It is well known that behind the presence of Dmitri Medvedev the real person who rules Russia is Vladimir Putin who proved to be a major leading power in Russia's politics. His major reforms especially in economy which allowed to the Russian state to accumulate resources and wealth mainly by taking control of the oil and the other major resources of the Russian Federation as natural gas and expelling away all the foreign companies at the same time, gave the vision and hope to many Russians that Russia might become again a major power in international arena upgrading its role to the point that it could become the ultimate challenger of United States financial and military supremacy.
There are several efforts for modernization of the Russian army, its strategical missiles, and more importantly its airforce and navy, the Russian naval presence in particular was upgraded especially in the Mediteranian and the Black sea, the presence of Russian aircrafts to Venezuela after the official invitation of Chavez clearly displays the Russian ambition to stop the domination of the United states in the international arena and limit if possible its influence to the other countries
A major Russian concern is the expansion of the NATO alliance against the Russian interests, by adhering countries which used to be parts of the former soviet union or members of the Varsov pact. Russia displayed its will to strongly oppose those American intentions even by the use of possible force although up to now nothing substiantial has been done to prove such a thing might come true. However the Russians have threatened to use their strategic missiles in case that the anti missile shield is being put into practice, considering it as a direct threat against Russia.
The situation becomes even worst if we think of the direct confrontantion of Russia with the west concerning the Georgian issue and the short war which brought major European countries and America to the point to threaten Russia if it continues its military operations against Georgia
Morover the recent operations of the American special forces in Syrian soil with several deads under the excuse that Syria has been facilitating the entrance of insurgents on Iraqi soil severely deteriorated the relations of Damaskus with United states and brought her closer to Russian arms especially taking into consideration their will to buy Russian anti aircraft systems and other military equipment and give a naval base to the Russians something that both Israel and United States do not wish to happen, in addition Iran is being equipped with Russian anti aircraft systems and other related equipment which is another source of tension and confrontation between United States, Israel and Russia, since Russians appear to take advantage of the American hostilities with certain nations in order to increase their influence and sell their weapons at the same time. We may say in general that the Russians respond in the same way to the American tactics which are similary since the Americans are too taking advantages of the hostility of Russia with certain nations in order to expand their influence and adhere them to NATO alliance using them as pawns against the Russian interests.
Putin displayed a fighting spirit and did not subdue however to the demands of the west, his hygemonical policy although not beneficial for the poor it proved to be this thing that Russians needed in order to gain their former pride which ceased to exist after the abrupt collapse of the former soviet union
so it should not come as a surprise that according to times magazine it is possible the Medvedev might resign and Putin might typically assume his duties in order to face the charismatic Obama who is going to be a much more tough adversary than Bush as it is said and therefore a much more grave threat for the Russian interests due to its increased popularity among the nations
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ODYSSEUS KILLING THE SUITORS