I mean, the US has tons of problems and what's really disturbing are the trend lines -- seems like liberty peaked somewhere in the mid 70s with the CIA hearings.
But Russia being nicer than the US to US dissidents means nothing -- how do they act towards their own dissidents?
Agreed. Jailing Pussy Riot was/is definitely a pursuit of political persecution.
Well, technically, Russia acted very lawfully in this case - they did not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., and Snowden sought political asylum.
I'd like to think that behind the scenes, Putin just enjoyed poking a stick in Obama's eye, but I'm sure he had more rational reasons for resisting the U.S. than just personal pleasure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_Riot
I mean, the US has tons of problems and what's really disturbing are the trend lines -- seems like liberty peaked somewhere in the mid 70s with the CIA hearings.
But Russia being nicer than the US to US dissidents means nothing -- how do they act towards their own dissidents?