The Russians Are Coming

Only then will a weakened Russia begin the hard work of confronting its tired old paradigm of greatness, which has traditionally been grounded in natural resources or military-industrial capabilities. [...]far Russia's economic development hasn't improved the average Russian's life as much as it has helped the country prop up its image. [...]will the business and professional class that has grown up since the financial crash of 1998 morph into a real middle class? NATO is likely to continue to try to enlarge its membership, but the United States will probably make it plain that the organization's presence in the former Soviet block is intended to unite Europe, not antagonize Moscow. Because NATO rules and procedures do not allow a country's membership until certain criteria -- including the settlement of territorial disputes -- are met, the United States and its NATO allies have considerable leverage in dealing with conflict between Russia and Georgia. [...]I hope the United States moves away from its "Putin first" policy and instead builds on grassroots connections that give average Russians more of a stake in their own future.