I don't think that Putin has something against the US. It's just political bargaining of some kind. He is very shrewd and cold blooded player. And regarding the antimissile stuff in Poland and Czech republic I quess to a certain degree his reaction was provoked by the Polish veto on the admission of Russia to the World Trade Organisation. I guess the situation will be solved this or other way anyhow. As for the reaction of Russians on the American desire to deploy this antimissile stuff, nobody gives it a damn. Everybody understands that there will never be the thing called nuclear war, because even the most sophisticated and the most perfect antimissile defence won't be able to intercept ALL the missiles. Hence the very idea of such a war is senseless. In this context we understand that this is just a political game and nothing else.
As for the way Russians treat Putin, most of them like him. The reasons are simple - the rapid growth of the level of life. And besides he put an and to stealing of billions of dollars from national income by the so called oligarchs.
If five years ago russian middle class was buying Corollas, Mazda 3s, Ford Focuses etc, now they switch to Camries, Mazda 6s or Lexuses.
At long last people aquired the possibility to buy goods through credit lines and the market in Russia develops rapidly. So this I guess explains everything. In the times of Eltsin only his family and friends felt themselves comfortable. Now things have changed.
The thing that really worries Russians - who will be the next president? Nobody wants another Eltsin - an alchoholic worried exclusively about his personal affairs and well being.
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