Putin speech

Putin Speaks at Davos

Wow ... go read. Not for a VERY long time have a heard such a brilliant speech. Putin, despite his kgb background and mindset, appears to be becoming "my" statesman of this era.

He is working to understand the people, and to be seen with people doing ordinary things. In the recent Georgia trouble, and since then the gas "crisis". he showed a remarkable strategic ability, one which literally bowls the other players over. And he is VERY patriotic, his responsiobility is to mother russia, its people and land. How is it so few leaders have that passion?

This man would be quite good at chess, i'd think.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the international community is facing a host of extremely complicated problems, which might seem overpowering at times. But, a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step, as the proverb goes.

We must seek foothold relying on the moral values that have ensured the progress of our civilisation. Integrity and hard work, responsibility and self-confidence will eventually lead us to success.

We should not despair. This crisis can and must be fought, also by pooling our intellectual, moral and material resources."

...

"Frankly speaking, we all know that provoking military and political instability, regional and other conflicts is a helpful means of distracting the public from growing social and economic problems. Such attempts cannot be ruled out, unfortunately."

And this ...

"In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated."