The Electoral College system of US Presidential elections, that's what:
Mr. Putin said several American presidents had been elected through the electoral college system even though they did not win a majority of the popular vote, but that Russia does not press the point. “When we are talking with our American friends and tell them there are systemic problems” with the electoral college system, “we hear from them, ‘Don’t interfere with our affairs, this is our tradition and it’s going to continue like that.’ We are not interfering.” “But to our colleagues, I would also like to advise you not to interfere with the sovereign choice of the Russian people,” he said.
Man! Does he have a bug up his butt or what? It clearly burns him. "The Electoral College. That damn Electoral College!!!" You can hear his voice ringing through the halls of the Kremlin late at night.
For the most part, that is what the whole WiliLeaks crise-ette is all about: "Jimmy said you're stupid... and you smell." Who cares? Clearly not Putin. Can't wait for the Canadian "revelations" Let me guess. Hillary Clinton will be caught out saying Stephen Harper is a dull, frumpy administrative type who thinks being slightly rude in private is a great ice breaker. Wow. So, sure, arrest the guy. Since when do traders in state secrets not get the knock on the door from the men in black? And fix the issues of internal openness that may have been an outcome to the 9/11 response. But don't panic and say somehow that the state ought to not have information. Don't let the nihilist fringe let the wrongdoers define the nature of the state.
Related news: is Tom Flanagan stupid or wicked?
Comments
Ben (The Tiger) - December 1, 2010 12:16 PM
Oh, that's what Soviet diplomats did throughout the Cold War -- "What, the Baltic Republics? Well, what about the American Indians?!"
Not biggie.
The internal openness was to allow the sorts of intel analysis that would've prevented 9/11. The info was in hand, but not available to the right sorts.
Now, we won't have that. And so another 9/11 is that much more likely.
Thanks, Manning and Assange!
TRex - December 1, 2010 3:43 PM
The fake outrage over these leaks is simply a bunch of embarrassed people trying to hide their own embarrassment.
In comparison the Russian response has ben quite mild, measured even. America has fallen so very far!
Ben (The Tiger) - December 1, 2010 7:27 PM
There's nothing to arrest Assange for. He's an Ozzie, not a Yank -- he owes Washington no loyalty. (Manning, on the other hand, can be shot.)
Still, Assange does seem to have declared himself as an enemy. Which is the reasoning behind the Tom Flanagan line.
Alan - December 1, 2010 7:39 PM
Well, if they can jail hundreds for years after 9/11 under made up martial law, I have not doubt that the US law allows for an arrest of Assange as well.