Originally Posted by
Ermelloth
That too. But now it's a bit more problematic since Russia got tied themselves up with Iran and Assad, which are huge assholes. So, if West completely gets out of the region, it will be ruled by Putin, backed up by legion of russian "ura-patriots" (a group of about 75% of Russian population, consisting of pensioners, commoners, drunkards, Stalinists, russian right wing, neonazists, etc.).
Since my mother tongue is Russian, I often read Russian forums and the level of HATRED a common Russian feels for the West (particularly USA) is scary. I often encounter posts about blowing up Washington, for example. Russians also blame USA and EU in everything bad that happened to them since USSR split up; of course, I'm talking mostly about bottom of Russian society. The problem is, however, that around 80% of Russia's population make this "bottom" - cultural, progressive, liberal, well-educated people are a minority there. While all the bottom strongly supports Putinizm.
You realize that with Putin and his retrograde supporters in power, Russia cannot be allowed to gain more political weight.
P.S. Still, the sooner West moves out of their countries, the better. Let Saudi Arabia, etc. sort things out.