Russia will not soon become, if it ever becomes, a second copy of the United States or England - where liberal value have deep historic roots.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I would be delighted if the United States could have a positive relationship with Russia, and I would be thrilled if the Russian people, who are so capable, had a normal country that they could chart a different future.
The threat to Russia isn't liberal Europe or America. It is nonliberal Islam and nonliberal China. Russia has to change. It can't be otherwise. It will take time. You have to be patient.
Russia will occupy most of the good food lands of central Europe while we have the industrial portions. We must find some way of persuading Russia to play ball.
The great drama of Russian history has been between its state and society. Put simply, Russia has always had too much state and not enough society.
A left turn in the fate of Russia is as necessary as it is inevitable.
In a strange way, I expected Russia to become more like America since the Soviet Union collapsed, but the reverse is true. America has become more like Russia: a kleptocratic society.
I have no doubt that Russia will and should remain a major source of energy supplies for Europe and the world.
Russia has always had a global history. Global history is a bummer. You suffer invasions of all different kinds. And Russia was not defended against them.
Russia does not have a modern economy: it's a petro-power. The only thing it sells that the world wants to buy is oil and natural gas. When was the last time anyone bought a Russian computer? A Russian car? A Russian cell phone? Russia is so dependent on high energy prices that if oil falls below $100 a barrel, the Kremlin can't meet payroll.
From the country with limited hope to grow your own business and express your own personality, Russia has become the land of significant opportunity.