Vladimir Putin: A Man We Can "Do Business" With

Putin became the Chairman of the Council of CIS heads of state. In other words, he became the ostensible chief of the former Soviet Union, now called the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes all the former Soviet republics excepting the Baltic States.

Itar-Tass announced that Russia is "increasing its military orders in the defense industry." Russia's ammunition, shipbuilding and electronic industries have increased over 40 percent since a year ago. The reason for the increase, said the Itar-Tass story, was "the government's decision to build up defense orders ... keeping up the high pace of military production growth."

Even more interesting, Putin signed a decree last weekend, which appears to reestablish a system of political commissars in the Russian army. Of course, the secret police never stopped spying on military officers, but now the spy network will be extended and enlarged. Decree No. 318 calls for "the elimination of negative phenomena within the army environment" and calls on the FSB to especially monitor "unsanctioned army contacts with the press."

Putin is a militarist. He loves the Russian army. On Putin's first day in office, he signed a decree entitled "Readiness of Russian Citizins for Military Service." This decree authorized three hours a week of military training to students in state schools...