> The WP, in its insane editorial, quotes P as saying that the collapse
> of the USSR was the greatest geopoltical disaster of the 20th century
> (i.e. worse than WWII etc.). (Then it goes on David Irving-like to
> deny the tragedy, but that's another story.) That's not what he said.
>
> I have the Russian text in front of me: "Sleduet priznat, chto
> krushenie Sovetskogo Soyuza bylo krupneishei geopolitcheskoi
> katastrofoi veka." This means, "It follows that it must be admitted
> that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a very great catastrophy of
> the century."
>
> What a difference an article makes! "Krupneishii" means "very,
> superlatively great," not "the greatest," which would be "samyi
> krupnii."
>
> Putin is in agreement with 75% of his electorate (going by the last
> opinion poll I saw, about a month or so ago).
Thanks. I'll quote you, if you don't mind, when we discuss this on my local radio show <http://www.newsfromneptune.com/>. --CGE