[Lazamataz]

With his treatment of Mr. Khodorkovsky, Mr. Putin again warned the oligarchs: I don't care how advanced and modern you are -- don't disobey my order.

This, of course, sounds a lot like the old days, when property rights didn't exist and the law was whatever the Communist Party chieftains decreed. Russia acquired capitalism but did so in a very messy way, and its version of capitalism remains very messy today. Departing from the free and easy ways of the Yeltsin administration, Mr. Putin has packed his government with his former colleagues in the KGB, now the FSB. Known as the siloviki (meaning "strong ones") they are reasserting the power of the state.

Not good.

RussianConservative, I leave it to you to personally oppose and bring down Mr. Putin. It is in your hands to take the country over and run it as you see fit. I, of course, will aid you by providing any American military hardware you may require.

[RussianConservative]

Actually I like Putin. I see no problem going after criminal element, even one who has Washington as lap dog to bark on command...what is pathetic is level of corruption in DC that it ready to throw away years of hard Foreign policy work so Exxon and Shevron get richer. Shame on West. As for EU and British in particular...when Islamics finally exterminate majority, we Orthodox will come to reChristianize.