Russia is heading in the wrong direction, in so many ways. It's sad, really. America could have done so many things to help create a free state of out the ashes of Communism. Although it wasn't our responsibility, it would have certainly been in our interest, and would have required little more than some rational education to help the Russian people understand what it means to be free.

I know from personal experience that the people of the former USSR are hard-working, resourceful folk, with one major failing: they yearn for security over freedom, and will accept any dictator who promises security no matter the cost. Putin is just such a dictator, and it remains to be seen just how bad he really is.