Putin dissolves the Russian government... wait no...

**CountArach** · 09-14-2007, 10:59

Originally Posted by Rythmic

Russia's oil reserves have given it renewed power, so can we expect Cold War II?

Nah, Russia really hasn't got the support in Eastern Europe or South-East Asia it once enjoyed. While I wouldn't relish a Second Cold War, I couldn't see it ammounting to much.

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 09-15-2007, 00:32

What about the area of the environment hit by the bomb? Is that safe too?

**Xiahou** · 09-15-2007, 01:12

Here's my prediction folks:
Putin endorses one of his flunkies to replace him. Before the new guy's term is over, some phony crisis emerges and he resigns. Having circumvented the constitutional prohibition on more than two consecutive terms, Putin then returns to power. Sound about right?

**CountArach** · 09-15-2007, 04:50

Yep, sounds perfectly plausible to me.

**Rodion Romanovich** · 09-15-2007, 12:50

Russia has been quite militarily inactive towards outside countries lately; trying more to consolidate and rebuild internally. While the bomb tests, and the resumed bomber patrols, along with Putin's anti-democratic moves are worrying, the interesting question is whether Russia actually has the needed level of centralization in their armed forces to be able to form an offensive military threat to others (without dissolving due to lack of motivation, or turning into civil war/revolts), and have a desire to do so. It's difficult to guess what Putin's international politics ambitions are (if he has any), but his internal ambitions are quite clear... The interesting question is what would happen after his death (whether by old age, or other).

**Kagemusha** · 09-15-2007, 12:57

The appointment of new Russian prime minister´s sole purpose was to enable the old one to run for the presidency in the forthcoming elections. In another words in order not to violate the constitution, Putin will place a puppet as the next president of Russia and after the term of the next president, Putin can lawfully run/ get elected again as president of Russia.

**Husar** · 09-15-2007, 17:27

Well, there is one factor which should, at least theoretically, be able to stop Putin from doing that. And that's the electorate.

Now the electorate can be stupid and vote for him, in which case I'd say it's their own fault for destroying their own democracy. Or he can help them a bit by adding a few votes and taking some away, which I hope won't happen.

Sounds interesting.