[flaminco]

"But this seems to be the final stages of the rollback into full-fledged communism. Now, hang around and watch FReepers defend Putin."

Full fledged Communism? Unlikely. Putin is just setting up an old fashioned dictatorship. When Putin took out Yukos I began to wonder if he had plans to stick around after his constitutionally mandated second term. The answer is no longer in question. Putin is pretty slick. He will probably create a post for himself which is unelected but which still holds much of the power of the presidency. He will become the power behind the presidency is my guess.

There is no denying the popularity of Putin, even in Russia. Events seem to be playing into his hands. This isn't good news for Russia, but will probably represent a long relatively stable period for Russian foreign relations.

[A. Pole]

Unlikely. Putin is just setting up an old fashioned dictatorship.

Putin IS elected and IS popular. This is not way to dictatorship but to strong centralized presidential system. This is how De Gaulle saved France from the crisis.

Russia had monarchical tradition and cannot take much of decentralization American pre-Lincoln style without falling into civil war.