Human/civil rights are apparently not a great concern among the Russian people as long as the malls open new shops and the shops actually have things in them to buy. And while Bush’s policies have ignored the energy crisis waiting the U.S. in the wings, Vlad has pumped up the energy power of Russia and is ready to use it.

Condoleezza Rice is indeed considered an expert on Russian affairs but that is only relative to her expertise in Middle East Affairs, which is proving to be disastrous. And as for Vlad speaking excellent German as a second language, we are stuck with a president who cannot even speak his first language well so there is only an unfair comparison of the two presidents.

But the point is well taken that Russia deserves more attention than the administration has given it, recognizing that when this particular administration gives attention to a country it is not always a good thing – for them or for us. But amateur hour is almost over so perhaps the game will continue on a stronger footing after 2008. Given the way the elections operate down here, I am not hopeful.