[Timber Rattler]

You need to understand the Russian psychology....they need and applaud strong leaders, for good or ill, going all the way back to the early princes and Mongol Khans. Although Stalin held nothing but contempt for his people(s), they loved him in spite of his brutality.

Putin will go down in Russian history as one of their greatest and most beloved leaders. Count on it.

[Marguerite]

“the Russian psychology....they need and applaud strong leaders”

The biggest country in the world (17,098,242 sq.k. 11.5% of the earth land, spread on two continents Asia /Europe) needs a strong leader like Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Alexander III. Weak leaders never lasted long in power in Russia.