Yes. The question is whether or not he did so out of self-interest or out of a desire to grab power. The one thing this article did do was point out extenuating factors I had not known about.

read the same article...Putin is a dictator, period...he just came out on top in a battle of dictators...

As I thought. Vladimir Putin is a quintessential Russian but is not a Communist. He did more than save his own country. He's the absolutely essential counterweight to the same intellectual oligarchs who threaten our freedom, just as they threatened his country's sovereignty.

Thanks Blair,
I read my copy with interest Sunday . I am no fan of Putin's govt. but he is a formidable foe. During the peace dividend days the Bill Clinton Admin. The US did next to nothing to assist the Russian people or the satellites to transfer to the capitalistic system .Top powerful communist became oligarchies gaming the system. How big a surprise is it when after being looted and screwed over that the people want change.

In the year 2000 Solzhenitsyn wrote: “As a result of the Yeltsin era, all the fundamental sectors of our political, economic, cultural, and moral life have been destroyed or looted. Will we continue looting and destroying Russia until nothing is left?” That was the year Putin came to power. He was the answer to Solzhenitsyn’s question.

British people went Brexit . US went Trump.

Hello,

I read this earlier today (I get the snail mail version) and have to say its pathetic that this needs to be spelled out for people.

First, I do not in any way trust the Russians, former Soviets. Second, I do trust that the Russians, like the Soviets, will always act in their best interests, something I respect. Third, I'm happy to see that there is again someone in the White House finally understand chess.

All external nations are not us, they are the competition and/or enemies. Its high time we started putting our interests ahead of everyone else.

"If I had to choose between Hitlery or Putin, I'd choose Putin."

No question.

Thanks for posting this, blarman.
Very interesting analysis.
If I had to choose between Hitlery or Putin, I'd choose Putin.