ARTICLE: "Russia-Backed Think Tank to Study Western Democracy," by Andrew Osborn, Wall Street Journal, 18 Janary 2008, p. A7.

Actually, it'll be set up to offer countering critiques to even the rhetorical playing field a bit.

Says the slated head, "You can only be a pupil for so long."

We can argue about how "good" a pupil, but you get the Putinesque gist.

Such is the state of America's standing right now ...