ARTICLE: "Nationalism of Putin's Era Veils Sins of Stalin's," by Clifford J. Levy, New York Times, 27 November 2008.

Reprehensible in terms of truth-telling, but you can imagine the impetus. One thing for Germany to disavow a crazy 12-year Nazi run, but how to deal with a USSR that went on for seven decades? Especially when the guy associated with much of the best stuff (e.g., Great Patriotic War) is also clearly the mastermind of most of the absolutely worst (only Mao tops him in murder)?

I mean, it's gotta be weird to be Russian nowadays, like you're some historical orphan.