Osu, I found that funny (predictable too): Putin returns to presidency! So, what now? Obama-Clinton --- Clinton-Obama? Osu!
It's all very well, but Putin is still probably the best ruler Russia has had for a long, long time. Yeltsin was a drunken joke, and most of the people before him were either monsters, lunatics,ineffectual, or all three. Yes, he might be a little less than 100% transparently democratic. But who cares when he restores Russia's pride? And most of the criticism from the west is for exactly that reason- they don't want a strong Russia.
Osu, I tend to agree with you here Knight_Errand. Gorbatchev was also a good leader... just unlucky to find himself "in-between" Osu!
Putin is massively popular in Russia, it's the kind of popularity normally reserved for national sports stars. Unfortunately, he isn't popular with the West.
Haha now I get it, in my defense you spelled it wrong it has two L's. So when I googled it it didn't make sense. I was thinking more along the line of the Russian relationship with Georgia and that Putin tried to assassinate their President, and the take over their territory, evicting people from their homes.
Put more accurately, the Georgians killed Russian peacekeepers, and then had the nerve to act all innocent when the Russian army turned up. Why exactly should Russia put up with a hostile state on its border committing warcrimes?
So, errr... got anything interesting to say about Afghanistan? Hey, you want strong Russia, you can have it - as long as it's on YOUR doorstep.
I hate putin. Hated him ever since Kursk. The man went on vacation during the week that was happening and got back and other countries including the US offered help and he refused them because he 'didn't want to let any secrets out' When a russian woman complained, Putin's men jabbed her with a needle to shut her up.
FrankenKarlein protects Putin...ergo i won't say anything against him lest he lay the entire countryside to waste!
