...it's Only On A Black Day That

Vladimir Putin Inherited A Ransacked And Bewildered Country, With A Poor And Demoralized People. And He Started To Do What Was Possible - A Slow And Gradual Restoration. These Efforts Were Not Noticed, Nor Appreciated, Immediately. In Any Case, One Is Hard Pressed To Find Examples In History When Steps By One Country To Restore Its Strength Were Met Favorably By Other Governments.

When Things Are Too Clear, They Are No Longer Interesting.

We Do Not Err Because Truth Is Difficult To See. It Is Visible At A Glance. We Err Because This Is More Comfortable.

Only A Magician Can Fix A Head On A Body, But Any Fool Can Lop It Off.

As For Europe, Its Claims Towards Russia Are Fairly Transparently Based On Fears About Energy, Unjustified Fears At That.