GlesgaKiss

In case any of you missed the first part of this very well made documentary, here's the link on iPlayer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...aking_Control/

He's an interesting character, and Russia's an interesting country.

The programme is all about him and his people's relationship to their own country, the Russian state's relationship to private businesses, and Russia's relationship with Western states.

If any of you watched it, what did you think?

dpb

He seems thinly disguised kgb


i guess i havnt seen enough

Leslie

Oh he was KGB alright.

Good man not to be on the wrong side of!

Les

JTaylor

Just watched it, thanks for the link. As you say, an interesting character. Utterly ruthless in restoring pride to Russia and I think I admire that he's unwilling to be coerced by the US and stands with them only where it's in the Russian national interest. Clearly there are ideological issues around his increasingly authoritarian leadership and disregard for law and the constitution, but that's part of the Russian tradition, isn't it? I imagine if I were one of the old-school I'd be quite happy with him at the helm.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Bit like Thatcher.

Luan Pra bang

You should read Putins Russia by Anna Politskya. She exposed a few home truths about Putin and Russia that he diddn't like so she got shot. This is a typical response to journalists who say things Putin has not told them they are allowed to say.,

GlesgaKiss

Very cold eyes and well-measured responses. As you'd expect from someone with his experience, I suppose. I agree that in some ways he seems to have been quite good for Russia. I'm sure someone on the wrong side of him wouldn't share this point of view, but he seems to have been quite reasonable, with pretty good judgement, on the whole. I suppose the word I'm looking for is prudent. Not ideal by a long stretch, but good management - both political and economic - where things could have been much worse.

Think I'll stick that on my wish list. I've already ordered a book about the KGB after watching this.

JTaylor

The Anna Politkovskaya story's fascinating. Dig a little deeper and you'll note Alexander Litvinenko was assassinated in London after having accused Putin of ordering Politkovskaya's murder; he was poisoned with a radioactive pill placed in his tea - real Cold War stuff.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6180068.stm

JTaylor

Absolutely fascinating this evening.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Agree. Putin = Dodgey as a greek tax assessor.

JTaylor

He scares the shít out of me.

GlesgaKiss

Just watched the last one. Looks like the wrong guy is up for election.

GlesgaKiss

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...est_New_Start/

30:40 onwards.

JTaylor

"Give me my pen back!"

Medvedev was quite funny when he asked Obama if his coat would be safe in back of The Beast and then asked if the President could cover the bill for the burgers.