You don't have to understand Yiddish to know what chutzpah means. Just read the accounts of Colin Powell's criticisms of Putin for saying he intends to "consolidate" executive power, ban or curtail political parties, and take control of regional elections. Powell apparently feels that although fighting terrorism is important, "one has to strike a proper balance to make sure that you don't move in a direction that takes you away from the democratic reforms or the democratic process." USA Today goes on to report that the U.S. federal government has been accused of ignoring moves in Russia to go backward on democratic reforms. Unmentioned in the article are the concerns many Americans and many civil liberties organizations in the United States have about the sacrifice of democratic process and constitutional protections to the so-called "war on terrorism." Can you say Patriot Act?

Read about Powell's sermon here.