I spent some time there, years ago. The average Russian looked up to us, and wanted Americans to be their big brothers. A huge opportunity was missed, after the Cold War ended, if the cards were played correctly, we might have had a friendly relationship with a country that would have made a formidable ally.
I am not a Putin supporter, BTW. Thank you.
I agree with your post 11. Though I am neither a supporter nor hater of Putin. I am a little agnostic on the subject. He looks good to me, but I stay cautious because people I admire disagree. I have no way of knowing if some of the extreme criticism is true or not. I won’t believe or disbelieve something I cannot prove. He at least gives lip service to being a Christian. He has a much better moral gauge (Judeo-Christian) of what is right and wrong than Obama. He is fighting terrorism more smartly and effectively. He is more straightforward and honest than Obama. Whether you like what he does or not, you can predict it. He says over and over again what he is going to do “if” long before he does it. He loves and defends his own country.
Anyway, regardless of Putin, I find Russians very smart, overall, and likable. Any country that gave us Tetris can’t be all bad, haha.
I am going to add one more thing. I wish them success. I am happy for the direction their country has taken, with the fall of the USSR and I hope it leads to more and more prosperity, goodness, and success. I think too many Americans treat them like enemies and leave them feeling like we want to keep them down. That is a big mistake that has cost us the little bit of trust we were beginning to gain. The burden was with us to build trust after the collapse of the USSR because we were the stronger one. Instead we have squandered the opportunity and re-established mistrust, leading to a second Cold War. It is one of the great tragedies of our time and we carry the blame. As they regain strength, we could have been allies rather than enemies. But the U.S. has been busy tossing all of its fundamental values. Russia has not become perfect, but they have been moving in the right direction while we have been moving in the wrong direction. Who will God bless?
What a crazy world.
Unortunately, the Clinton administration was too busy cozying up to the Russian Mafia , interesting itself only in corrupt contributions.
Recall that Gore was in charge of relations with Russia (as Clinton was himself dealing with -- and for -- the ChiComs).
At the time, while Gore was collecting graft, we were granting substantial foreign aid grants to Russia. But it had to be spent on consulting contracts with Clinton crony banking, financial and consulting services.
It was indeed a golden opportunity missed...