[Howlin]

I don't guess we're going to get an answer; he's off on his new mission from God:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/877546/posts?page=25#25

[hchutch]

Did he forget his tinfoil?

There is a simple explanation for a lot of this:
Most of this Russian stuff appears to have gone over to Iraq during the time Yeltsin was suppedly in charge of things. While Yeltsin was drinking himself into oblivion, stuff happened.

However, if the extent of Yeltsin's malfeasance in this area were to be exposed, it would arguably give the Communists a new shot at relevance. They are not nice folks, you realize, and that is to the tune of 100 million dead if you believe some of the estimates.

So, Putin is protecting Yeltsin - the price, if you will, for allowing the bloodless palace coup to take place in 2000. As such, Bush and Putin will end up working together at a later date on matters. I'll even bet that the new government of Iraq decides to honor the debts Saddam made with Russia.

France and Germany, on the other hand, are toast.