Russia and Europe Must Unite to Resist US and China, Moscow Analysts Say

Of course, you both make valid points about Russia. However, Russia constantly tries to "punch above its weight". Russia is a semifascist state - some of the characteristics of such states is their constant demand for respect, extreme sensitiveness about past humiliations, real and imagined and external enemies. For example, the G8, which is basically an economic grouping - Russia DOES NOT qualify even for an G12.

Well, the weak point here is that you only observe the "economic might" from the "military" point of view. Then I would quiet agree with you. However it should be taken into account that GDP also means something in everyday life of ordinary people in the particular country and in such case "beer & chocolate" export is good enough to keep strong Belgium whilst miserable and extremely unfairly distributed GDP of Russia plays it's destructive (or maybe - constructive ? :) role in the eventual future of this state. Hence, the peaceful scenario works better for EU and not for Russia.

When comparing countries' 'economic might' remember to look upon GDP figures with grain of salt. One shall look at the nature of economy to see how much power it can project. Belgian chocolate and beer exports even though bring good revenue are of little significance in military confrontation scenarios (and in realpolitik this is what matters), neither chocolate and beer are valuable foreign policy instruments in peacetime. Hence, Russia is still (and already) an economic power. Regardless of chaotic and underfunded army it is still a military power able to make a couple of 'anschlusses' on EU's Eastern front with old Europe being afraid and hesitant to intervene. EU shall understand that an authoritarian state with reasonable energy and military muscle will always be source of trouble. Hence, EU shall primarily invest energy independce and after in softening up / democratising Russia (through educating it's people etc.).

If we agree that true power only stems from economic might, then Russia, although an important country, is not in the same league as Europe, China, Japan or the US. Russia is only a MIDDLING ECONOMIC POWER. For example, the combined GDP of Belgium and Netherlands, last year was 30% higher than that of Russia. Russias ambitions have frequently been grossly inflated .

EU needs to go in the same direction that USA is going in folowing years with president-elect Barack Obama. Energy independent. Forget about gas, forget about oil. Wind, sea, sun is the new energy supliers who will serve as no matter what we think about them. And i sugest Russia do the same - find a way to unite your self with wind, sea and sun - they don have no Poland nore Baltic states.

Last I heard Russia was negotiating with China in direct opposition to the US and EU.