generously attempted to pay me a visit but was also turned
> away. My other concern was food, since it was out of the question to
> consume anything provided by the staff. (Nor do I fly Aeroflot.
> "Paranoia" long ago became an obsolete concept among those in
> opposition to the Putin regime.)
>
> On Sunday, thanks to growing external pressure, they allowed me to
> receive food packages from home. In a fitting conclusion, even my
> release was handled illegally. Instead of letting me out at the jail
> into the crowd of media and supporters, many of whom had themselves
> been arrested and harassed while picketing, I was secretly taken to
> the police station where I was first charged. From there I was taken
> in a colonel's automobile all the way to my home. This may sound like
> good service, but it was obvious the authorities wanted to avoid the
> festive scene that would have occurred outside the jail. When I was
> arrested last April and fined $40, some poked fun at the trivial
> amount. And five days in a Moscow jail is not the worst fate that can
> be imagined. Some commentators even suspected I wanted to provoke my
> own arrest for publicity, a chess player's far-sighted strategy. First
> off, the penalty is not the point; the principle is. Are we to have
> the rule of law in Russia or not? Second, I have no intention of
> becoming a tyr, or in leading an opposition movement from prison. I
> had no illusions and now I can confirm it is not a pleasant place to
> be.
>
> And this is not chess, with its cold-blooded calculations. This is
> about honor and morality. I cannot ask people to protest in the
> streets if I am not there with them. At the rally on Saturday, I said
> our slogan must be "We must overcome our fear," and I am obliged to
> stand by these words. It is also essential to point out that these
> arrests are only the tip of the iceberg. Such things are taking place
> all over Russia on a daily basis. Opposition activists--or just those
> who happen to be in the way of the administration--are harassed and
> arrested on false charges of drug possession, extremism, or the latest
> trend, for owning illegal software. There is little doubt today's
> parliamentary elections will be as fixed as my trial. The presidential
> elections on ch 2 will be a different sort of performance, more
> improvised, since even now Mr. Putin and his gang are not sure how to
> resolve their dilemma. The loss of power could mean the loss of
> fortune and freedom. Outright dictatorship would endanger their
> lucrative ties with the West. The campaign rhetoric of Mr. Putin and
> his supporters is genuinely frightening.
>
> Here we have an allegedly popular president who dominates the media,
> the parliament and the judiciary. He and his closest allies are in
> total control of the nation's wealth. And yet his recent speeches are
> hysterical rants about "enemies within" and "foreign antagonists"
> trying to weaken Russia--language characteristic of totalitarian
> states. So far this campaign has been largely ineffective, at least in
> my case. During my five days in jail I had the chance to speak to many
> of the ordinary consumers of Kremlin propaganda. They were generally
> sympathetic, and showed no signs of believing the many lies the
> Kremlin and the youth groups it sponsors have spread about the
> opposition. For them I was still the Soviet chess champion and the
> idea that I was an "American agent" sounded as ludicrous as it is.
>
> So why is Mr. Putin so scared if things are going so well? He is a
> rational and pragmatic person, not prone to melodrama. He knows the
> numbers, so why the heavy and heavy-handed campaigning if he knows he
> and United Russia are going to win? The answer is that he is very
> aware of how brittle his power structure has become. Instead of
> sounding like a Tsar, high above the crowd, he's beginning to sound
> like just another nervous autocrat. As George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The
> most anxious man in a prison is the governor."
>
> So demagoguery it is and demagoguery it will be. A violent pro-Putin
> youth group, Nashi, has already released a poster celebrating Mr.
> Putin's "crushing victory" on December 2. It also warns against the
> "enemies of the people of Russia," myself included, attempting to
> disqualify the results. These terms jibe nicely with Mr. Putin's own
> rhetoric of threats and fear. The ground is being prepared for greater
> oppression. The Other Russia will continue our activities because,
> simply, some things are worth fighting for and will not come without
> being fought for. All of the "minor differences" between Mr. Putin's
> Russia and the nations of the free world add up to one very large
> difference: that between democracy and tyranny.
>
> Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
> world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
> Journal.
Well, based on my troubles with FIDE, I understand Gary's position.
It pretty much makes sense: we can't play in the World Chess
Championship and Gary gets thrown in jail without a adquate legal
protections, namely, a defense attorney. The Russians understand
and respect only strength. I suspect Gary's days are numbered.
cus Roberts
Peramanent Delegate of St Kitts and Nevis to FIDE
|
| |
Date: 04 Dec 2007 09:46:25
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Kasparov in Wall Street Journal
|
there is a good picture i found [too late for this week's column] of
Kasparov and Karpov at a press conference after garry was released - they
were both grinning
karpov tried to see him in prison - but was turned away!
phil innes
<[email protected] > wrote in message
news:5602088c-e3b4-4326-9e8c-fcab441218fd@b40g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> VOICE OF DISSENT
>
> Our Struggle Against Tyranny
>
> I was treated reasonably well in jail this past week. But I didn't
> dare eat the food.
>
> BY GARRY KASPAROV
>
> Sunday, December 2, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST
>
> For years the governments of the U.S. and Europe have tried to accept
> Vladimir Putin's Russia as an equal. Western diplomats now acknowledge
> that there are differences between Russia and the West, but say these
> differences are minor, and--in the words of one European Union
> official--within an "acceptable range." For me and for a dozen of my
> associates last week, that "acceptable range" was 120 square feet.
> That's the size of the jail cell I occupied for five days as
> punishment for "disobeying the orders of a police officer" at an
> opposition rally in Moscow last Saturday. That's the charge a Moscow
> district court added after the fact, a charge not mentioned in the
> handwritten testimony of the arresting officers.
>
> This was the least conspicuous of the many curious aspects of my
> arrest and trial. After our rally of several thousand people, we
> attempted to meet up with another group led by well-known human rights
> leader Lev Ponoev. From there we intended to deliver a petition of
> protest to the office of the Central Election Committee. The police
> had blocked the underground pedestrian passageways, so we had to cross
> the broad street instead and were soon blocked by more police. When
> they moved in close, I spoke with commanding officer Maj. Gen.
> Vyacheslav Kozlov, whom I had met previously. He warned us to turn
> back, saying we would not be allowed to approach the CEC offices. I
> offered to send a small delegation of 20 people to present the
> petition. He again told us to turn back, which we did. Of course it is
> inaccurate to say that the police commander was the one in command.
> KGB officers in plain clothes were clearly in charge even at the
> police station, and the arrest itself was as choreographed as the
> trial to come. When the special security forces known as OMON pushed
> in past everyone else to arrest me, we could all hear "make sure you
> get Kasparov" on their walkie-talkies.
>
> From the moment of our detention, we were not allowed to see our
> lawyers, even when charged at the police station. Three hours into the
> trial, the judge said it would be adjourned to the following day. But
> the judge then left the bench and returned to say that we had misheard
> her, and that my trial would go forward. No doubt another example of
> what we call "telephone justice."
>
> As in the street and at the police station, the KGB and the OMON
> forces were in control. The defense was not allowed to call any
> witnesses or to present any materials, such as the videos and photos
> journalists had taken of the ch and the arrests. After the show
> trial was over, I was taken to the police jail at Petrovka 38 in
> Moscow, and here the procedural violations continued. Not with regard
> to my treatment, which was respectful and as hospitable as a small box
> with metal furnishings and a hole in the floor for a toilet can be. I
> wasn't allowed a phone call and all visitors were refused access. Even
> my lawyer Olga Mikhailova and Duma member Vladimir Ryzhkov were
> forbidden to visit me, despite having the legal right to do so. My
> world chess champion predecessor, Anatoly Karpov, for years my great
> rival, generously attempted to pay me a visit but was also turned
> away. My other concern was food, since it was out of the question to
> consume anything provided by the staff. (Nor do I fly Aeroflot.
> "Paranoia" long ago became an obsolete concept among those in
> opposition to the Putin regime.)
>
> On Sunday, thanks to growing external pressure, they allowed me to
> receive food packages from home. In a fitting conclusion, even my
> release was handled illegally. Instead of letting me out at the jail
> into the crowd of media and supporters, many of whom had themselves
> been arrested and harassed while picketing, I was secretly taken to
> the police station where I was first charged. From there I was taken
> in a colonel's automobile all the way to my home. This may sound like
> good service, but it was obvious the authorities wanted to avoid the
> festive scene that would have occurred outside the jail. When I was
> arrested last April and fined $40, some poked fun at the trivial
> amount. And five days in a Moscow jail is not the worst fate that can
> be imagined. Some commentators even suspected I wanted to provoke my
> own arrest for publicity, a chess player's far-sighted strategy. First
> off, the penalty is not the point; the principle is. Are we to have
> the rule of law in Russia or not? Second, I have no intention of
> becoming a tyr, or in leading an opposition movement from prison. I
> had no illusions and now I can confirm it is not a pleasant place to
> be.
>
> And this is not chess, with its cold-blooded calculations. This is
> about honor and morality. I cannot ask people to protest in the
> streets if I am not there with them. At the rally on Saturday, I said
> our slogan must be "We must overcome our fear," and I am obliged to
> stand by these words. It is also essential to point out that these
> arrests are only the tip of the iceberg. Such things are taking place
> all over Russia on a daily basis. Opposition activists--or just those
> who happen to be in the way of the administration--are harassed and
> arrested on false charges of drug possession, extremism, or the latest
> trend, for owning illegal software. There is little doubt today's
> parliamentary elections will be as fixed as my trial. The presidential
> elections on ch 2 will be a different sort of performance, more
> improvised, since even now Mr. Putin and his gang are not sure how to
> resolve their dilemma. The loss of power could mean the loss of
> fortune and freedom. Outright dictatorship would endanger their
> lucrative ties with the West. The campaign rhetoric of Mr. Putin and
> his supporters is genuinely frightening.
>
> Here we have an allegedly popular president who dominates the media,
> the parliament and the judiciary. He and his closest allies are in
> total control of the nation's wealth. And yet his recent speeches are
> hysterical rants about "enemies within" and "foreign antagonists"
> trying to weaken Russia--language characteristic of totalitarian
> states. So far this campaign has been largely ineffective, at least in
> my case. During my five days in jail I had the chance to speak to many
> of the ordinary consumers of Kremlin propaganda. They were generally
> sympathetic, and showed no signs of believing the many lies the
> Kremlin and the youth groups it sponsors have spread about the
> opposition. For them I was still the Soviet chess champion and the
> idea that I was an "American agent" sounded as ludicrous as it is.
>
> So why is Mr. Putin so scared if things are going so well? He is a
> rational and pragmatic person, not prone to melodrama. He knows the
> numbers, so why the heavy and heavy-handed campaigning if he knows he
> and United Russia are going to win? The answer is that he is very
> aware of how brittle his power structure has become. Instead of
> sounding like a Tsar, high above the crowd, he's beginning to sound
> like just another nervous autocrat. As George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The
> most anxious man in a prison is the governor."
>
> So demagoguery it is and demagoguery it will be. A violent pro-Putin
> youth group, Nashi, has already released a poster celebrating Mr.
> Putin's "crushing victory" on December 2. It also warns against the
> "enemies of the people of Russia," myself included, attempting to
> disqualify the results. These terms jibe nicely with Mr. Putin's own
> rhetoric of threats and fear. The ground is being prepared for greater
> oppression. The Other Russia will continue our activities because,
> simply, some things are worth fighting for and will not come without
> being fought for. All of the "minor differences" between Mr. Putin's
> Russia and the nations of the free world add up to one very large
> difference: that between democracy and tyranny.
>
> Mr. Kasparov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition, is a former
> world chess champion and a contributing editor of The Wall Street
> Journal.
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