How majority of Russians see the role of Russia today?

[cdnexpat]

Hello all,

I am fairly new to this site, but this thread was so interesting that I thought I should contribute a little.
I understand most views axpressed here, as in my position, I have travelled through some of the countries mentionned, and I am presently surrounded by co workers from many ex-USSR countries.
We also often discuss these same issues here.
Countries like Ukraine, Latvia, Poland, East-Germany all face the same dillemma: a large part of the population, the younger ones believe that by cutting all ties with Russia and learning English instead of Russian, and by joining the EU and NATO, they would automatically be better off.
The older generation realize that they were better off before 1990 than now, and have nostalgia of these soviet days where they were a powerfull nation with garantied employment, etc
Most of my collegues from Ukaine and Poland admit that the west will never bring much of anything to them. I tend to agree with them. Europe has enough of their own problems and certainly will not help raise the standard of living in the eastern part.
There may be some hope in the baltik states, but as far as the other countries are concerned, it is already going downhill. One of my collegue is a colonel in the Polish army. He is the first one to admit that they got really sc**d by the US when they joined NATO. They were forced to buy F-16 at three times the cost of better russian MIGs.
Their pension is threatenned by the pro west candidate, etc.
Same thing in Ukraine, where two of my collegues are from. Both will move to Russia, because they cannot stand that corrupt regime of the orange revolution.
I think the west is waging a propaganda war against russian interests in these countries. Russia need them as trading partners. The west needs cheap labor, but it already too late, as China will be getting all investments. The only ones going to eastern Europe will be fought between countries with subsidies.
Think about it! Look ahead!!
Bob