[Sam Gamgee]

You actually think Putin is a Democrat? Then why when Paan American Silver had a mine in Russia did he turn the property over to the lowest bidder, a personal friend of Putin? Why does he object to capitalism and is turning Russia back 20 years on its reform? Why is he nationalizing Russian industry once more? And why is it, unlike Nazi Germany, has Russia never removed its vestiges of Communism that still stand out throughout the nation? He even threatened Estonia when they wanted to pull down a statue of Lenin.

[dfwgator]

I don’t hold Russia to the same standards as the US...I do believe his rule is much more benign than that of the former Soviet Union.

[dfwgator]

You realize Poland still has many vestiges of their former Communist rule in place, years after the triumph of Solidarity.

It will take at least another generation for Russia to make a complete transition from 70+ years of Bolshevik rule.