Can Dmitri Medvedev become the moderate that everyone hopes he will be? Jim Hoagland of the Washington Post argues that this will depend upon his ability to uproot the siloviki, and Putin may allow them to be “tossed to the anti-corruption wolves of public opinion” in order to regain Russia’s great power status:

Putin saved Russian provinces the trouble and expense of having primaries, which were all held in Putin’s mind. With his encouragement, Medvedev has given “campaign” speeches that promise respect for the rule of law, more personal freedoms, a much-reduced state role in the economy and cooperation with other countries, including the United States.