[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

It seems to me that the west was ok with Russia for a long time, especially during Jeltsin's time when Russia was given the role as provider of cheap natural resources to the west. Putin sort of began to change this by pulling back a little on the privatization and the emergence of the oligargs etc. This has sort of made the west see Putin as 'evil' and the reason isn't so much a matter of Putin's Russia not respecting human rights etc. but economical pressure from the west.

IMHO neither the west nor Russia's leaders would like to see a more humane Russia that would try harder to live in peace with it's neighbours (not necessarily always possible), not engage in long wars when can be avoided, would look after the weak in the society, etc. This is made even more true by the war on terror and whatever crusades Washington happens to invent. Both Russia and the west seem to be fine with the present system of oligargs and Russia selling cheap oil etc. to the west so on the inside Russia will probably stay the same. On the outside, foreign policy-wise there might be some change.

You believe that?:hmm: