(Interesting that it’s the only civilizational dividing line which classical music jumped, that is, the Russians produce great literate art music, the Chinese, Japanese, Turks & Hindus don’t produce any significantly vital, autochthonous literate art music ("classical") of their own. Generally, “Material artifacts jump civilizational dividing lines; cultural artifacts don’t.”)
Russia is a country that still believes that it has a future, even in the midst of killing itself off with vodka and 8 abortions per woman. Still believing in itself, it knows enough to make its enemies fear it.
Palin’s waterboarding remark is for the minority of Americans who still believe that we have a future.
I can’t sanction such a view. But I understand that it’s red blooded.