OK, All I really ask is that we try (hard) to not turn this into a political thread if possible.

Here we go.

People seem to think that Russia (or whatever we're calling it today) is broke. The subs are rusting away, the oil company is ruined, blah blah blah. First, I don't buy it for one minute. Russia is a HUGE economy with vast resources and hard working people (when they want to be... just like us!). What I don't understand is when people read an article like this:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-06/17/content_3098790.htm

Doesn't it make people think twice? Would a country in "trouble" really be doing things like this?

Seems to me the thought that the "cold war" destroyed them just isn't true.

Do you think they are still a theat?