While Russian projects aren't as transparent as the West is used to. There is enough information to know what direction things are going, everyone knows everything about the country is messed up, but it is better than the ninties. Putin gains his popularity from the takeover from the dismal failure that was Yeltsin and spent record oil profits on more social spending. At the same time, he failed to make the necessary investment in the infrastructure vital for the economy to survive, much less grow. If you ask a Russian, are you better off than you were ten years ago, they will undoubtedly say yes because it couldn't have been any worse. As the recession has deepened, the polls are dropping to the half way mark. The declining support has forced the regime to take a more hardlined approach on Freedom of Speech and the right to vote. The recent elections were rigged and it is because of the falling support it had to be done. Putin isn't a master of politics, he is a master of political supression.
NATO has little to fear from Russia which is why we have gutted European militaries. It is only the weak CIS states that really fear Russia, but even then they are turning to the West since Russia can no longer financially provide what they need.
Of course the US wouldn't want Sakashtupid to attack Russian peacekeepers which is why you didn't intervene. Russia was happy to respond since it put the fear into her little neighbours that had thoughts of doing something independent but that turned out to backfire. As the war was justification for rearmament, now Russia is finding out that they are incapable of doing it. Now they must quickly buildup their nuke stockpile since their conventional military is incapable of defending them. They have an easy time meeting START II since they can't even produce the limits given in the treaty.
With a $2 trillion pricetag needed to be spent yesterday and an economic recession, it is too late for Russia. They are dying. It is only a matter of time until the pronouncement.
If you ask a Russian, are you better off than you were ten years ago, they will undoubtedly say yes because it couldn't have been any worse
As usual you comments are anti Putin no matter what.
But numbers show us DIFFERENT story
Russian GDP was growing every year in rate of 6 to 7% during Putin's presidency and even as PM except for the 2009 it was negative be cause of economic crsis!
Russian GDP per capita is EQUAL to that of Poland today, so considering how low it was Russian GDP per capita in drunkard Yeltsin's time
Putin really IMPROVED lives of Russian people lot !
It is only the weak CIS states that really fear Russia, but even then they are turning to the West since Russia can no longer financially provide what they need.
We will see about that ....Ukraine will vote for Janukovich PRO - Russian candidate and candidate brought by CIA "color revolution" Juschenko has
3% of popularity among Ukrainians
For central Asia we will see
You probably read to much Reuters and other NATO propaganda agencies
So who "fears" Georgia?
They have NOTHING to "fear" if they don't attack !
Baltic countries?
Russia does NOT NEED them! Russia is SUPER RICH with resources !
Russia has SUPER BRIGHT FUTURE with oil, gas and all other resources!
Has enough land to
FEED the whole PLANET !
WHY would Russia start war with NATO to attack 3 tiny economically FAILED countries?!
WHY?!
That is ONLY their PARANOIA!
The others? Name ONE other CIS country that "fears" Russia? ONE PLEASE !?
I do not believe that the US ordered Georgia to start an artillery bombardment of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
So WHY USA GAVE so much weapons to Georgia before attack? And Israel's drones and USA special operations troops that were training Georgian army?
Documents and weapons were found!
USA was also using their servants Israel & Turkey to sell weapons and train
Georgians.
So WHAT was all that for? To enforce the "peace" perhaps?!
And Ukrainian and Baltic countries mercenaries? And
USA war ships "bringing aid" to Georgia immediatly after the war?
And speed up visit of D!ck Chaney and promises of USA military backing?
I'm sure that I can find articles that give argument for all I say here, can you for yours?
The problem is that USA didn't expect such strong and QUICK answer from Russia!
They have planned that Georgians retakes positions so that they (USA)can send war ships"bringing aid" to Georgia and sending also thousands USA NATO "peacekeepers" to "separate" 2 sides (actually to re-enforce NATO presence in region)
But Russia have destroyed that plan by exploding Georgian army in few days and showing USA & NATO that they mean business !
And giving SIGN that this is RED LINE, that if crossed will trigger World War!
Of course USA citizens don't want to die for tiny country they didn't even know existing before that war!
Russia was happy to respond
sounds like Russians almost have planed or paid Georgians to kill 12 Russian soldiers and 300 civilians who happened to have Russian citizenship !
(You know even plenty of Georgians used to work in Russia before the war)
since it put the fear into her little neighbours that had thoughts of doing something independent
There you go again! Baltic countries are MEMBERS of NATO!!!
Why would they be affraid of Russian attack?!
WHY would Russia start World War by attacking 3 tiny shitty good for nothing countries!They have NO oil NO riches NO, NOTHING !
So why would they be "affraid" as NATO members?!
WHY?
This is a classical dilemma. Do you want to focus your nation's resources on guns (i.e. military) or butter
Russian standard of living has risen that is
100% PROVED FACT !
Russia doesn't have choice but to invest most of the money in weapons despite all
arguments about need of their economy (you've mentioned)
Russia is
HUGE and UNDERPOPULATED country with the
BIGGEST POPULATION country next door that NEED RESOURCES and
Russia has BIGGEST RESOURCES in the world !
Only that as reason is more than enough let alone USA & NATO plan to encircle Russia (now trying that in central Asia)
and USA plan to obtain
first strike primacy over Russia (that is why USA wants building anti ballistic missile batteries in Europe not for Iran!)
Russia has
1st resources in gas in the world
5th resources in oil
(without Rusian Arctic - unevaluated reserves that go up to
30% more of all reserves - for gas and oil)
Gold, diamonds, platinum, uranium etc. you name it they have it !
China doesn't even have enough water let alone the rest !
So PLEASE try at least to think if you don't have information!
.