Obama calls Putin

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

CBS's Mark Knoller reports:

Pres. Obama phoning congratulations from AF-1 to Pres-elect Vladimir Putin of Russia.

As the New York Times reported earlier in the week, there are serious charges that Putin rigged the election: "A day after claiming an overwhelming victory in Russia’s presidential election, Vladimir V. Putin on Monday faced a range of challenges to his legitimacy, including charges of fraud from international observers and a defiant opposition that vowed to keep him from serving his full six-year term."

Even the State Department called for an investigation into the election earlier in the week.

Yet with President Obama reportedly calling to congratulate Putin, apparently the White House isn't too concerned with the fraudulent election--or even its worrisome outcome.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-calls-congratulate-putin_633368.html

Did Obama call to congratulate...

...or ask for tips:

Russia jails female punk band members

Two members of an all-girl punk band have been jailed and may face stiff prison sentences for a prank-like performance inside Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral last month.

The harsh treatment of the musicians seemed to signal a rising intolerance for dissent in the wake of Sunday’s presidential elections which won Vladimir Putin a third term as Russian president.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0112976c-6938-11e1-9618-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1odoI5YH2