Just overheard the Glenn Beck’s comment on a radio, that a “ New evil”, Russian Pr. Putin arises again. With the respect to the “comedian-like” shows of Mr. Beck, we do not have a good international news coverage here. For instance, we know very little even about our neighbors, Mexico or Canada, where new governments are acting now.
True, Russia is not an entirely “American – style democracy” yet. State Governors are being appointed rather than elected. There is no full-scale political competition, some say just imitation (where it’s not?...). But the President seems to be leaving and federal election would take place in 2008 and right after the parliament’s.
Economically, last 5 years Russian GDP grows 6-8% annually. There is a stable middle class. Russian credit rating was upgraded to AAA-, as it’s in Israel or S. Africa.
Russia federal government stands for free market values and the key ministers are West oriented/educated. Russia is trying to use its advantages having big territory and large deposits of natural resources. Russia is the N1 gas producer and could be the N1 oil producer as well. Practical but free market approach of Russian gov made Ukraine and Belarus mad because Ukraine and Belarus for years used to take advantage of cheap Ru resources and broker them out further to Western Europe. Ru stock market grew 67% last year and a number of bond IPOs increased 10 times.
President Putin effectively resolved the most painful Ru problem – Chechnya. Unlike the Afghanistan or even Iraq, Chechnya has a stable local government and there is no “guerilla war” anymore. I truly believe that Pentagon should take a close look at this and maybe, get help or at least a good,”by all means”, advice.
The next Ru President, most likely Mr. Medvedev, in my opinion, would be even better. There are no macro economical reasons not to invest in Russia.
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like i said, forget what all the talking heads say, and just follow the capital, my opinion is the people that invest it know more than all the academics, think tanks, and cluless media types combined
Has Medvedev spent any time outside of Russia?
he is a professional attorney and spent some time in Sweden. u can find his bio (ru only) at
http://medvedev-da.ru/about/index.php?PHPSESSID=56409441268b6b91345ec9f478ab148b
good stuff
Why then Russians spend more and more on military?
The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates just recently requested $623 billion for the next year, “cheering” against Russia. Russian military budget is 25 times less (24 bln).
Per quote of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov in Seville, Spain today "Russia is not going back into a military race with anybody".
Why did Russian president Putin criticized NATO in Munich?
In general, he thinks a weak America is good for Russia, specifically he is also trying to ingratiate himself with the hard left in Western Europe and here America is the common enemy, as well as pimping Russia's economic and political influence to certain middle eastern countries, in other words ask yourself not why did he but why he doesn't do it every chance he gets...
I disagree that the weak US is good for Russia or Europe or Asia, for some Middle Eastern countries, maybe..
True, anti-American sentiment is stronger after an obvious mistake in Iraq. I guess, the NATO's decision to set an anti-ballistic system in Ukraine sparked that reaction because Russians are sensitive if their territory gets surrounded by NATO’s bases. Imagine if India or China built the missile prevention systems in Greenland or Costa Rico..
Great post, I am almost 100% in agreement with you
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