Commenting on Larry Kudlow's "Kudlow Report" on CNBC re the Moscow story of the three members of the pop band "Pussy Riot" (above) who have been sentenced for two years in jail for hooliganism (sacrilege) in a Russian cathedral. How this episode relates to the US is that the punishment of Pussy Riot is a winner for Vladimir Putin in Russia; and any strengthening of Putin at home gives Putin a stronger hand abroad, such as in the conflict zone of Syria. In Moscow, Putin is now regarded as the defender of the faith, that is, the Russian Orthodox Church, and this gives my Tsar like authority to defend Russian national issues in opposition to American national issues. Also, the Pussy Riot episode has large domestic significance because of the revival of the state and church partnership in the reawakened energy superpower Russian Federation. The details of the episode are instructive as to how modern Russia regards its own recent history. The “Pussy Riot” band members purposefully trespassed on a state-owned, church-maintained property in order to perform and provoke with lyrics protesting Putin's re-election bid. We can presume these provocateurs – or protesters, activists, artists – chose this particular church, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, because it has much significance to the tragedy and triumph of Russia these last two centuries. After Bonaparte's retreat from Moscow, Tsar Alexander I wanted a cathedral to celebrate Rodina's redemption. Seventy years later, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was dedicated by Nicholas I. Fifty years later, Stalin dynamited the church and stole its gold; the hole in the ground remained a scar along the Moscow River until the late Soviet state, 1990, approved the rebuilding of the original, using original parts. The cathedral was dedicated in 2004: it is state-owned but leased by the Russian Orthodox Church. I am told that Putin and the church work well together, and that Putin has more to lose if the relationship fades.
"Pussy Riot" and Obama.
I told Larry Kudlow that the "Pussy Riot" scandal, strengthening Putin in the approval polling across vast, patriotic, faithful Russia, has significance for Putin’s options in dealing with the US and its allies. Putin is not a dictator; Putin follows the national security apparatus of the Kremlin. Since the Libyan crisis, the Kremlin opinion is that Obama, Clinton, Susan Rice, are not trustworthy, because they collectively misled (lied to, deceived, fooled) Russia about the UN Security Council vote on the Libyan actions. This means the Kremlin will not trust Obama. Game over. I told Larry Kudlow that there is no communication between President Putin and President Obama. Larry Kudlow asked me why Mrs. Clinton does not speak to President Putin of the "Pussy Riot" prosecution. My response is that there is not only no communication between Washington and Moscow, none; but also my information is that Mrs. Clinton does not speak to President Obama either. Also, I added that I have anecdotes from far afield that the leaders of Europe and North Africa disdain President Obama and his administration.