Russia provided NK with the technology and expertise to build their first nuclear reactors in the 1950's, and the relationship has been on-going since then - with some very tough times around Yeltsin - continuing through the Sochi Olympics and today: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea%E2%80%93Russia_relations Despite NK being a black-listed pariah for every other country in the world, Russia decides to continue to do business with NK. As far as Chechnya goes, the Russian army flattened Grozny, and have been camped out in the capital since 1999, basically claiming ownership of the country. So Chechnya is now in a "rebellion" instead of in a "war". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen%E2%80%93Russian_conflict#Chechen_Wars Who is on that list? North Korea, I presume, but who else? I'm thinking of not a literal "List of Bad Guys" list. More of a colloquial, "Why do these few countries keep doing things to jack up the world for the rest of us?" kind of list. It happens like this; A whole coalition of countries comes to an agreement of the logical way to deal with some issue, and you can always be sure that Russia, North Korea, China (sometimes), and some small African nation will vote against the plan. That's what I mean by "shit list"... the countries who routinely mess things up, just because they can. Not because they have an actual point to make, or clear alternative course of action proposed. Just because they want to be pig-headed. What are the main social, technological and/or cultural differences between "you" (who is that, by the way?) and Russia that you can note? By "the rest of us" I mean the group of first world nations. Russia is a puzzlement because they are the last shining example of people who can get things into space, reliably, regularly, and for a reasonable price. But in nearly every other regard, Russia's products are just terrible quality. Cars, military tech, any tech at all really, planes, national air carriers, trains, buses, etc. Why is it that a country that has such a reliable and effective space program cannot create a basic car? Why is it that a country with some amazing higher education institutions, and some of the most brilliant minds in history, can't LEAD in some world-changing sector? Why do Russian minds find more success outside of Russia than they do inside? (Just rhetorical questions here...) Is that a random number, or are you basing it on some sort of real-life info (like the amount of the real oppositionist members of the government or something)? I just am referencing the Stalist purges of history. But, if you look back on changes in the Kremlin over the last 30 years, what generally happens is that a charismatic leader leaves office for some reason, and a HUGE number of people are suddenly out of work at the Kremlin, and a whole new group of people - "friends" of the new leader - are suddenly filling those seats. The government in Russia seems to me to be run more on cronyism than on any sort of formal rules. So when one leader goes, there is a huge amount of turnover and turmoil as the new leader kicks out a bunch of people he doesn't like, and brings in his cousins and nephews and other cronies. You are very welcome! But I think there is nothing here to be depressed by. Look at is this way: Why am I frustrated with Russia? Because I think it is capable of SO MUCH MORE! To me, Russia is this amazing bundle of potential that keeps tripping over its own shoelaces. But tying shoes is EASY once you know how. And at some point Russia is going to get it's shoes tied right, and it is going to be a POWERHOUSE of innovation and progress on par with America and China and Europe. You've got the resources. You've got the brains. You've got the pride. You clearly have the technical prowess to keep up with anybody. All that holds Russia back is Russia sabotaging itself with self-defeating exceptionalism. It seems that Russia's only view of itself is in opposition to somebody else. Once Russia figures out that it doesn't need to use anybody else's measuring stick, I think Russia will be an AMAZING asset to the world... rather than the grumpy anti-social kid sitting in the corner glowering at everyone else having so much fun. You mention North Korea as among the only ones wanting to deal with Putin. What's that about?
> Is it really worth it to be put on the worldwide Shit List?
>The rest of us are advancing, living in the 21st century, and moving forward
> and the following purge kills off 93% of the people in office
> Thank you for sharing your perspective. This has been... depressing, but enlightening.