[Doohickey]

I like Russians. Make friends with one and he’d give you the shirt off his back.

I do too. However, they're a neurotic nation. I've never met more paranoid people.

[JohnA]

I can understand that. There was great promise during the Yeltsin era and the US had a chance to extend a hand. The US hand behind the back wanted, however, all the marbles ....and the Russians caught on. Yeltsin's advice to Putin on taking over was protect Russia and that's exactly what he's done.