I highly recommend James' latest string of posts up over at WPC that lay out brilliantly the geopolitical forces at work and the role of Russia, and of Vladimir Putin. http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/International/ht_vladimir_putin_dog_koni_ss_thg_120228_ssh.jpg Here at TB the post Putin and Berlusconi hangs around at the top of the most popular list. After watching the videos that James posted, we understand much more clearly that Putin rescued Russia against tremendous odds after Yeltsin and the oligarchs plundered the country's industry and infrastructure. If he were truly woven into the dialectic and meant to succeed in reviving Russia, it seems to us the odds would not have been stacked so high against him. Watch him holding people accountable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flC---s2moA Putin has the ability and the will to hold people accountable. He doesn't pretend to lead; he leads. It shouldn't be so stunning, but it is, because over here ...