This comment reflects a commonly found but largely misplaced view of Russia. If you care to look up the Carnegie Institutes writings (as well as Anders Aslund's pieces in Foreign Affairs and elsewhere) you'll find that many commentators hold very optimistic views of Russia. Optimism should, in effect, be globally encompassing, although some critics prefer to see Russia wrapped over the knuckles for things she is not even guily of doing. This is strange indeed.

Again, Maxim tells us that most people are quite wrong about Russia and that he and a few experts know the truth. But he doesn't tell us what it is. I'd describe that as hot air and self-promotion.

If you are adamant about me doing your homework for you, you'll never get through school. I've recommended reading which you are trying to avoid at all costs to your own betterment. Hopefully you will bother to look up a text of two for yourself. Maxim.

[i]If you care to look up the Carnegie Institutes writings (as well as Anders Aslund's pieces in Foreign Affairs and elsewhere) you'll find that many commentators hold very optimistic views of Russia.[i]

Reading over Aslund' last op-ed it doesn't sound too optimistic when describing the new PM and his future role as potential president.

Quote such as the following don't agree with your statement above: "If he does not change his tone, he is likely to dig Russia into an industrial grave. Moreover, Russia’s devastating renationalization campaign is likely to continue."

Full article here:
http://www.iie.com/publication...

Yet more evidence that Maxim is just an empty blow-hard.
Maxim once "threatened" to launch his own blog where his fans could gather to adore his wisdom. But even Maxim knows that he has neither fans nor wisdom, only a maniacal compulsion to grandstand like an intellectual.

Naturally Aslund's last comments reflect a sense of caution, compared with some earlier statements. I think this is natural,but there is no need to dismiss Aslund's deepseated sense of Russia's true potential being fulfilled given the right conditions to move on. There is nothing to suggest that Russia cannot move on; it is only some freaky western opinion makers who despise Russia so much they are not prepared to give Russia credit where credit is due. Sure, Putin is a thorn in the side, but that is about it. There's no need to get into a vicious cycle of despair over Russia. After all, the EU is very positively poised to help Russia however she can. And making massive investments and showing a more than generous sense of goodwill frustrates Estonian's at the best of times, but global politics sometimes moves in that direction, and there's not an awful lot we can do to turn it to our advantage. We were "lucky" to get into the EU, and now the EU is doing its damn best to get Russia into the same club. We should withhold all sense of misguided jealousy in thinking we deserve to be there, but Russia doesn't. This is simply a catch-22 and will get you nowhere.

[i]There is nothing to suggest that Russia cannot move on; [i]

But is there anything to suggest that Russia can move on? So far I have yet to see any sign of that, in fact, instead of moving on they appear to be moving back. Back to the "good old days" of authoritarianism.

[i]After all, the EU is very positively poised to help Russia however she can.[i]

Of course they are. It's in the EU's (and Eesti's) best interest to see a prosperous, stable country next door.

[i]Sure, Putin is a thorn in the side, but that is about it.[i]

That's an awfully big thorn.

It's the sort of thorn that even makes Goerge Dubbya sit up and take notice. After all, he procaimed to the world that here was a man with whom Americans can do business. OK then-it must have been the slightly oversized thorn that made it easier for him to judge accordingly, but Putin is someone that the world is forced to do business with, especially whilst the war on terrorism is alive and kicking. It only additional powder in the keg of Russia and Putin, and the war on terrorism has been more than a godsend to bad Vlad.

Maxim - can you clarify what your last comment has to do with the overall discussion in this thread, your optimism about Russia? I don't see how the last comments clears anything up or adds to your argument.