Rich and prosperous, constructive and reasonable, free and democratic, peaceful and considerate, modern and lovable, fair and sane, smiling and hospitable – this is the kind of Russia Georgia wants to be a neighbor and friend of. And this statement is accurate for a very simple reason - Georgia is itself exactly wh

at it wants Russia to be, although being a little richer and slightly more prosperous wouldn’t have harmed us either. But a wishful thinking is one thing and a harsh reality is another. Russia is what she is. Period! On the other hand, history knows of numerous unanticipated and radical changes, including in Russia, and who knows what might happen, even in my lifetime. Moscow mayor Luzhkov’s recent unexpected sacking for example was the news like out of the blue, although the strike of a lightening from mother-Russia’s not so blue and shining sky  could be expected at any point in those disturbed times. The rich and powerful Luzhkov is out of the pack all of a sudden, but they say he is not yet completely dead and gone. The former big man and a giant Kremlin associate has found himself among the queer and impotent Russian opposition. Folks, this definitely smells like a huge bad rat behind the scenes of the rotting Russian political edifice. Yes, the place looks and sounds like decomposing and shattered, but strange as it might seem, this is incredibly delightful news for the world. And the truer it is the better. After all, it is not just Georgia who craves for a normal Russia, but the rest of the world too. What is still remaining to be done now is to keep the damned rat reeking as unfalteringly as possible. If it stops stinking by any chance, Russians may think that all is ok around and may dig in again in the same dunghill where they have wanted to be that long. Hopefully, the stench has serious reasons and eventually triggers the long-expected changes in the worst democracy of the world. The time is probably ripe when the ‘tops’ are no longer capable of ruling and the ‘bottoms’ can no longer tolerate it.  Historians of philosophy would qualify the situation as revolutionary. The only doubt I am nursing in my heart of hearts about potential changes in Russia is the ability of the Russian people to fairly evaluate the state of affairs in the country and act accordingly. I am far from calling for any violence in Russia (or anywhere else for that matter), but I can’t help dreaming of the Russia described above. Just imagine how much better the world might be by having that kind of improved and perfected Russia. Would it be very funny to say that there is no longer a room on the planet for browbeating and intimidation, for mendacity and double-dealing, for grabbing somebody else’s territories and getting away with it? Poor old malodorous rat! Its smell is terribly putrid, but the odor is so pleasurable at the same time! Some more of it please, some more!