Posted on 02/22/2005 10:16:12 PM PST by Destro
FEBRUARY 28, 2005
Deciphering Putin
Autocrat? Democrat? The truth is more complex
It's getting harder and harder to figure out Vladimir V. Putin. At times the Russian President looks like the reincarnation of a Soviet-era dictator, restricting the media, abolishing regional elections, and interfering in a neighboring country's election. At other times he acts like a bold market reformer, risking the ire of babushkas from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok by cutting popular communist-era benefits such as free transportation and medicine for retirees and veterans.
Which Vladimir Putin is real? Which side of his personality will be dominant in the remaining three years of his second term?
Those questions will be much on the minds of George W. Bush and his advisers when they meet with Putin and his entourage in Slovakia in late February. This meeting, with suspicions building on both sides, will be a far cry from their earlier get-togethers when the two seemed to be forging a new era in Russia-U.S. relations. Any further progress with Russia depends on having a better understanding of its complex leader. Here are some of the assumptions the West now makes about Putin -- and the complex reality that makes any definitive statement about him impossible.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
A list of assumptions about Putin and answers to those assumptions follow - so click and read the article.
You are free to read the Rev. Moonie (aka Jesus) owned Washington Times -
I don't trust ANY source
Trust but verify when it comes to news sources.
In this case I see no agenda and my senses tell me even handedness in reporting and analysis.
Thanks for posting. Some interesting information in the 4 assumptions, although limited in scope and context.
Putin is difficult to figure out. Hopefully the man is simply a Russian patriot. If his loyalty is to his own people, I can't fault him for that. He will not see eye-to-eye with the US on every occasion, of course. If only our own leaders would put the interests of the American people above those of the UN, illegal immigrants, and transnational corporations. Genuine patriotism is a virtue. Even so, I find the sale of armaments to Syria and Iran disturbing. How can such a thing be in the best interests of Russia?
Wars in the near future will be fought over issues like the War of Jenkins Ear.
The problem, Destro, is that there are NO Western leaders who work in the interests of theor own nations. (if only they would.) Rather, they serve one transnational agenda (Chirac) or another (Bush). If, as I suspect, Putin is simply a Russian patriot seeking to advance the interest of his own people, it would be natural for globalists like Chirac and Bush to denounce him as a "Hitler." No surprise there.
Thanks for your always informative and insightful posts. Don't let the flying monkeys around here discourage you.
BTT
That is why Putin seems like a good ally in some areas - like fighting terrorisim - neutral in some others like Iraq and hostile like over Iran. They all make sense from a Russia first perspective.
What Americans are putting America first? I see none.
That's because you wouldn't know the first thing about putting America first.
America's interest do not stop at the water's edge. They span the globe.
Globalist, eh?
Nope.
No, he's not a globalist, he just likes globalism and being involved every where, whether it helps the US or not, but that's not globalism, no, not at all.
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