...and the civilized east......isn't russia considered east anymore? I'm assuming they *are* considered civilized now.
Yes. There're still considered East. I view them as our comrades now all the same and definitely grouped among civilized nations. I'm 32 and the Soviet threat was ever present in my mind when I was growing up. Now they're our friends ... and they'll likely prove to be our primary source of foreign oil soon minimizing OPEC's leverage over us.
Yeah, you're right. I'm just stoked right now about this outcome. Ideologically and politically, I expect Russia will for practical purposes soon be considered part of the West. Already I almost do.