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only to some extent. they are in their 5th year of recession, unemployment has gone above 20%. the latest lending package of 130 billion euros, requires firing more public employees and widespread wage cut. that the greek problem is too much debt, means that more lending is not the cure, but few seem to realize that. the normal cure here would be to devalue one's currency. that would lower the standard of living but also boost exports and tourism and thus give you a chance to grow out of the recession and debt. there is no way out for the greeks as long as they are tied to the euro. rioting and burning banks is not very helpful, the police union's threat to arrest EU officials and IMF members is not good idea. debt allowed the greeks to party for 10 years and as they did little productive investing during that time, the aftermath is going to hurt no matter what course they choose.

attacking russia was a very strange choice; he was allied to russia. in attacking russia he left 2 diminished (austria and prussia) but still dangerous enemy nations in his rear. there was no followup to the attack planned, no reserves to back up the attack. napoleon's sharp tactical and strategic sense seems to have been thrown out the window in his disasterous blundering lunge at moscow. he didn't need to do anything, europe was under his thumb nearly every country was annexed, occupied, puppetized or allied to france. he could have waited out england. one smart target could have been the ottoman empire. napoleon could have easily defeated the turks and russia a traditional enemy of the ottoman empire could hardly complain about a french attack and would be compelled to support it but french power would mean only as a junior partner. austria would be in a similar difficult position as the turks were also their traditional enemy but a french victory would leave them even more isolated and weak. to try and fight the french in alliance with turks, would have allowed napoleon to tear austria to bits before going after the ottoman empire. with many choices before him napoleon seems to have chosen the dumbest and least promising. i think the case here is of power corrupting napoleon's judgement.

Elections in Russia. Do you know that they have taken place on December, 4th? Do you monitor the voting? Are you interested in results of elections ?