If this is so, then our own MSM led me astray in comprehending that it was Putin running the military/Medvedev running the economy -- when, reading the above, it appears it is just the opposite.
Now, things make MUCH more sense to me. If Putin is indeed more in charge of those matters Economic, as covered in the remainder of the article, Medvedev has royally mucked up Russia's economy through his orders to invade Georgia.
I got it. The above, as worded is SPIN by the NY times. As manager of the economy, why wouldn't Putin want to assess the damages and the monies which may be necessary to "fix" things. I don't think were I he, I'd be trusting a General or So Ossetian to give me the damage assessments.
Yes, NY Times has spun the above. This tells me that someone, somewhere at the NYT wouldn't mind at all seeing another Cold War.