Chess champion and Human Rights Foundation chair Garry Kasparov predicted that President Obama’s weakness would be used to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s advantage. History has proven him right, but he’s definitely not happy about it:
Violent repression of the body naturally accompanies the repression of the mind in unfree states. Ukrainians are fighting to stay free.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 18, 2014
Putin's Kremlin & media have encouraged civil war in Ukraine, hoping for bloody crackdown to end democracy & to send message to Russians.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 18, 2014
Viktor Yanukovych is the pro-Russian president of Ukraine who is crushing opposition to his government cozying up to Putin.
Yanukovych is reaping the whirlwind of his repression. He must go before more die. We know he has no spine; now we'll see if he has a soul.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 18, 2014
If Yanukovych succeeds in using force to crush rights & democracy, perhaps the IOC will consider Ukraine as an Olympic host nation.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 18, 2014
Recall that Putin invaded Georgia during Olympics in 2008. Yanukovych using Sochi as distraction from use of force, long prepared.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 18, 2014
Murderous repression in Ukraine was foretold by confusion and moral cowardice of EU/US on Syria and elsewhere versus Putin's pressure.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
Yanukovych is too pathetic to order such brutality without direction from Moscow. They waited for Sochi distraction while West dithered.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
When the free world fails to provide aid where needed most or even a credible deterrent against violence, thugs like Putin gain influence.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
US, Germany, others now calling Yanukovych as bloody assault on Maidan rages. To say what? To beg? What credibility do they have for action?
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
In one call, Putin can say he'll turn off the gas to Ukraine or give them $15 billion. And he can back it up. EU & US only feeble talk.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
After Assad crossed Obama's 'red line' I wrote that dictators and would-be dictators were watching closely and would be greatly encouraged.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
What is happening in Kiev terrifies Putin & is one reason he continues to crack down harder, to push even more propaganda in Russia now.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
The idea Putin would relax during Sochi to impress journalists was stupid. Instead, using Olympics as distraction to increase repression.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 19, 2014
Just as he said, Kasparov criticized Obama for his weakness on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and predicted it would be a boon for dictators like Putin five months ago:
Yes, I was surprised & disappointed by Obama's decision to not act in Syria. It was a big win for al-Assad, Putin, & others like them.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) September 1, 2013
A "red line" means you strike immediately if crossed. Obama's line was in the sand and al-Assad wiped it away. A huge blow to credibility.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) September 1, 2013
Obama will lose with Putin and al-Assad will celebrate. Obama refuses to make any big moral case, the only effective weapon vs evil.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) September 6, 2013
It’s too bad our worst predictions for this president always seem to come true.
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