Garry Kasparov: The Match Of His Life

Steve Kroft Interviews The Chess Legend About His Political Ambitions

(CBS)  Posner admits he has not had Kasparov as a guest on his political talk show. Why not?

"Because Channel One will not allow it," Posner explains.

"Is this changed since Putin became president?" Kroft asks.

"Definitely," Posner replies.

"So, you agree with Kasparov when he says that the democratic reforms that came into being initially have been rolled back…" Kroft asks.

"They never really took root," Posner tells Kroft. "And they were rolled back, yes. Yes, absolutely."

But most Russians don't seem to mind. Many of them would like to see Putin rule with an even-stronger hand.

"Kasparov represents the attitudes of three or four percent of the electorate who are liberal and are very dissatisfied with Putin," says Vyacheslav Nikonov, who is a top Russian political analyst who advises the Kremlin.

How important is democracy to the Russian people?

"If you conduct public opinion polls, and you ask the people what are the issues you are most worried about, you won't get democracy among the top 30," Nikonov explains. "You'll get jobs."

"The top 30?" Kroft asks.

"Yeah, you'll get jobs. You'll get corruption. You'll get crime. You'll get social welfare. But, there'll be no democracy," Nikonov says.

"We've talked to Russian commentators of varying political persuasions. Everyone here believes that Putin is incredibly popular. That people believe the economy has improved. That they like the stability. And that they aren't that concerned with democracy," Kroft tells Kasparov.

"Yes, within the center of Moscow, in the center of St. Petersburg and in some oil rich regions, yes. You could see this country, the country that you just described with growing middle class. Prosperity," Kasparov says. "The problem is there's another country of 120 million that lives on other side of the fence. And this country's very different from one that we just described."

"If things are so bad here, why is Putin's popularity rating between 70 and 80 percent?" Kroft asks.

"I don't know about this popularity rating. I think that if U.S. administration had the same kind of control of media I think Bush's rating would be 75, 80 percent as well," Kasparov says.

When he's not in Russia, Kasparov travels the world making speeches and writing books. The latest, about how the principles of chess can be applied to life, will be published this month. Though he doesn't compete in professional tournaments anymore, he told Kroft he sometimes plays late at night, just for fun on the Internet, using an alias.

"For me, it's an important part of mental relaxation," Kasparov explains.

"So, there are people out there that have, may have played chess with you online that had no idea they were…" Kroft asks.

"Oh, I think quite a few. They can get an idea, because, obviously, they can recognize a steady hand," Kasparov says. "It's still a steady hand."

Putin's term ends in May and the Russian constitution bars him from seeking re-election. Most analysts believe that whoever Putin endorses will win the next election hands-down.

Asked if he expects that election to be democratic, Nikonov tells Kroft, "Well, at this point, there is no need for the Kremlin to falsify the election. Putin is so popular that he can translate his popularity to his successor."

"You're not saying that he wouldn't think of it. You're saying he doesn't need to," Kroft remarks.

"Well, at this point, yes, the Kremlin does not need to falsify the election," Nikonov says.

Kasparov hasn't said whether he'll run for elected office himself or throw his support behind another candidate. With parliamentary elections in December and presidential elections in March, the stakes will soon rise, and perhaps the perils.

"The more dangerous he seems to the powers that be, the more danger to him," Posner says.

Why is Kasparov doing this, given that he's already wealthy and famous?

"Look, it's my country," Kasparov says. "I believe that I have to try to change it for better. And it's following the motto of the Soviet dissidents that I learned [in] my childhood: 'Do what you must and so be it.' And I do what I must."

[rynodullboy]

This country has outlived a normal democracy, due to its helpless citizens. You at CBS, with a humanistic soul, which for many reasons are incapable of touching, will air this story as our young men and women die as you continue you treachery. This country will die soon, I hope the deepest levels of hell exist for you.

[morsel22]

Sorry for the repeated posts. Whenever I clicked the ''publish'' button I kept getting a msg saying something like ''the publish button has been temporarily disabled''. :(

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[kymato3]

"Kasparov is national hero..."

mr.Steve Kroft what kind of drugs do you us,when a write article ?

[prinzowhales]

Alas, snidegrass, ''Liz is not me Mum.
I was birthed in a berth, fathered by
dock workers, formed of steel, alive
with sinew and blood, launched too early
by far from the womb and christened at
Cammell Lairds at Birkenhead and after
tea with a German Chancellor, hauled a
nasty fat man to Newfoundland. But,
while touring the Pacific, ill
advisedly, I might add, was lost
beneath the waves after leaving
Singapore and reborn...and re-christened
"Prinzowhales", by my new sounding friends.

[tnt1954]

in casino royale, the movie starring daniel craig,
vesper lynd, is so sadly a traitor due to her
country sweden, being bankrupt and somehow she
must get that money for her country sweden. the
lynds have been hounded for years ever since
jenny lind took more than her fair share from
p.t. barnum when she was the most famous singer
in the world, the swedish songbird. she was one
of the biggest draws in the world in the century
of dickens. a most interesting biography to read,
jenny lind. some spell it lynd. daniel tried
so hard to save vesper even if she had to go
over to the enemy with the money. but in the end
we find out the evil isle of wight is behind it,
rather like the old nazi actor, wilfred hyde-whyte,
with his always sly fox grin. get him james.
scandinavia is no longer neutral. who says
a cartoonist cannot draw what he wants? blasphemy
laws? c''mon. lapland, sweden station to the
rescue. now, let''s all get along on the curling
ice.

[tnt1954]

ya know i betcha you really are charles the prince
of wales. the cavaliers are up against the roundheads again as they have been for quite some
time. in 1967, with mick jagger under house
arrest at kings row, i was no more than ten yards
from your mother, elizabeth and king faisal as
they rode through hyde park in royal carriage.
my first impulse was violent. with american
brainwashing. but i checked myself, even though
i was a rather ardent stones fan. i saw mick
jagger too, emerge from kings row apartments
where he was under house arrest, as we whizzed
by on a double decker red bus. what a thrill
for me. i hope fickling''s disease can be stopped.
fickle fickling of norfolk and norwich. a long
distinguished line. they are so indecisive at times.
but ever so determined to crank out super profits
and defeat that mountebank trump. i had to work
for my uncle for free in after the 1987 crash
in sayville, ny. the least we could do after
my ma found him her birth family, and he almost
fainted dead away. so we pitched in there, got
him going again. its a strange disease first
appeared in the medical literature after the
magna carta in the 13th century to oddly enuff
only ficklings there in norfolk county. and
it spread. very contagious disease. has definite
symptoms, especially of vendetta and revenge.
like the count of monte cristo. good luck charles.
nobody likes you really, but i think you''re a real
swell guy, just to be in the british military. wow.

[tnt1954]

i apologize i have made a minor error. the chess
match i spoke of in 2002 was an israeli championship
between emil sutovsky and ilia smirin, both soviet
emigres'' to israel. they are still both only
in their twenties. do not underestimate the power
of senility. some of us, receive dementia early
in life against their will, from many causes, even
chemical warfare. the german swiss corporation
sandoz inc. was most effective for the nazis.
hoffman was most diligent in 1939 in developing
lsd-25 and many other derivatives for use by
the fuehrer at a great price of course, for
world conquest as one of hoffman''s favorite
songs also was ''ride of the valkyries'' by wagner.
mine happens to be swan lake by tschiaowsky.
and the nutcracker suite. saw it at the pilgrimage
theater in hollywood, ca at about 3 years of age.
born in los angeles, just off skid row on hope st.
its only natural that ''colorful'' things happen
to them, even in checkmate, one of the shows i
was in with doug mcclure and sebastian cabot.
looks like the Greatest Depression is the way.
can we get out of checkmate even after it has
happened. perhaps. thanks for the circus comment.

[prinzowhales]

snidegrass--Well, lucky, lucky me...the 17th is my birthday...and I was very, very disappointed with the San Francisco earthquake...I''m hoping for something better this time...ponies, perhaps, and dancing bears.

[tnt1954]

the 2002 chess match between russia and israel
was fascinating with the sicilian defence. israel
won, russia resigning about five moves before
checkmate. odds isn''t it. i was kinda a chess
fan there for some time, even with clocks way
back in the early 70''s. learned as a little kid
from my neighbor genius. actually rootin tootin
putin disputin rasputin. in the union of soviet
america, it is somewhat the same way as in russia.
thanks mr. kroft for the great story. as the 90th
anniversary of the bolshevik revolution approaches,
try and remember how the bums were thrown out,
the soviets withdrew from the great war, and people
in russia obeyed the edicts of fatima, portugal
and shared and shared alike. october 17th is
going to be quite some day, for stock markets
around the world. some say us stock markets
will plummet 90% in one hour on that day. sober
nations is angry. charity is a joke. we get
calls from organziations who allegedly feed the
poor of russia. its a bunco racket. nothing
gets to the poor at all. the return of the bolshoi.
but should you be forced to share and share alike?
common stock? peasant stock?

[prinzowhales]

The swindler Kasparov caught up, perhaps, in an Oligarch''s web? He is of Armenian and Jewish heritage...hardly someone who could be called "Russian" in this day and age, regardless of his passport.

http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/12/30/41541.html

Kasparov is a good Neo-Con--he is a liar--a slinking, no good cur whose loyalty is measured in shekels...yet another piece of flotsam picked up for a song by criminal oligarchs hiding out in London and Israel and used to attack the democratically elected Vladimir Putin.

This idiot savant of the chess world talks of the emasculation of the Russian Parliament under Putin and whines that, "The glimmer of democracy during Boris Yeltsin''s years, however messy, [is] being entirely extinguished %u2026 Russia today is a police state masquerading as a democracy," Kasparov said.

Do you really think that the chess champ has forgotten that the drunkard Yeltsin SHELLED PARLIAMENT INTO SUBMISSION!! Do you think he fogets that this Parliament supportED President Putin freely and is freely elected--unshelled, un-threatened and unharmed?

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/06/19/kasparov-speech.html?ref=rss

Kasparov presents us with the same old lies and the same old grudges. Perhaps he would be more convincing if he were not the lackey of oligarch Berezovksy. President Putin has been elected and re-elected President...while Kasparov plays his lying games.

[truthheals]

So Gary, how much is billionaire Boris Berezovsky paying you to challenge Putin?