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"Square that with their cozy relationship with Saddam and now that nut in Iran."

$$$$$$$$$$ and a HUGE mistake. Iran is potentially more dangerous for Russia than for us. I see Primakov's influence on these latest moves. The sooner that guy is out of the picture the better.

"However, I don't think as of yet they have abandoned the old methods or decided on a new direction. Until they do they are trying to keep their toes in both camps. That can't work either."

This is the root of all of their problems actually. They haven't been "trained" on how to operate a democracy. So, they rely on what they know best - unfortunately (and most of them will admit this) it's what they learned during the Soviet Union. That's what I mean when I said we lost a lot of time on this during Clinton/Bore years. We had a perfect opportunity to "mentor" and blew it. And the younger generation that is learning the "proper" way bolts for another country at the first opportunity. We need Russia to get it's "stuff" together because it would bring more stability in the world. Bush needs to have a real "heart-to-heart" with Putin about the recent mistakes Russia has been making. Unfortunately, Cheney's speech in Lithuania will cloud any inroads we could make there. Such issues should have been first discussed "in private" - then, if rebuffed, public speeches are warranted.

It has been known for awhile that Russia and China have had their hands in this war on terror and on the side of the terrorists. They were helping the Muslims in Kosovo, etc., even though the Serbs were Communists. They have been in Iraq and Iran as well as Libya and others.

I have always marveled at this alliance and could only attribute it to, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." I have supposed that once the USA is defeated the Communists would then annihilate the Islamists with their superior weapons. They would not be concerned with following the rules they insist we follow. It would be scorched earth take no prisoners war. The Muslims would be thoroughly subdued until they couldn't even whimper.

Bush 41 was President when the USSR crumbled and he sent Bob Strauss, a long time Democrat power broker and fellow Texan, to Russia to help them make the transition. Shortly afterward Slick Willie was elected and sent in a bunch of Harvard liberals to teach them how they thought democracy worked - loot the country and cement power.

It was their advice to the oligarchs to buy up all the good stuff cheap and keep control for themselves. That is how that whole ball was started rolling. So, I guess the USA is partly responsible but not true Americans were responsible. Instead it was Americans who are busy making the UDA into the USSR, or maybe a version of what Russia now is.

Maybe that is more of the mixed messages you are talking about.