Posted on 07/26/2004 5:18:02 AM PDT by OESY
Vladimir Putin relishes comparisons with his hero, Peter the Great, who forcibly modernized Russia. But the record and instincts of the Russian president, after four years in power, call to mind a different czar, Nicholas I.
...
Political pluralism, strong and independent institutions and a limited and open government are a sign of national strength. Mr. Putin's allergy to all of those is telling. As historian Nicholas Riasanovsky wrote of Nicholas I: "The sovereign's insistence on firmness and stern action was based on fear, not on confidence; his determination concealed a state approaching panic." In his time, Russia missed its chance to build a modern European state. Nicholas I died a bitter man and history hasn't been kind to him. Mr. Putin, unfortunately, doesn't give the impression that he's a history buff.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
The Russians are in a tough spot geo-politically as well as and in history.
IMO they will have to play very rough for the foreseeable future.
Putin is a Communist, period. If he had the troops to bring back a Communist government, he would do so in a second.
Right now, local politics in Russia are still dominated by Communists, although they may be called something else.
Communism in Russia will return in a more streamlined fashion. Rather then try to dominate by military force, they will do it on the political stage. Territory is a no win proposal. No one can hold that much land as the oppressor. It will be done at the ideology level.
We just have to pray that the 60's radicals die soon and that the Conservative movement in college gets legs. Oh, and four more years of Bush/Cheney.
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