[A. Pole]

The Washington Times (or rather, Mr Lind) says the USA should have turned a blind eye to fraud and corruption so as to make friends with Vladimir Putin, and the spread of democracy is only OK when it does not hurt Americano-Russian diplomacy ? Nice. I like the way he bluntly says democracy isn't all that important, after all.

You use the ORWELLIAN understanding of democracy.

It was ANTI-democratic to massacre Russian Parliament in 1993 at the request of "democratic" Western leaders and freemarketeers after that Parliament resisted the transfer of national assets into hands of mafia and foreign speculators.

It is VERY democratic to have popular leader like Putin who does what MAJORITY of people wants him to do - ie to protect tha national interest and to get back the stolen wealth.

[Lukasz]

get back the stolen wealth

Good question, when they want to get back stolen wealth of other nations? Never of course, better is still be a thieve even if they have less nations to grab now. Democracy in Russia? You must have a lot of good/bad will to call Russia democratic country.