Putin, Sochi, and the FSB

Rahm Emanuel is often quoted with regard to “letting no crises go to waste” but Vladimir Putin can apply this same approach just as easily. A Stratfor SITREP posted this morning states that a bomber has been reportedly spotted in the vicinity of the Sochi area and the Russian security forces will add additional manpower to locate and neutralize this threat. The Russians have already moved a large force of security personnel into the area, including nearly 100,000 FSB personnel here. Those who follow this blog or have a working knowledge of Russian political history will understand that the FSB is the latest variety of the old KGB with the FSB having the mandate to secure and observe any perceived threat within the borders of the Russian Federation.

While the threat to the Sochi area is real, the understandable Russian effort to protect the visitors and the Olympic athletes allows Putin to turn the screws on anyone or any group that could be identified as a thorn in the side of the Russian government. This is reportedly not the first time that Putin has done this. David Satter, a prominent author and journalist was expelled from Russia this week. Mr. Satter had, in his books, written that some of the atrocities attributed to the work of terrorists were actually carried out by the FSB (here).  Another FSB activity that is reminiscent of the cold-war KGB is here.

While any government can lawfully and morally use methods to protect itself, Mr. Putin’s government and his heavy-handed use of the FSB is beyond reasonable. This should be a reminder to the American government that we cannot simply pull out of global politics and allow the Russians to fill the vacuum.  We will not like the result.