The article seems to suggest that Gorbachev purposely brought down the Soviet government. The better statement would be that the government had lost so much credibility among its own people that he hoped that his policies of 'glastnost' and 'perestroika' would restore such credibilty. Instead, the greater openness let loose forces that undermined the government.[[User:Alloco1|Alloco1]] 17:42, 16 March 2007 (EDT)
:An important factor '''''totally''''' ignored in the United States is that the new Russian Federation came into existence on Christmas Day--Christmas Day-- the birth of Russian democracy after the death of athiest, Soviet Communism occured on the most celebrated of Christian Holidays. This is not a coincidence. This has a sympbolic symbolic meaning. And the meaning is only lost on American journalist who do not understand what News is even when they see happening before thier very eyes. [[User:RobS|RobS]] 21:12, 19 March 2007 (EDT)