Friday, March 11, 2005 | 5 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
March 12 - 13, 2005
President Bush didn't make a dent trying to persuade Russia's Vladimir Putin about our democracy's merits. Perhaps Putin was comparing both forms of government.
After all, Russia can jail people with no charge and keep them locked up indefinitely. Oops, so can we. Russia can spy on people without court approval, listen to and record their phone conversations and monitor what they read in the library. Oops, so can we. But the Russian government has control of the news media for propaganda purposes. Oops again. The Bush administration has been paying columnists to spread White House propaganda.
Perhaps Putin was confused as to why we're so much better.
WILLIS EICHEL
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