Harish Palaniappan's

Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated yesterday 9 Feb 06, that he would soon invite the leaders of Hamas to visit Moscow.

Putin said in a news conference that Russia is maintaining contacts with the Hamas organization and intends in the near future to invite the leadership of this organization to Moscow.

News source: washington post

This was unexpected by leaders in the west, and Israel is concerned about this decision.

Hamas is an organization which once vowed to wipe israel of the map after isreali attacks killed a top Hamas leader and the killing was seen as a victory by israel and the west. Also, the west, especially the US recognize Hamas as a militant organization of high terrorist activity.

Russia... I thought succumbed to economical pressures to ally with the US after the devastating split in 1980-90's, the consequent turn of events, and cold-war casualities it had earlier to that.

But putin's announcement yesterday sounds a signal to me that, russia is happy making its own decisions unlike some european and western countries which allow US decisions to become their opinions.. and ally closely with the US for economic and power benefits.

The US indirectly acknowledged sometimes having a hand in destabilizing russia from its status into a industrial power and union in the 1990's. Russia could have become more powerful than the west (& Europe included).

Remember, Russians were the first to fly into space... to start a space station, and all that. Technologically and industrially Russia was clearly on its way to the 'SuperPower' status in the 1980's which could have pushed the west from that status.

Russia seemingly is interested to help Hamas in its current hurdle .. of setting up a government in palestine. If this goes well for the Hamas and palestine... people of palestine would be happier, since they voted for a change and have given the reigns to Hamas.

Read more:
Is Democracy stupid? that it allowed Hamas to gain control of palestine