Fear Comes to the Russian Heartland

Dear US Forever - you know, there's something I just don't understand about your preoccupation with Putin/Medvedev. Are you this perplexed and outraged about Hosni Mubarak staying in power in Egypt for 25+ continuous years? How about the kings in Saudi Arabia - are you visceraly annoyed that they don't have a civil society because women can't even drive there and have to stomp around in thos disfiguring chadors? How about Pakistan - you know, all those child brides and the deal with the Taliban in the Swat Valley? Oh, and China - repressing protests in Tibet and supressing free speech during the Olympics - outrageous, isn't it? Here';s an ides - let's have them all at Levenworth!! Rah, Rah, Rah!!

But Russia does seem to really get your goat - doesn't it? Why is that? The only people who should be concerned about the Putin/Medvedev duo are the RUSSIAN people - and they don't seem to mind. So who are you to tell them what's good for them or interpose what you believe their democratic choices should be?

BTW..Can anyone find out for me how many allied troops have died liberating the USA? I can't seem to find that either. And my point here is.. Even though we would like a trully freely elected democratic government (ie for the people and by the people) for everyone; we know its not going to happen. And YES I know your argument here St Pete ("you ram your money and ideas down everyone's throat to make them be what you want them to be, part of your empire) they really don't have to take US taxpayer money. I think the US can use it to better advantage right now. And yes I know statically our aid isnt as high as some countrys. We all have our problems huh?

If Putin is a future inmate of Leavenworth - and it's really hard to see how that would happen (since when does the U.S. claim jurisdiction over the whole world as that statement implies and how exactly would one get Putin to Leavenworth (a secret trial at Guantanamo - with waterboarding?) - and which facility - the federal penetentiary or the military prison???) he will doubtless join the likes of such classic icons as G.W. Bush, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Rumsfeld and the indespensible Ms. Rice - who waged not one, but TWO regime change intervetions in Afganistan and Iraq - countries that are extremely close geographically to the United States and were itching for a THIRD (Iran) - wreaking nations and bringing untold misery to millions of foreign citizens - the purposes for which are not yet clear to most of the world and a majority of the people living in the United States - maybe it is to you. Then perhaps Putin can look into GWB's soul and I wonder what he'll see there? I would think it would be something barbaric - maybe like Attila the Hun?

As for my "potty training" - all of which took place in the USA, I might add - the US good - Russia evil conundrum permates all of American culture - shall I start quoting books, films, speeches, songs? Your own "potty training" is starting to show. I'm hoping that the Obama presidency shows greater sense in its dealing with the world and Russia in particular, than the idiotic hubris and paternalism of the last 8 years. Then, maybe three will be an America worth coming back to.

And what will you do if Russia fails? Ride to the "Rescue" and loot our natural resources? Thank God for people like Putin, who has the smarts and experience to anticipate the West and block it. As for the article being spot on or not - you really would do much, much better minding your own house. And there's nothing "weird" in that suggestion.

Dear US Forever - you're really surprised that not all Americans subscribe to the atrocious bias and Russophobia in the Western press - how touching! Don't need to sample Russian lafe - I've already live here for the last couple of years and like it. Can't tell you that I'm itching to get back to New York, what with the financial crisis, and mortgage forecloures, and massive layoffs and punging stock market. Don't feel that my rights are beign repressed. DOn't get beaten up when I show my US passport. Haven't seen any bears yet. Seem to have freedom of speech. Have yet to see Putin's goons that all of you are so worried about. People seem descent. Certainly not the overmaxed out credit card, cratering 401(k) crowd that one hangs out with back home. Maybe you should come have a look - could change or open your mind. Now wouldn't THAT be shocking?

Material in the article is put in such a way that while reading this one gets perception that: Putin is the reason for economy collapse in Russia. It is not. The real reason for WORLD financial crisis are banks, particularly US banks. That is where everything started. The same article may be written about any western country. The situation is not good for everyone. Somewhere even worse. Put had done everything exactly like Joseph ??? Bible story about the cows (while oil prices had went up for 7 years in a row, he created special multi-billion funds. And now these funds support Russian economy). US are in a better position. US has money printing press. Poulson needs 700B ??? just cash it; Obama asks for another 700B ??? here we go. The question is ??? who is going to pay back? Your children? Next generation after them? Who? US already has trillions of dollars in debt.

Looks like Stalin, I mean Putin, has a lot of explaining to do. The Russians are really to blame themselves.They have overwhelmingly supported this dictator and his anti-democartic policies.Instead of having journalists killed and businessmen jailed or exiled he should have been paying attention to the economy.

example and don't you ever, ever insinuate again .. What its off to the gulag with me??

Dear US Forever - From today's New York Daily News - Article about Angelina Jolie scouting filming locations in the Washington Height neighborhood of Manhattan - "Another neighbor believed a vacant eight-room apartment might have been chosen as the home for Angelina's character ??? an American spy wrongly accused of being a Russian double agent out to kill the President." One crude little example and don't you ever, ever insinuate again that there is not so much Russian bias in the US as my posts would have people believe. The bias is all pervasive and given Jolie's star-wattage power will be blasted around screens around the world in due course..

Who will recover first - Magnitogorsk or Flint, Michigan?