tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-444330586144044362008-03-22T15:34:00.000Z2008-03-22T15:34:00.000ZI think what he's getting at, is why does the world treat Russia like it is more important than it actually is?<BR/><BR/>Is it the size of Russia that earns it attention? Is it the stockpiles of nuclear weapons? Is it just a leftover from the Soviet period?<BR/><BR/>Think about Brazil. Brazil has more people, a higher GDP -- at almost every level it should be more important than Russia. Except Russia is in the G8 and Brazil is not. Russia has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Brazil does not. <BR/><BR/>Why? Is it really just the nukes? Because if you take away the nukes and Russia's relationship with Iran, it makes no sense to elevate Russia to a position above Brazil's.Giustinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.com