Why Russia — a country with less money than Canada and fewer people than Nigeria — runs the world...

They are a country of pluggers. Their national characteristics are stamina and endurance. In America, we like to talk about American independence and American ingenuity, but really we are a nation of whiners, epitomized by the outgoing complainer-in-chief.

The article was generally good but misses a major point. Gas. The EU gets 99% of its natural gas (read: heating/cooking) from Russia via German-run piping and technology. Basically a German gas plant infrastructure. Russia signed agreements giving Germany the keys to the pumps. This makes Germany the final word in regulation ("oh - didn't pay your bill? Excuse me while I shut your power off. Oh darn...and its winter too... Hope you pay your bill before loss of heat gets you too cold...") for the EU.

Seeing the sleeping financial giant, China has funded a modernization of Russia's Eastern rail infrastructure so that for the first time, Russian rolling stock will be able to traverse the country efficiently. This will enable Russian gas to also make its way to Chinese/Asian markets. This is why Russia (and France) have been selling virtually every weapon they make. What Asian navy doesn't have Russian ships in port or on order? The money the EU pays Russia for it's natural gas is astronomical.

France is great at politics, lousy at war. Germany is great at war, lousy at politics. Russia is lousy at both but has tons of resources. So France running the EU with Germany as its bully-boy and Russia as the 'farmer' is the ideal situation for all three. Once Russia's far-Eastern rail links start putting EU gas in to Asian markets, you can say goodbye to American influence in Asia.

I own a vintage Russian military watch. Built very well. (My comment contributes nothing to this conversation, I'm being random).