Bob McCarty Writes

The words of a prominent poet, Tatyana Shcherbina, describe how things are in Russia under President Vladimir Putin:

They’ve turned off all the hot water,
My liquid of love, my stream of words.
I should complain to the people,
But a scarf’s been thrown over my mouth.
Like this, without moisture of life, I’ll dry out,
Along with the unwashed dishes,
I’ll gather moss, a stone unturned,
Or perhaps be forgotten, lost in the grass.

Such feelings of frustration when the faucets run dry are widespread in the former Soviet republic. Yet, world headlines would have you think Russia is fast returning to status as a superpower:

Yesterday, a Telegraph headline offered ominous news: RAF Eurofighters intercept Russian bomber. In effect, it announced a return to Cold War-style vigilance on the part of the Royal Air Force.

Today, more news about Russia: A Fox News headline, Putin: Russia Will Be World’s Largest Military Aircraft Maker, is followed by news of Putin saying Tuesday that he is determined to make Russia the world’s leading producer of military aircraft.

Unfortunately for the Russian people, Putin seems willing — like many of his communist predecessors — to put military might ahead of liberty, freedom and running water for his people.

Take a look at In Prosperous Putin’s Moscow, No Hot Water, a post today at La Russophobe, to learn more.