Reagan's policy of raising the economic stakes for the Soviet Union proved that this strategy worked as we all witnessed the demise of the hellish USSR soon after the U.S. 'Star Wars" initiative was promulgated.

Today, Russia's dictator Putin acts unrestrained in the CIS countries and Europe as well as in the Persian Gulf theater. Russian dictator Putin subjects Ukraine, Georgia and all of Europe to politial blackmail by dribbling "gas supply" ball in front of all.

It is time to put an enormous economic squeeze on Russia based upon the freedom curtain being drawn on presss organs in Russia and the continued butchery of Chechnya's civilians by Putin's butchers as well as Russia's current economic war against Georgia. The West must also cast a wary eye on the Persian Gulf issue of increased nuclear threat from a hostile state - Iran. Russia never clearly instructs its ally Iraq to give up nuclear ambitions.

Russia is no friend to the USA, Europe, Persian Gulf, or the entire world for all intends and purposes. Europe along with Ukraine must work to become energy-independnet and the USA and others must raise the military modernization stakes for Russia once again. As Putin is not invincible, the world can overcome this hegemonistic Russian monster once again as it did with the former Soviet Union.