[CWOJackson]

"I haven't read most of your (long) posts, so you may have answered this already, but what is your opposition to Putin potentially becoming dictator? The question is academic to me, since as I've stated already that I'm indifferent to Russian politics, but it would satisfy my curiosity."

Hmmmmmm? How to explain this? We have Putin, an ex-KGB agent who has publicly bemoans the demise of...what was it called...oh, yes...the Soviet Union.

For some years now he's been moving to consolidate his power and rollback democracy...and now there's that other nagging thing...oh, yes...suspending popular elections, silencing the press, consolidate power in himself.

Where's the problem with that? Hmmmmmm.

Let's try this. How about the fact that we spent 50 years fighting the cold war with the ideals he embodies. Or the fact that millions of people suffered under the regine he wishes to restore.

You may be indifferent to Soviet politics but the rest of the world remembers what it caused before.

[StoneFury]

But where are the gulags? Where are the 20 million political prisoners? Where are the forced re-locations of entire ethnic groups? Where has Putin claimed something to the effect that he will "bury us"? Where are the land grabs? Where is the massive militarization (last I heard, Russia disbanded a few divisions)? Where is the Iron Curtain?

Putin has a long way to go to if his mission is to turn Russia into a new Soviet Union. I'd go so far as to say he's failed miserably, if this is his plan.