海角大神

President Obama鈥檚 鈥渞eset鈥� of US ties with Moscow since 2009 has forced him to juggle a plateful of practical priorities 鈥� from arms reduction to Kremlin help in the Afghanistan war.

But this weekend, he must focus on the most important American priority.

Tens of thousands of Russians plan to rally Saturday in dozens of cities in hopes of regaining their rights and dignity after the highly flawed election for parliament Dec. 4.

Daily flash protests began Monday in various cities. Young people, already upset at Vladimir Putin鈥檚 presumption of his return to the presidency, were further incensed by a YouTube video showing an official stuffing a ballot box.

Mr. Obama cannot ignore this surprise eruption of Russian frustration over Mr. Putin鈥檚 denial of basic democracy.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has already spoken up, giving support to the 鈥渞ights and aspirations of the Russian people.鈥� She also criticized the official conduct of the election. The wisdom of her action was reflected in the verbal tongue-lashing given to her by Putin.

Now Obama must openly side with the protesters. The leader of the free world cannot lead from behind on the question of freedom for the world鈥檚 largest country.
Obama was too quiet during Iran鈥檚 2009 protests for democracy. He was late in backing the 2011 Arab Spring. In both cases, young people looked for moral support from the American leader. Perhaps Obama was just too hesitant to adopt the 鈥渇reedom agenda鈥� of his predecessor.

With Russia possibly on the verge of its own 鈥渟pring鈥� (or color revolution), Obama cannot be hesitant again. Putin appears worried about his future. His popularity has dropped by 20 points. The party that backs him, United Russia, failed to win half the votes in the election 鈥� despite the heavy hand of the state to control the results.

Putin鈥檚 desperation is reflected in his attempt to pin the protests on the United States. But he鈥檚 simply playing the nationalist card, trying to conjure up a foreign foe in hopes Russians will rally behind him 鈥� rather than the ideals of a free society.

But Russians are fed up with the prospect of Putin possibly ruling until 2024 鈥� as well as over rampant corruption. The swarming of police against this week鈥檚 protests only shows the extent of an authoritarian mentality inside the Kremlin.

Even the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, has called for a new vote and for an official admission of 鈥渘umerous falsifications and ballot stuffing.鈥�

In recent months, Obama鈥檚 ties with Putin have been going downhill. Russia has not cooperated with the West on the Syrian uprising or Iran鈥檚 nuclear threat. It plans to place nuclear missiles near Europe as a way to force more concessions on a joint missile-defense shield. And it hints at pulling out of the New START treaty.

Such reversals of policy show just how little the West can trust Moscow until it adopts a full democracy. It鈥檚 time for Obama to put his trust in the Russian people.