Mike, I know we made a pact not to argue with each other, but Ijustwanted to clarify some of my "worldviews" in a languageyou'dunderstand better, I think...:-)Arguingabout the impact of Putin's behavoir on Russia, their peopleand theireconmy is useless and too early at this point, and wewill see it betterin the future.
You are right each country doeswhat's best for them,and I told you US does the right thing to do "what's best forthem".Let's change the right thing to the right WAY. When you areabusinessman, you do what's best for you by following the rulesfirst.You don't intimidate you competetors with your guns, you don'ttaketheir capital away, you don't beat them up to put them in a traumaroom.If people, you do business with would find out you do all thosethings,I think you'd lose a lot of clients and partners.
Aboutour allies - values vs enemies - America is committed to peace, freedomand prosperity (and even more or less in that order)