Russian reforms or collapse of "democracy"?

From NYTimes' International Herald Tribune:

Putin, meeting in special session with cabinet ministers and regional government leaders, outlined what would be the most significant political restructuring in Russia in more than a decade - one that critics immediately said would violate the constitution and stifle what political opposition remains.

The political opposition?

The Communist Party, marginalized and increasingly disorganized, remains the only pure opposition party.

Radio Free Europe has a Russian news summary that begins to suggest some of the complexity of the current Russian crisis. For a Russian viewpoint, the Moscow Times has this report on the planned reforms and some of the rationale.

Putin said he will submit a bill on how regional leaders are elected to the Kremlin-controlled Duma this fall.

The move would end any of the independence still held by regional leaders, who were allowed to run their affairs pretty much as they pleased under President Boris Yeltsin, and have been a thorn in Putin's side since he took office in 2000.

This is not because of their movement toward independence but because corruption in the region has become so pervasive that total collapse, such as in Chechyna will spread across the whole region. Chechyna, like Afghanistan, is being bought by terrorist organizations and will eventually become a home base for a regional conflict that will spread throughout the Caucasus. Chechnyians want neither the militants who are funded by terrorist organizations, the terrorists, nor their own Russian-sanctioned government. Chechyna is a country in total collapse, much like Afghanistan was before the Taliban assumed control with backing from terrorists. (A policy paper from 2000 illustrates the challenges and complexities in the region.)

Whether you believe Putin is making a power grab or seeking to establish Federalism is a matter of interpretation. It's either "central control for powers sake" or "reform." The outcome, however, will determine the viability of Russia itself, presently torn apart by the proliferation of dozens of political parties, each representing a special interest or even a criminal organization with enough money to buy a seat in the Duma. That's what it has come down to and what Putin appears to be trying to change.

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
For sheer incoherence but an essential clue to the media's central position, Haroon Siddiqui, editorial page editor emeritus for the Toronto Sun has this article. It is important to note that this incoherence is remarkably similar to the anarchy of the region, without purpose, or logic, or even a recognizable end game. It is this intellectual anarchy that the media have fallen prey to and endlessly duplicate, quoting from each other. They are, in fact, in desperate search of a philosophy.

Note: Izvestia is not a Russian state-owned newspaper. The editor was fired by the owner of the newspaper who generally supports Putin. Much of the rest of the Russian press is Liberal in the Guardian, Independent, New York Times , BBC, Toronto Sun mold.

List of links for Afghanistan and the Taliban.

When journalists talk of "democracy" in Russia, they are really referring to "gangster capitalism." That's sorta like New Jersey with oversight by a Janet Reno Justice Department.