tdaxp

Great news for the world, as Russia continues to lash out at her former satellites.

Tom has compared Vladimir Putin to the founder of Singapore, but a closer analog would be Hosni Mubarak: a security-sector insider able to neutralize mainstream opposition, unable to neutralize violent radical opposition, and most notable for slowly destroying his state's ability to project power.

Two stories, two maps.

The first: the European visa-free zone increased, incorporating many of the new EU members. Germany and Austria no longer have guarded frontiers, formerly having checkpoints on the Polish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, and Slovene borders. Russia now borders the four members of the visa-free zone: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland (in addition to Finland and Norway).



The second is the continued dismemberment of the Russian client state, Serbia, at the hands of Brussells (and Washington, and Berlin, and...). When Kosovo declares independence, which is already a few months overdue, Serbia will find itself surrounded by eight countries -- three of whom are already in the EU, another (Croatia) which will probably be the next EU member, and the rest looking for eventual EU integration.

Relatedly: Vladimir Putin, who has been invaluable in accelerating Europe's rise, is Time's Man of the Year.

The death of Alexander Litvinenko reminds us how fortunate the world is for Vladimir Putin. An infinitely less bloody version of Stalin, his combination of political mastery and strategic incompetence guarantees us a safe Europe, a safe Asia, and a safe world.

Russia is situated in the Heartland of Eurasia, a "pivot of history." The lands of central Eurasia are protected from the oceans by the frozen Arctic Sea. They are also thus protected from the liberating force of trade. Central Eurasia has brought Europe and Asia pestilence, plague, war, invasion, and death. When Central Eurasia is strongest -- as under Czar Alexander I -- Europe is forced in authoritarian reaction. When Central Eurasia crumbles -- after World War I and the Cold War more recently, the European community expands and liberty (and the market) moves forward.

Therefore, we are thankful for Vladimir Putin. He ruins Russia's image as if he is a double-agent, weakening his country before micropowers and allowing satellite after satellite to be humiliated.

Vladimir Putin is continuing the disintegration of the Russian Empire that has occured since 1815 (with only a brief respit in the 1930s and 1940s). Because of Putin, Russia's "wins" are measured in individual bodies while Russia's losses are those nations freed from the Bear's grip.

Good.