This might be my opinion:

Some of this may seem a bit scary, but if a leader is winning peoples hears and minds by giving them what they want, which Putin has done, I'm liking that approach. Russia is also winning confidence among it's neighbors and getting foreign investments hand over fist.

Not throwing my chips in here, but from the onset it shows only one harsh embassy protest and no calls for violence from the top down for this group. If Putin keeps from calling them an army or his soldiers etc, I'm not seeing too much to protest. We should have something similar in America to get our kids involved in national pride.

And his giving the top kids from this group real government jobs? Sweet. You may think it's a brainwashing ploy to get large groups of sheep together so you can use them against your enemies later, but Putin seems to be getting them to think his way by getting them to think. Classic recruitment gets them to not think and just obey. He's turning them into intellectuals and I can't see that as bad.

I need more info of course, but this essay misses it's intent.

It's saddening to see people around the world protesting against America. Bush - with his foreign policies and uncompromising candor is definitely not helping the way we are being viewed by people around the world.

"I need more info of course, but this essay misses it's intent."

You didn't find the Nashi literature full of fabricated US media headlines designed to stir up nationalist sentiment just a tad bit troubling? What about the ideology test to get admitted to the summer camp? Where the "correct" answer is demonstrably false rumor again designed to stir up nationalist sentiment?

Part of this organization seems analogous to the College Democrats and Republicans. But if this report is anything to go by it sounds as if there is also a hefty dose of political and ideological indoctrination designed to build a pro-government cadre of young people.

Yes, I did find that troubling as well, Scottishmartialarts. It's more fuel to that fire - and in a very bad way.

The piece lacks context, Putin is slowly shutting down the political and civil liberities that have been created post-USSR collapse, he is after all an ex-KGB crony. You will find no criticism of the political process, to be within the political system you cannot participate if you are in anyway anti-Putin.

Bush could only wish for the political free reign that Putin enjoys.