Putin set to return?

[Rhyfelwyr]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/...esident_s_term

To be honest I always thought it was only going to be a matter of time. Considering the levels of nationalism and the tradition of strong leaders that Russia has, the idea of checks and balances was never going to be taken seriously.

If we consider Putin's return to be inevitable, what does this mean for Russia. Will it make that short leap from communism to fascism, taking us back to the days of expansionism and ultra-nationalism?

In any case, I don't feel overly optimistic for Russia right now - or its neighbours...

[Sarmatian]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/...esident_s_term

To be honest I always thought it was only going to be a matter of time. Considering the levels of nationalism and the tradition of strong leaders that Russia has, the idea of checks and balances was never going to be taken seriously.

If we consider Putin's return to be inevitable, what does this mean for Russia. Will it make that short leap from communism to fascism, taking us back to the days of expansionism and ultra-nationalism?

In any case, I don't feel overly optimistic for Russia right now - or its neighbours...

Nah. People may like or dislike Putin, be everyone will agree he's no fool. Taking up the presidential position again, he'd gain nothing but bad rep, both at home and abroad. If he truly wants more power, it would be easier and far more subtle to transfer some of presidential power to the government, which he's going to be a head of for the next several years...

BTW, article says changing the length of presidential term from 4 to 6 years. I'm pretty sure Medvedev said from 4 to 5 years.

[Marshal Murat]

Just as long as he promises "change we can believe in" and shouts "Yes we Can!" he'll win easy.

[Lemur]

Hmm, and here I would have sworn Putin was putting country first.

[CountArach]

Soviet Union II: Putin's Revenge

[Conqueror]

Putin is way too smart to get back so early. He'll let Medvedev have a full term at least, probably two terms, before going for the office again. In the mean time he'll just continue as PM, calling the shots behind the scenes.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Putin set to return?

Putin never left. >>click<<

[rory_20_uk]

He is very popular in Russia. Why not return? The locals don't particularly like democracy, so they'd probably not have a problem with him.

Abroad his "rep" would be no worse than Bush had, nor such figures as Mugabe. He's god loads of natural resources and massive foreign reserves of cash. Like it or lump it, he's got a lot of what we need.

[Strike For The South]

I just wanted a Palin-Putin death match.

[naut]

Did he ever really leave?

[Lemur]

I just wanted a Palin-Putin death match.

Palin/Putin 2012!

[Marshal Murat]

Disney's WAAY Ahead of you.

[CountArach]

Palin/Putin 2012!

[Louis VI the Fat]

Disney's WAAY Ahead of you.

That is so much exactly what I've been thinking for months that I could weep with joy at the recognition.

Brilliant.

~+~+~+~<<<*>>>~+~+~+~

I heard Medvedev's speech after Obama's election. A very threatening posture. It struck me that the Russians immediately had their reaction to the election ready. For one thing, missiles near Kaliningrad. I wonder if he is testing Obama's resolve. Or whether he is counting on negotiations and quickly raised his bid, hoping to meet at a 'reasonable middle'? ('okay..let's meet halfway. How about you guys withdraw missile shields from Poland, and we withdraw our missiles from Kaliningrad in return?')

[Banquo's Ghost]

I heard Medvedev's speech after Obama's election. A very threatening posture. It struck me that the Russians immediately had their reaction to the election ready. For one thing, missiles near Kaliningrad. I wonder if he is testing Obama's resolve. Or whether he is counting on negotiations and quickly raised his bid, hoping to meet at a 'reasonable middle'? ('okay..let's meet halfway. How about you guys withdraw missile shields from Poland, and we withdraw our missiles from Kaliningrad in return?')

Or even more effective, ignore him. A few missiles in Kaliningrad will play well to the home crowd, but militarily make no difference at all. It's not remotely threatening unless we choose to make it so.

Russia is desperate to be recognised again as a super-power, and we would do well to have a policy of recognising the good, positive behaviours rather than responding to the willy-waving.

[naut]

Didn't Medvedev say something to the effect of, "we'll build so many missiles that by sheer weight of numbers they'll get through"? And anyway, there just annoyed that this will prevent them playing bully boy to Europe. Any missiles aimed at the USA are in Siberia and even further east still.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Intelligent man. Can get things done this way.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Didn't Medvedev say something to the effect of, "we'll build so many missiles that by sheer weight of numbers they'll get through"? And anyway, there just annoyed that this will prevent them playing bully boy to Europe. Any missiles aimed at the USA are in Siberia and even further east still.

Actually I would be surprised if many of the missiles are in the West because it doesn't really matter where they are since ICBM's are generally supposed to hop over the North pole to get to their destination, either the US or Russia, because it is a much shorter distance that way. I would imagine that missiles would be located mostly in the West because of the much better infrastructure there and thus lower maintenance costs, but again I don't actually know where the Russians keep their toys.

[Vladimir]

Didn't Medvedev say something to the effect of, "we'll build so many missiles that by sheer weight of numbers they'll get through"? And anyway, there just annoyed that this will prevent them playing bully boy to Europe. Any missiles aimed at the USA are in Siberia and even further east still.

That's been the argument since the early days of SDI. Fact is that Russia can easily overwhelm any "missile shield" we erect in Poland. Plus with MIRV technology you'd have to destroy it in the initial launch phase. Not too easy if you're using hit to kill missiles. I believe Uesugi is correct: Regardless of delivery method the nukes would come to the U.S from the north, not the east. Truly the only threat this system could adequately defend against is a rogue state launch. Or more likely it merely seeks to remove a weapon from Iran's diplomatic arsenal.

I don't even think it's about the ability to bully Europe. They already have considerable influence over the rest of Europe due to their energy exports. The point of all this was stated here previously: Domestic politics. Politics Puttie poo has great skill in manipulating.

[JR-]

Or even more effective, ignore him. A few missiles in Kaliningrad will play well to the home crowd, but militarily make no difference at all. It's not remotely threatening unless we choose to make it so.

Russia is desperate to be recognised again as a super-power, and we would do well to have a policy of recognising the good, positive behaviours rather than responding to the willy-waving.

agreed, poland has got what it wants, an great trip-wire with uncle sam written all over it.
not the missiles, the boots.

shows you how much they think of Nato and the European Rapid Reaction Force (sic).

[KarlXII]

Well, Putin is in his Constitutional rights to, seeing as there is no limit to total terms, just successive ones. I have to give it to Valdimir, he's managed to take Russia back on the world stage in his years, I'm not surprised he's so well loved and respected by the populace. He's also a fine martiala artist.

[Praxil]

What "bully Europe" even practically means? Or are people just shouting this for the sake of the feel to need to do it?

What is "Europe" in this case anyway, because as far as I know it Russia happens to be the biggest European nation on Earth. Well at least, if you count it in total population or in square kilometers of area.

To think that "European Union" is the Europe, or that all those who are living on the European continent are just same Europeans, is pure ignorance. Only roughly over five million on European Continent are speaking the language I speak, and we're all buddies all friends in a happy family? Get outta here!!!

What kind of "learned" ignorance is this? I mean you have to educate yourself to not figure out these differences. Because common sense speaks against generalization. I hear it often some persons love to use WE when they refer to a people of same nationality as they are. Yeah, like the whole population of that nation gave legit rights to these persons to speak on behave of them. Like those persons know me and know my opinion about some issue or case.

In this very life, you are only representing yourself. Nations are always divided no matter what your new president, king or queen says in public.

[CrossLOPER]

What "bully Europe" even practically means?

Oil prices are not leaving enough money to fund renewable energy research.