[2banana]

Will he make the trains run on time...?

[Voice in your head]

Bump for later.

[G.Mason]

With the Russian population falling faster than they can replace it, Tsar Putin better hurry up.

Besides, the "cold war" was fun, kept our military sharp, and it will give us someone else to hate, besides President Bush.

[Mitchell]

Ping.

[IronJack]

I've always found Russia an enigma. Such a huge, robust land with so much individual dignity and pride, yet so misguided and ineffective. It doesn't appear to be the Russian people but their leaders. I wonder if the citizens stoically tolerate such inept, brutal rulers or if they choose them to punish themselves in expiation of some imagined sin.

[oilfieldtrash]

Bush better be careful. Putin is in charge of a large nuclear arsenal and I read the other day that their oil reserves currently estimated at 29 Billion, may be up to 5 times that amount(150 bn).

Exxon got the heave ho on Sakahlin II and Elf, and other foreign companies are eagerly waiting in line to buy in.

[gipper81]

President Bush hasn't invited Putin over to the ranch recently for BBQ. The choice between Texas hospitality and fascism appears to have been made.

[stboz]

Anybody who's read Clancy's Red Storm Rising will understand:

Maskirovka

[rawhide]

bump for read later

[GOP_1900AD]

The possibility cannot and should not be discounted.