I was watching some of the coverage of the Bush visit to Russia, and the parade they had to commemerate the end of WW2. I was more then a bit suprised when I saw the good ole' Hammer and Sickle flying high over red square again. Is it me, or is that a bit disconcerning? I am sure if the germans started flying the swastika over the reichstag again on special occasions it would raise some eyebrows. the soviet union was just as bad as the nazi regime in terms of murder, maybe even worse.

I thought they just went bankrupt, I don't think they were abolished. I believe they have had the same flag since the Iron Curtain fell.

no, when the soviet union died they got a new flag.

Originally posted by Travh20
no, when the soviet union died they got a new flag.

Correct.

I understand that the hammer and sickle was used because it was the Soviet Union that fought against Germany. At least that was the excuse given. There might have been something of Russian intimidation of it's former subjects as well.

it's hard to know what Russia's intentions are, but I have a bad feeling that it is not good.

Putin seems to be setting himself up as a dictator, all the free press is gone, anybody who opposes him ends up in jail.

It must be somewhat hard for a country to go from Superpower to poor 3rd rate nation over night. If it was not for the fact that they have 5000 nuclear weapons and a UN veto - they would be just another poor nation to be marginalized by the west.

The old hardliners are still there, also present are the turmoil and economic conditions for a steady gain in power.

it could turn into another situation that led up to WW2. after WW1 germany was in bad shape, broke and ashamed. all it took was a strong leader to remind them of their glorious past and that was all she wrote

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
The old hardliners are still there, also present are the turmoil and economic conditions for a steady gain in power.

Puttin was a big wig in the old KGB, I think may the director or something.

As a kid who grew up with air raid alerts, practicing ducking under my desk in schools; I have a difficult time trusting the Russian government. I think they should have ousted all the old guard rather than putting them in seats of power. JMO

Oh. I wasn't even paying attention (obviously). That IS kind of scary.

First impression would say they're just reliving and remembering to the fullest extent. But like Trav said, all it takes is a strong leaderto remind them of the past and turn into something that could potentially be a problem.

Drew,

The Soviet Union was and has always been a third world country, (economically speaking) it just had this massive army, a huge track of land and nuclear weapons. What ended the Cold War was that their economy collapsed completely (and that is saying something).

To further the bad knews about the Soviet Union, I've read an article someplace that the Russian army has been practicing military manuevers with the Chi-coms, and both sides stated that they don't like the idea of the U.S. being the lone Superpower.