I was reading a "The Moscow Times" and came across an interesting article. It was on their "Cash for Clunkers" program. We will get back to that later. The article I found even more intriguing was in regards to the changing political approach of Russia. "The Reset Has Begun".

The article says that we are seeing a kinder, gentler Russia. Mind you, they are also seeking to triple their increase on military spending. One of the reasons for the change it says is because of the emerging China. Russia is a fascinating country, they have been invaded by the east and the west more times than I can count. They uniquely cross Asian, European, and middle eastern cultures. At the same time they had a very strong spiritual belief for centuries.

It was once said in a book that the Soviet Union had offered to attack Communist China if the United States would help. It is said that this offer was made to Henry Kissinger. I am not going to bother finding a link, you can do so. Russia has been invaded by the Mongolians and completely overrun. China has over a billion people, Russia has reason to fear. In addition, China is the economy of the future and Russia is still struggling to find it's place.

For decades Russian and China have had border disputes that have resulted in fighting on occasion. If China bordered the United States, rather than Canada, how would it impact your political choices? If we had over a billion communist Asians with the fasting growing economy, we would feel like Mexico has for many years. Feel like you can be invaded at the whim of your neighbor. Tough place to be.

One of my professors was a consultant to Russia on modernizing. He told me that the key to understanding Russia was in understanding her history. Russia is a fearful country, fearful of being invaded, fearful of not being considered as important as Europe. It is a country of peasants. It is a country of superstition. It is also a country of determination. The people are very closed until they let you in and then you are all the way in.

A very beautiful and young Russian lady spoke to me at a party. She told me she did not understand American women. She said American women were always saying how fantastic and great things were when they are asked. She said things are not always great. Russians are not optimists. They are probably the most pragmatic, materialistic and contemplative people in the world. This is neither a complaint nor a compliment, just my beliefs. Oh, I dated a lovely Ukrainian woman, very educated, very mannered and the exact same way.

In today's world, with the changes we are seeing, it is worthwhile to remember Russia. As we move away from the use of oil, we put Russia in an odd state. It's major material reserve is oil and natural gas. It's strongest industry is the military. They will not become a third world nation or be invaded without a fight to the death.