Oh ok
haha, sorry I'm a bit slow sometimes.
I got a headache because I really wanted to read It-Ogos posts and understand his position. But you are not completely committing to one view or another are you?
Is it hard to make up your mind, or do you just feel resigned and despairing in general?

I'm also trying to figure out what Lampada thinks about all this and I think I have an idea based on all the pictures and links she posted. Crocodile as well.

One thing worth noticing about this, is that 2014 shows that Russia is officially back in the game after 20 years.
Syria success, Olympics, and now this, whatever it is.
Krim, with all its Russian history, back in Russian hands. Or....?!

But a new Russia
With less lofty ideology.... less territory....
More high tech, more oil and gas, more conservative values and more corruption and oligarchs.

I think Europe needs Russia for the balance though.

The USA was behaving more and more like a spoiled child, stuffing himself with icecream, throwing his toys around and terrorizing everyone who doesn't give in to his whims. "I want cheap oil", "Everybody must think as I do, or else!", Playing with his toy soldiers where such playing ought not be allowed. Nato "exercises" in places where it just provokes people and makes conflicts worse. There has been nobody to reign in the USA and properly keep tabs on it, for 20 years. In the meantime then USA is a danger not only to others, but also to itself - just look at the state of internal affairs in the USA.

EU was like the lame parent who let the toddler carry on his insane reign of terror and did not have anything to put up - no confidence, to skills, insufficient authority and experience.
The UK is like the little brother who cheers his naughty brother on and makes him even worse.

But Russia is like the more experienced adult who can actually play this game. Was always told at Uni how sharp Russia's diplomats are, and it's true. Things would be 1000 times worse in Syria if not for Russia, and I hope Russia will use its influence for good.

I would feel a lot more positive about the new strong Russia if it wasn't so darn corrupt and had the gangster oligarchs pulling strings behind the scenes.