This picture is scary, for a lot of reasons. Putin may very well have gone too far too fast however. Now that natural gas and oil prices aren't bullet proof, his pedestal of would be global political power shakes.

The picture below comes from the two day visit Chavez is having in Russia this week. Yesterday he was lobbying Putin and Medvedev to form a "strategic alliance" with Venezuela. Chavez went on record saying "if Russia's armed forces want to be present in Venezuela, they will be given a warm welcome."

See our earlier post today on Russia's stock market breaking down for more.

Because geopolitical risks are ignored, certainly does not mean they cease to exist. That’s why one of my investment themes remains keeping an “Eye On Putin Power.”
KM
AP Picture From This Week