Putin's Russia: rich, powerful, unpredictable and malicious | 52 comments (52 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Putin's Russia: rich, powerful, unpredictable etc (none / 0)

(Sorry, the full title of the piece won't fit into the limits of subject titles here.)

Jerome's question was whether or not the article is anti-Russian. In my opinion, no. It's merely honest.

The title of the piece leads in a somewhat different direction, and poses a separate set of questions.

Russia is not rich. A few people are.

Russia is powerful only insofar as energy and nuclear threats are taken into account. Otherwise, Russia is a second-world country, a wannabe, and a black joke as this year's head of G-8.

Russia is not unpredictable, if Russia = Kremlin, which = KGB and all that goes with the Chekist tradition.

Russia is malicious, if Russia = Kremlin. If "reduced" to Russian people, no. Most Russians I've ever met are among the nicest, kindest, gentlest, and most decent people I've ever met. Unfortunately, they are not "Russia" as represented in international contexts.

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The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
W. Churchill

by US expat Ukraine on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 05:48:36 PM EST

Re: Putin's Russia (none / 0)

Most Russians I've ever met are among the nicest, kindest, gentlest, and most decent people I've ever met.

I'll support that heartily (although I would say "Most Russians I have known rather than "met")

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 06:18:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Putin's Russia (none / 0)

...although I would say "Most Russians I have known rather than "met"

Would "known" be in the Biblical sense? Not to be snarky/snarkish/snarkful or whatever the pseudo-word is, nor meaning to split hairs unduly. In any case, among those I've met and/or known, however that's interpreted, they are wonderful, decent, gracious and generous people. So much so, in fact, that I've seriously come to doubt the adage that people get the government they deserve.

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The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
W. Churchill

by US expat Ukraine on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 10:51:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Putin's Russia: rich, powerful, unpredictable and malicious | 52 comments (52 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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