At Least You're Not On Putin's Bad-Side

The American news media sits in a sorry state these days, from marching with untested assumptions into Iraq to providing religious bigots platforms for attacking atheists. But if you're a journalist in America, take some comfort in the fact that President Putin hasn't put you on his enemy's list ... if he hasn't, that is.

For example, yesterday's news contained a triple whammy for those who may get in Putin's way. Respected Russian journalist, Ivan Safronov, who reported on military affairs, just happened to fall out of his apartment window. Paul Joyal, an expert on Russian intelligence who recently accused the Russian government of involvement in the poisoning of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, was shot outside his suburban Washington home. Rounding out Putin's putdowns, riot police broke up a rare opposition march in St. Petersburg where thousands shouted words like "Freedom."

It's comforting that President Bush refers to Putin as a "friend."