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Putin Praises Obama For Russian-Style Surveillance System

President_Barack_Obama225px-Vladimir_Putin_official_portraitPresident Barack Obama said that he wanted to “reset” relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bring the countries closer together. He appears to have succeeded. Yesterday, Putin defended Obama in creating a warrantless surveillance system that is much like Russia’s. In the meantime, a leading Chinese dissident in the United States has said that the program reminds him not of Russia but the police state in China. It appears that Obama can finally claim to have broken down the differences between the United States and both Russia and China in his new America. All we had to do is change our whole notion of privacy (as well as other legal concepts like perjury).


Putin was delighted that the United States was reinvented itself in his image and complimented the massive surveillance system as “the way a civilized society should go about fighting terrorism.” He added that he loved how the New York government crushed the Occupy Wall Street movement: “That’s the way it’s done in the U.S., and that’s the way it’s done in Russia.”

Putin loves the two publicly confirmed surveillance programs since “[t]hat’s more or less the way a civilized society should go about fighting terrorism with modern-day technology. As long as it is exercised within the boundaries of the law that regulates intelligence activities, it’s alright.”

220px-Ai_WeiweiIf that wasn’t enough for Obama and his congressional allies, leading Chinese dissident and artist Ai Weiwei says that he also recognizes the system being maintained by Obama: the police state in China. He added “I lived in the United States for 12 years. This abuse of state power goes totally against my understanding of what it means to be a civilised society, and it will be shocking for me if American citizens allow this to continue.”

I wish I could say that we share that shock but, as said by the Chinese curse, we are living in interesting times.

31 thoughts on “Putin Praises Obama For Russian-Style Surveillance System”

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  6. …He appears to have succeeded. Yesterday, Putin defended Obama in creating a warrantless surveillance system that is much like Russia’s….

    Jon you apparently totally misread Mr. Putin’s comment. He actually said:

    [Snowden] told us nothing we didn’t know before. I think everybody has long been aware that signals intelligence is about surveillance of individuals and organizations. It is becoming a global phenomenon in the context of combating international terrorism, and such methods are generally practicable. The question is how well those security agencies are controlled by the public. I can tell you that, at least in Russia, you cannot just go and tap into someone’s phone conversation without a warrant issued by court. That’s more or less the way a civilized society should go about fighting terrorism with modern-day technology. As long as it is exercised within the boundaries of the law that regulates intelligence activities, it’s alright. But if it’s unlawful, then it’s bad. .

    .

    A little different from what you portrayed…

    I think Mike Sallese (@pesky9) was right about you…“Your dislike of the president impedes your judgement and you spew opinion.”

  7. John Kenneth Galbraith and other economists and political scientists predicted long ago that there is an inherent convergence between communist totalitarian nations and capitalist free systems. In essence, We are getting to be more like them and vice versa. Particularly the vice. Putin and his post Stalinist Stalinism is not a far stretch from post 9/11 Amerika under the Bushies and not Obama. Secretaries of Defense and National Security heads dutifully lie to Congress and the media nods off to sleep and asks us to watch the Jodie whats her name trial or pontificate as to whether Zimmerman is a bigot.

  8. Old Soviet sayingg…
    In AmerriKa, you don’t vatch zee internets… zee internets vatch you!

  10. Remember the Nobel Peace Prize?

    “Throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes,” Obama said. “And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action — a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. … (the award) must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity —”

    Well, everyone except Aaron Swartz, PFC Bradley Manning, and Edward Snowden

  11. Lyrics to “Hello NSA” video above…

    Hello NSA
    I just called you to say
    I love you
    because you really listen

    now when I’m on the phone
    will I never feel alone
    cause you’re out there
    with your headphones
    and you really listen.

    I know you’ll take my call
    cause you care enough
    to take them all.

    And you’re fighting freedom here at home
    so we don’t have to fight it over there
    now my own sweet marie never listens to me
    I can’t even get through to my momma

    but you listen so well
    to the secrets I tell
    guest that’s how Obama
    caught Osama

    NSA listen please
    while I order extra cheese
    I love you
    cause you’re out there

    here’s how I know
    not a stain on a dress
    but a leak non-the-less
    so hello
    thank you very much

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