The West has actually taken offense to Vladimir Putin, who criticized the United States at the security conference in Munich for the way it behaves on the international arena. Putin called things by their proper names, diplomatically saying nothing about the growing derangement of U.S. policies. The Bush Administration increasingly deserves to be called the "Washington Oblast Committee" (REFERENCE to erstwhile CPSU oblast committees) -- but now it is not only because of its directive actions worldwide but because its style resembles the main features of Soviet times.

Decisions made by the White House increasingly run counter to common sense but are in line with ideological phantoms, while the professionals coming to work in the "oblast committee" either accept the rules of the game or quit.
Let us cite just the most obvious signs of "stagnation" (common description of Brezhnev era) -- as they are seen by Americans themselves, notably. Ignoring Country Experts and Scientific Community Chances of victory in Iraq are not higher than they were in Vietnam in the 1960's or Afghanistan in the 1980's. However, instead of heeding recommendations of the Baker-Hamilton commission, George Bush listens to the advice of those who plunged him into the Iraqi war. The plan to increase U.S. troops in Iraq was developed at the
American Enterprise Institute under the guidance of John Hannah, Vice President Cheney's national security adviser. Practically all independent
U.S. experts consider the Bush plan on Iraq abortive. Yet, their opinions have not been taken into consideration. Corn Two: Perseverance in Error The U.S. President is imposing "democracy American style" on Iraq with the same zeal as Khrushchev once did corn in agriculturally adverse regions. This is what William Odom, the patriarch of U.S. military and foreign-policy thought, believes: "The perception that the United States can create a liberal democracy in Iraq contradicts all the specialists know about.

Of 40 democracies that appeared in the world after World War II, fewer than 10 conform to U.S. standards at present and there is not one country of Arab or Islamic culture among them." Yet, nobody will listen to him. Expanding the Socialist Camp at All Costs While losing the war in Iraq, the White House has
adopted a course toward war with Iran -- almost like Brezhnev, who got bogged down in Afghanistan but continued adventurist actions in Angola and
Mozambique. A strike group is hastily being built up in the Persian Gulf and the U.S. troops in Iraq have been ordered to detain or kill "Iranian agents" providing help to Shia armed groups.

"2007 will become the year of Iran in U.S. policy," John Hannah brags. Paul Pillar, former chief U.S. intelligence analyst on Iraq, believes that to justify a possible strike on Iran, the White House is using the same tactic that it used
when preparing the war with Iraq, adopting a simplified approach and wangling intelligence information. Adventurism Erik Kraus, a prominent investment analyst, writes that "following a long series of 'foreign-policy successes' -- North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs, the Middle East settlement, Africa (which is under increasing Chinese influence), South America (viva Chavez!) -- the Bush regime has finally paid attention to Europe, demonstrating its typical lack of respect for anyone's interests not coinciding with those of the United States." Pressured by Washington, the North Atlantic Alliance is moving its borders closer and closer to Russia. So-called "light NATO bases" -- for now, for 5,000 bayonets -- are being deployed in Bulgaria and Romania. Plus, they are going to deploy a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic (allegedly, for protection from Iranian missiles). Bush's adventurism is meeting increasingly stronger rejection in Europe.

"At the Request of Czech Comrades"
The United States is restricting sovereignty of its partners. Even the USSR never confronted its allies with a decision made for them as an accomplished fact -- even in 1968, the authorities of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic had a legitimate right to ask for the introduction of troops. For Washington, however, it is the usual routine: Pentagon announced recently that Ukraine would cooperate with the United States on missile defense. Did they ask
for Kiev's opinion? On a Komsomol (Lenin Communist Youth League)

Recommendation

The extremely ideologized atmosphere inside the increasingly "Brezhnevesque" White House crushes even the most sober-minded foreign-policy professionals. Former State Secretary Colin Powell was effectively frozen out of his post and
Phillip Zelikow, the key adviser and teacher of State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, quit as well.

The most indicative metamorphosis happened to the new Pentagon boss, Robert Gates, who started his office two months ago by declaring that Russia
had every reason to be worried about its security and that the war in Iraq was not being won. Now, he says that Russia is an enemy of the United States.

Betting On Marginal Losers
Last week, the White House considered it useful to conduct secret negotiations with Garri Kasparov, "the leader of the marginalized Russian opposition," as he is called by The Washington Post. Kasparov gave the "oblast committee" a
precious piece of advice: "Do not receive Putin as a friend," which means not treating him as an equal leader of the democratic world. A different Russian politician, State Duma Deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, asked the United States in an interview to The New York Times to reduce world oil prices.

What for? Let us quote Ryzhkov: "When oil prices jumped, reforms slowed down... This is why a question for you, Americans, is: When will these prices go down? For us, Russian democrats, it is the only hope." That is right, the truly
Bolshevik-style straightforwardness: "A defeat of our government in the war encourages a revolution" (quote from Lenin). By the way, Ryzhkov simply repeated a promise made by Kasyanov two years ago.

There is also the last sign, which can be skipped though. In our country, you can read every day critical articles written by U.S. mass media about Russia. In our country, they are translated and cited in radio programs. Journalists know specialized resources. This article will not be translated in the United States. The United States is not interested to know what others write about it. The iron curtain.

Izvestia