Putin promises a strong Russia on world stage

When is Putin going to return Japan's northern islands?

Putin the Patriot. Made promises before.

Hmm, life expectancy down, the ruble fluctuates like mad, and alcoholism is more rampant than anywhere else in the world. Oh yes, the past 12 years have been wonderful.

@SerranoMay. 09, 2012 - 08:22PM JST

Never.

Putin's trying to become a dictator? Wish I'd been able to jump in on that position in Russia, but I don't speak the Russian D:...

Thanks Putin, you're actions are putting your country 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

Putin promises a strong Russia on world stage

This is fantastice news. First stop is Syria?

Moscow could carry out pre-emptive strikes on future NATO missile defense installations. NATO called such threats “unjustified”.....WELL SAID!! Nato were a bunch of losers who lost their wars in afghanistan worst than the soviet union!

Valdmir Putin, the 'Ronald Regan of Russia'!!! and he is much much younger!!!

Long live the Tsar!

The Question,

"alcoholism is more rampant than anywhere else in the world."

To be fair this isn't something that developped under Putin.

When Gorbachev tried to restrict alcohol sale before 2pm, they quickly and incredibly had to restrict the sale of perfume on the same hours.

Just the mere though of it makes my liver cringe.

To be fair this isn't something that developped under Putin.

A couple of years ago Putin made it a priority and has since failed to deliver. Were this a more individual based western nation I'd chalk it up to poor life decisions of the public like obesity in the US and bad teeth in other countries but since Russia still exists in varying tones of authoritarianism I think it would be reasonable to lay a chunk of the blame in Putin's lap.

@The Question The days of thr ruble fluctuating like mad are long gone. It's been between 25-30 rubles to the USD for the last decade.

The Putin era has actually been pretty successful for Russia, although much of that has to do with energy prices. The birth rate is starting to recover as well, and the decline in the population has now stopped.

Putin the Dictator. A strong Russia is bad for the West, and certainly doesn't help with the East either.

It's been between 25-30 rubles to the USD for the last decade.

It still doesn't behave well. Relative to what it used to be it's more stable but it still doesn't inspire any confidence.

Putin the Dictator.

No - Russia is not western country - that's all. Other history, other culture, other political system.

A strong Russia is bad for the West,

Yeah... Terrible - Russia is a nightmare of Western Civilisation

and certainly doesn't help with the East either.

What's the problem ?