Fifteen years ago, when the Cold War ended and the USSR disintegrated, many in Washington were optimistic. They saw the new Russia becoming a strong democracy, taking its place along with England, France and Germany as part of the democratic Europe. They also envisioned this new Russia as a partner of the United States in responding to and quelling local wars and uprisings around the globe. With the passage of time, it has become clear that these people are the same ones who believe in Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy.

During the Presidency of Boris Yeltzin, the optimists pointed toward positive strides being made in Russia. A free press and independence for television and radio stations were becoming prevalent. The Russian economy was expanding and, at least in Moscow, the standard of living for many was on the rise. With the devastation of the Russian army, Yeltzin made no effort to intervene in local conflicts, leaving the United States as the sole superpower and world's policeman.

The fact that Yeltzin was more often drunk than sober was overlooked by his supporters in Washington. Yeltzin's sole legacy from his years in power was to select Vladimir Putin as his successor. It was a bizarre choice. Putin was a minor functionary in the KGB who had no prior national experience.

As President, Putin has managed to convert Russia from a nascent democracy back to authoritarian rule. At the same time, he has become increasingly hostile toward the United States and Western Europe.

On the domestic front, it's goodbye to democracy and hello to the old police state minus communist ideology. The notion of a Russian free press is totally gone. The government now controls all of the television stations and prominent radio stations. These are operated by individuals handpicked by Putin. While there is some dissent in the print media, that is immaterial because so few Russians read the newspapers. It is television that molds public opinion.

Parts of the Russian economy are still expanding particularly in Moscow. Shopping malls and office building are being built at a good clip. Russia is one of the largest exporters of oil and natural gas and the run-up in world oil prices has fueled this economic expansion. At the same time, Putin has moved aggressively to seize control in the name of the state of the large oil companies. Once again, the economy is state dominated and controlled.

No effort is being made to improve the health or welfare of the Russian people. In fact, in the fifteen years since the breakup of the USSR, the Russian population has sharply declined and is on a perilous downward spiral. For every 100 people born, 171 have died. The life expectancy for a Russian male is 58 years, below that of Bangladesh. The reasons are diverse and include alcoholism, depression, and AIDS.

With respect to United States relations, President Bush eagerly embraced Putin when the Russian leader publicly announced support for the United States' effort against world terrorism following the 9/11 attacks. He even supported the United States in its effort to place bases within the central Asia republics that had formerly been a part of the USSR. What wasn't clear at the time, but is now, is that Putin has his own agenda. Hell-bent to destroy the independence movement in Muslim Chechnya, Putin hoped to enlist the United States as an ally in the bloody war that Putin was waging against Chechnya rebels.

Those days are over. Now Putin opposes an expanded U.S. military close to the Russian border even if its objective is to fight terrorists in Afghanistan. Naively, the United States believed that Russia could be an ally in our battle to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Those hopes have been shattered.

Russia is using its energy exports and control of natural gas pipelines to dictate political terms to the Ukraine and other former USSR states. Likewise, Putin has demonstrated a willingness to exert control over Western Europe by withholding the supply of natural gas. Aided by huge oil revenues, it's only a question of time until the Russian military again becomes a formidable adversary for the United States and China.