Interesting. I would imagine Russias' resurrection after the devastation wrought by Gorbachev had something to do with the fact that it had a new leader who had a Ph.D. in economics - international private law also. I read a comment by one of Putin's examiners after his defence of thesis, who said it was one of the best defenses he had ever heard, made by a man who really understood the "market". Given he also was there to try to arrest Russia's decline and pull her back from disaster, and not because he was politicking for his own advancement, these two aspects had to have had a big impact I would suspect.
Pamela Storer, bringing it down to personalities is always a mistake. During times of troubles, Russia is always plagued by traitors, but eventually a new elite and a new leadership emerges. This hasn't changed for a thousand years.
What would the best source be to explain the planned destruction and balkanisation of Russia to a friend who is anti Russian . A book , documentation or video ?
That part you mentioned the Pashtuns reminded me similar things I had heard about them from my intelligence officer back in the late 80's when I was stationed in Afghanistan. I was in the 9th company of a Spetsnaz unit. I cannot give any further details :))