A Deluge of Opinions on Putin and Medvedev
I read all of these so you don’t have to … below the highlights and lowlights of today’s op/ed deluge on the inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev. Lee Hamilton, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: “Whatever Putin and Medvedev’s past relationship, this new arrangement has the potential to expose ideological and policy differences, exacerbate factional battling, and reveal the fragility of Putin’s gains. Or it could ensure continuity.” Rose Gottemoeller, Carnegie Moscow Center: “As unpleasant as the experience has been, outside observers can understand why the language of threats became so important to the Kremlin. It was meant to propel Moscow back onto center stage in global affairs. But Russia is at the center now, and continued threat-mongering complicates its efforts to remain there. Without friends, the job will be hopeless.”