[zeestephen]

Re: “Yeltsin’s horrific downfall, and replacement by Vladimir Putin — an authoritarian welcomed by Russians after the America-fueled chaos.”

As I recall, Putin was Yeltsin’s hand picked protégé.

True? False?

[dfwgator]

You mean like Hitler was Hindenburg’s hand-picked protégé?

[montag813]

As I recall, Putin was Yeltsin’s hand picked protégé.

Correct. And he reportedly modeled his political ascent on Hitler's campaign of nationalistic revival against "The criminals of Versailles," because of anger at how Soros and others raped the economy. And boy did it ever work. Putin's been in there for 4 U.S. presidents. And counting.