[wideminded]

That's what I think drives Putin, pure self absorbtion.

The consolidation of power and the elimination of dissent which has been going on in Russia, sometimes in the name of national security, is all about Putin.

[N. Beaujon]

The consolidation of power and the elimination of dissent which has been going on in Russia, sometimes in the name of national security, is all about Putin.

That has always been the story of Russia. It's always been the story of the USSR. This is the first time in history where the world gets to watch what is going on in Russia, so dissent has not been eliminated. My stepbrother is a journalist there, by the way, dissent has not been eliminated. The days of state run Pravda are gone.

If dissent had been eliminated in the name of national security, the chechnan's would not be here. Remember what triggered their rampage was an actual free election. True, it was Russia's idea of what was free but it seems to me that it was the Chechens who were eliminating dissent. Or are you suggesting that the Chechen style of dissent is of the type that should be tolerated?