This is all good and well, but if one considers NATO a Cold War relic (and I see very few reasons not to consider it as such) with seemingly few other purposes than sticking it to the Russians, it is entirely predictable that attempts to expand that organisation on to Russia's borders would not go over particularly well. No need to ascribe it to dreams of Empire or the re-emergence of the Soviet Union. Deliberately attempting to provoke and isolate Russia is probably not the optimal way to transform Russia into a "responsible member of the world community".
I'd be the last person to argue that everything is coming up roses in Russia, but reducing it "Putin is evil" isn't particularly helpful, nor does it really tell us any of the "things to know and understand about Russia". But hey, if anyone is keeping score, maybe it would be an interesting exercise to count up how many persons have died as a result of Putin's actions, then do the same for Bush, and see who comes out on top.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde