Rory Christopher's blog thinger

"We need more democracy," was the final plea of President Bush as he tapered off his tour of the middle east. First, he praised the leader of Egypt who is known for extreme hostility toward opposition since the 80's, and then called for more "democracy." How can Bush praise him, then ask him to change? Obviously President Hosni Mubarak is doing something right if he is getting a personal visit from the US President as well as accolades about the civil and national progress under his reign. Bush also met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (below) whose human rights violations can be summed up in the picture to the right. What exactly is it about these dictators -- who have little to do with the American ideal-- that give Bush the loving tingles of adoration deserving a personal visit, or even a business deal involving laser guided missile technology priced above $120m. I think that Bush is hoping to inaugurate some sort of happy-go-lucky friendship with...

Much speculation about President Putin has plagued the media for a few years now. Putin was chosen as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” and is often featured on the front page of publications worldwide. While regularly compared to Russia’s great leaders of the last one hundred years, the Russian President has been vilified as the next Stalin by many as they ignore what may in fact be an unfamiliar patriotism: pragmatic and devout. Writers, with tilted heads and curious pens, hypothesize as to his ambitions, hostilities, and credibility; they attempt to solve the strange riddle that is President Putin. Modern Russia has more than one hundred years of history; consequently, the riddle won’t be solved apart from a historical perspective. Though a Stalinist hue may refract on occasion, Putin’s authoritarian genius has a stride and manner that resembles more closely his personal hero, Peter the Great. By the end of the 20th century, Russia had crumbled. Her President, the gangster tu...