[struwwelpeter]

Normally I discount Novaya Gazeta, knowing their anti-Putin bias, but this article seemed to big to ignore.

Excuse the roughness of this quicky translation.

[struwwelpeter]

(ping)

[Askel5]

This is fascinating ... let me read it another time or two.

The result is that Russia has lost her business standing, including her ability to attract investment. She has demonstrated to the entire world that the laws of the marketplace do not take precendence to the political and personal interests of those who consider themselves the government.

Here's hoping this kind of thinking applies ONLY to the Rest of the World.

I'd hate to see what Uncle Sam's credit rating is these days, for starters.

[Askel5]

=== but international standards under a vertical government

By "vertical" ... is that like "top-down"?

[Askel5]

=== Today's pseudo-elite thus far are only weakly realizing that they have convinced themselves of an illusion.


All things considered of late ... particularly Putin's latest on Iraqi terrorism ... you have to wonder about those in the West as well who are not fully illumined already. Does this bode a Great Awakening or will it just be drowned out by the cheers for Putin?

I know you don't like their slant but I sure like their colorful sort of writing. What's this clean boots and hanky business?

[struwwelpeter]

(Ping)

[A. Pole]

The result is that Russia has lost her business standing, including her ability to attract investment.

How Khodorkovsky managed to become a billionaire "investor" within a couple of years?