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Doesn’t the law apply to everybody? Nearly every Russian knows the folk proverb, “Fools observe no rules”. However, real-life does make its presence known, doesn’t it? By comparison, apparently, the US State Department’s extremely-experienced and highly-qualified staff tends to act in accordance with another principle, from ancient Rome, “What’s legitimate for Jove, isn’t legitimate for oxen”. Although they’re knowledgeable about foreign policy and they’re well-aware of the fundamental principle of international law precluding meddling in the domestic affairs of another sovereign state, US government officials choose to ignore well-known wisdom, despite Russia’s position in the world… it’s no less a power than the American “Jupiter” is.
Now, Washington is dissatisfied with state inspections of Russian NGOs funded from abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes, “In all actuality, the USA encourages NGOs to violate Russian law concerning their operation in the Russian Federation”. US State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland voiced Washington’s displeasure with this statement. Evidently, like any other woman, Ms Nuland uses a mirror. In looking at the present situation, what one could describe as a “political mirror” would be more à propos. However, if Ms Nuland and her Washington colleagues looked into this “political mirror”, they’d discover that a law on the registration of foreign agencies, the Russian version of which triggered her tossing off such fiery censure, has been in force in the USA since 1938, and it’s observed to the letter.
The so-called “political mirror” could also reflect other breaches of democratic principles on Washington’s part… which considers itself the guardian of democracy. It’s not hard to imagine what the reaction in Foggy Bottom would be if Moscow expressed “great concern” to the US State Department about the fact that the names of nearly one million American citizens weren’t on the voter rolls during the recent American presidential election. According to election observers, most of these people were Hispanic or black. This wasn’t just an isolated glitch in the American electoral system. Former US President Jimmy Carter stated, “I’m concerned over the frightening risk of growing racism in our country, along with a poorly-concealed phobia against blacks”. We should “sound the alarm” concerning democratic principles in the USA, especially, as Americans claim a monopoly in having such. Nonetheless, there’d be nothing disturbing about self-appointed Washington Goody Two-Shoes reserving the right to preach to others about this-or-that personal failing, if these so-called “sermons” remained within the USA and if they didn’t impugn the nitty-gritty of international law and threaten its foundations. Given the situation, however, it’d be useful for the USA to remember that such political canoodling doesn’t wash with Russia.
13 April 2013
Valentin Zorin
Voice of Russia World Service
http://rus.ruvr.ru/2013_04_09/O-polze-zerkala/
http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_04_13/US-democracy-the-mirror-effect/
Editor’s Note:
Do remember the old saw, “Follow the money”. When you do, it leads you to interesting places, doesn’t it? Read the criticisms of Stalin found in certain American Orthodox circles in that light… always bear in mind, “He who pays the piper, chooses the tune”. Always note who worked, works, or shall continue to work for the US government or for rightwing stink tanks… rank stuff, ain’t it?
BMD
Voices from Russia 
24 November 2016. If You Want HONEST Elections… This Is What You Do
Tags: Belarus, Election, election fraud, Election monitoring, election observers, elections, political commentary, politics, Russia, Russian, United States, USA
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There’s much brouhaha over “hacked” voting machines in the USA. Let’s keep it simple. Let’s do what the Europeans do… use paper ballots deposited in clear boxes. The officials carry in the empty clear boxes under observation, and poll-watchers keep an eye on them the entire time of the election. No… it doesn’t eliminate fraud, but it sure does minimise it. All of Europe uses this system… including Russia and Belarus. To think that Russia and Belarus use a more-honest and more-transparent system than the “exceptional” and “indispensable” USA… oh, the humanity!
BMD