To add to my somewhat brief post, regarding the Russian government, I'm not anti-Putin, in fact I like the whole personality he's built up around himself as the tough guy of Europe. I mean, Putin goes out and wrestles with Tigers whilst Brown picks litter with Hoodies...
However, the echoes of the Cold War are still quite loud, the recent overhaul of the Russian nuclear missile system in response to the US Unified Strike Command, it's all still a bit icey and seemingly getting icier.
But, one mans poison is anothers delight and it will surely be a thing of national pride for Russia, just as our Type 45s and Astutes are for us.
As I have stated before, Russia needed a tough man to clear up the mess following Yeltsin, to clear away the decade of stagnation following the glasnost and Soviet collapse and build Russia up again, and they got that man in Putin, and I salute him for that, but I wouldn't trust the guy as far as I could throw him (then again, I would say the same about Brown...).
Some things will never change, and that mentality from the 1950s-1980s seems to be something that hasn't. Russia has gone from being ally, to enemy, to laughing stock and now back to cautious ally but possible enemy.
Another thing I do love about Russia, your music! Such stirring musical pieces, Katyusha, Polyushka Polye, The Great Patriotic War, Kalinka, Ochi chyornye, the Russian national anthem, all such beautiful stirring pieces which really stand out amongst any parade of anthems or musical pieces.
Spasiba
