As Vladimir Putin begins his third term as president, Empire asks can Russia be a SuperPower Again?

[KoKo]

Al Jazeera's "EMPIRE"...what a difference in what passes for discussion here in the US on CNN/FAUX/NPR/and sadly, even MSNBC for FORUM DISCUSSION with more than one side against the other with a Moderator inbetween.!

Fascinating discussion about Russia, US, ME, Israel/Palestine, Going Forward. Also that RT is so popular and that we are going to have to deal with Russia/China going forward. What are they thinking and what is the discussion. Shouldn't we Amerians have a another view besides what our State Department and MSM and Wire Services are telling us?

We ARE ...supposed to BE a DEMOCRACY where Freedom of Speech and lack of censorship is in our Bill of Rights. (At least I was told that in school days).

As a "Cold War Baby" (and have questioned how we were manipulated in our young years) I thought this discussion was worth a listen..particularly because there are not so many "Cold War Babies" around anymore who still believe what that was about. THIS IS A NEW GLOBE and they do get into that...And an New Generation not Tainted by Cold War/McCarthyite Fascist Censorship and Black lists is ON THE RISE!

If we are a GLOBAL ECONOMY according to Obama/Clinton/Carter and the Two Bushies...then we damned well should be listening to GLOBAL NEWS!


Anyway...
Here at:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iZcUsdARY6o


Russia is the largest country on the planet. It straddles nine time zones, is the largest energy producer and possesses half the world's nuclear warheads.

But Russia is not the former Soviet Union.

Since the Cold War ended two decades ago, the new emerging Russia has been largely defined by two men, Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin.

Yeltsin presided over the dismemberment of the old Soviet Union and the reckless privatisation of state assets.

Washington saw this chaotic free-for-all as a new wild west and assisted the plunder.

When Putin took over the presidency in 2000, he was determined to rid Russia of Yeltsin's embarrassing legacy and to stop the rot.

As Putin begins his third term as president, flexing his muscles at home and abroad, we ask: Can Russia be a superpower once again?

[Turbineguy]

1. Yes it can

Especially with Romney as Prez. He's the perfect choice for Putin. Lucky for them Bush screwed McCain (twice). Romney will run this country into the ground (making money for his investors all the way).

Khrushchev said "We will bury you!" Brezhnev (quite possibly) said "Why should we do all the work?" And the modern US Republican party was born.

Mr. Putin is an ambitious man.

[lumpy]

2. The only Empire worth having is one where it's the citizens are thriving and content

without the horrors of war. Othrwise to hell with being an 'empire'.

[craigmatic]

3. No because it relies so much on oil. To be a superpower you have to have more than just oil.

Their military isn't what it was under the USSR. China is the new superpower.

[Peter1x9]

4. Russia won't be a super power until it can root out the rampant corruption.

That will sure happen sometime soon with Putin back in charge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putin's_Palace