One more if you are interested.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1221036/posts
In retrospect, at the time, both Italy and France had nearly identical forms of government in place.
They both appointed and probably still do appoint regional governors.
At the time, it being an iron fist was just Seattle beating the drum. And I lived there then. There is a good reason we moved to the midwest.
There are other threads where Putin was solidly backed here.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/776355/posts
And there is this, see post number 7
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1108874/posts#7
Then look at this if you like.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1721778/posts
We considered a trip to Abkhazia a few years ago.
I have always wanted to go there.
But the people there were like demons, the things they did to Georgians living there make nazis look nice.
In the end we just couldn’t go.
It wasn’t so much the Georgians but the incredible horrific cruelty toward them.
I thought I had heard everything.
They made the word sadism inadequate.
“Your adopted kids were, as you stated, “children no one else wanted” and needing medical interventions. Best I can see from the exchanges, hers were healthy enough, unless there are details not in evidence to the contrary, today probably in their thirties and getting married.”
Worldtraveler-once-upon-a-time-referenced your comment.
In fact, I did not lead with my children’s history on this public forum. However, the Russian doctor did ask us why as our children had been rejected for adoption by the Russian people.
Regardless, I believe we both give glory to God, not you or me, for the privilege to be parents of our children.