Due to my incompacitation because of illness, I've been a real boob as of late and have actually watched television since reading hurts so much. Blame it on the fever. By watching T.V., I mean wiring myself to CNN and BBC online. I zone out when it come to a lot of the Obama vs Clinton thing (it's over-covered in my opinion - I know who I'm voting for, but it's a secret). But I find myself glued to the screen when it comes to the international bit.
When I was in eighth grade, I was convinced Putin was the anti-Christ. He fit the description in my mind. But somehow he dragged the Russian economy back into the billions from the disaster it was for years previous. Now there's a president who says he'll back Putin's ways, and although this time I'm pretty sure he won't bring about the apocalypse, I'm still skeptical about a Putin-lover. Medvedev has been elected as the new leader of the largest country on the planet by what some opposition is calling unfair. Medvedev's party has accused the US as trying to turn favor against the party. I've got the old scandals of poisonings during elections running through my mind (remember those?!).
I rejoice for the Russians who perceive this successful election of Medvedev as a chance to continue the economic boom, but weep for global cooperation. After accusing the US of starting an arms race and taking a stance against NATO's expansion plans, I wonder what the new leader is playing at. Not only that, Putin is to be prime minister after Medvedev's swearing in in May.
Now for the international connections: Russia is already annoyed at US' support of Israel, if I remember right. We also have Pakistan issues coming to head now. With the accused arms race and political scene changing much at the same time, a period of rocky ground and new leadership is in order. With Putin still in the Russian wings, America will need a strong diplomatic leader to try and smooth things out while maintaining a global connection within our international organizations. Who's up to bat, then?
