Russia has successfully test-fired one of its heavy, aging intercontinental missiles. No test on this particularly powerful model had been done since the collapse of the empire. The timing was curious, four days before pro-Western Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko tries again to win the office today. The first ballot was thrown out because of massive fraud put in focus by the astounding but peaceful protests of the Orange Revolution. That Ukraine might adopt an independent democracy is troubling to Vladimir Putin, autocrat of Russia. The former KGB officer is unnerved by the prospect of democracy on his doorstep and the example it provides to the old empire -- so much so that Russian troops still are garrisoned in Ukraine and Putin's hands are smelly with interference in its internal affairs. The "winner" of the fraudulent election, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, is in Putin's hip pocket. And what of Putin's now discredited, short-lived reputation as a democrat? He just sold an oil-producing unit of oil giant Yukos -- which owes $27.5 billion in back taxes -- to an unknown entity for a Byzantine purpose suspected to be directing oil revenues to the government and Putin-friendly oligarchs. The deal wasn't transparent, but Putin is transparently authoritarian and dangerous. To Ukrainians we wish, therefore, freedom and safety -- the former most earnestly.

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