[McGavin999]

Me too jwalsh, I was all for a US/Russian friendship, looks like I was really taken in by Putin afterall. I was looking forward to a future that would benefit both people, lifting up the Russians to a prosperity they've never known before (except for the czars).

[DoughtyOne]

Let me ask you a question. If you were Russia, moved toward a Republic which we said we wanted them to do for decades, then saw us court it's evil twin sister and basicly ignore Russia, what would your gutt response be? I think we have fu__ed up so badly that I don't believe I blame Putin much at all.

[DAnconia55]

One thing I hate is hypocrisy and Chechnya spells hypocrisy for Putin.

Me too jwalsh, I was all for a US/Russian friendship

Please consider that what Putin (and Bush) say in public for world press consumption, and what they actually DO or agree to in private can be entirely different things.

Consider that we may have a - "Look, you do what you have to in Chechnya, and we'll talk and shake our finger at you - but you have our unofficial sanction" position.

This is not uncommon.