Russian President Dmitry MedvedevFrom Newsweek:
He wants to build a new security bloc and a gas cartel, and transform Moscow into a financial hub.
Just what exactly does Dmitry Medvedev want? Six months into his tenure at the Kremlin, the Russian president's signals are so mixed, he has Western policymakers and diplomats baffled. In speech after speech, to audiences at home and abroad, he has talked forcefully of putting an end to Russia's culture of corruption; diversifying Russia's economy beyond the oil and gas industry; integrating Russia into the world economy; instituting the rule of law; and guaranteeing freedom of speech. He has said Russia should be a country where ordinary people take a "more active role in the country's political life." Yet at the same time, he has blasted Washington for destabilizing the world's finances; blamed the United States for provoking the August war with Georgia; laid claim to Russia's "privileged interests" in its neighborhood; and proposed a massive shift in the global "architecture," which would give Russia a more pronounced say in world affairs.
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My Comment: This is definitely a new direction for Russia. It is a Russia first policy, and it does this by embracing free markets, instituting the rule of law, and guaranteeing free speech.
These are noble and proper goals .... the problem that would delay much of this is the Russian culture and behavior towards government, free markets, the rule of law, and free speech. Translated .... free speech is only done behind closed doors, the government is to be always feared, free markets are run by the mafia, and the rule of law is only for the powerful.
My guess is that Russian President Medvedev knows this .... but he also must know that someone has to start somewhere .... so why not now.