[mbergal]

> Which allies did you meant?

Saudi Arabia?

> Under Yeltsin they had freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, separation of powers, state-independent business including large corporations, the federation, and independent press.

And how much good did it do to people of Russia? I'd say that going the "democratic" way Russia would end up pretty much in the same place where Ukraine is now, and surely Russians would not want that. And thus maybe Russia way is actually more "democratic". We are learning quite a lot about democracy and free speech here too.

> Russian government was caught cheating with doping tests of athletes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_Russia

You've got a point here, although nowadays after "Russia interfered in election", "Trump colluded with Russia" etc., I am not sure if I can trust in what is being reported on many issues.

[Const-me]

> Saudi Arabia?

Good point, any others? Because the claim was "many of the US’s allies", one example is not enough.

> And how much good did it do to people of Russia?

These people spent 70 years practicing and exporting communism. They suffered heavy military losses in Afghanistan. They have lost the cold war, and lost many dependent territories.

That's why their quality of life has dropped. Democratic freedoms and human rights did good for people.

[mbergal]

> Good point, any others? Because the claim was "many of the US’s allies", one example is not enough.

Omitting usual suspects - Jordan is a monarchy.

> These people spent 70 years practicing and exporting communism. They suffered heavy military losses in Afghanistan. They have lost the cold war, and lost many dependent territories.

And adding "democratic" institutions like independent large businesses controlled by oligarchs, "free" press also controlled by oligarchs and "free" elections manipulated by oligarchs and external forces, "free" market economy w/o protectionism, was making the country into what Ukraine is today - just country divided into feudal domains controlled oligarchs in turn controlled by western elites.

> Democratic freedoms and human rights did good for people.

Look at the current state of Ukraine.

[Const-me]

> Jordan is a monarchy

OK, that’s two out of how many? NATO alone has 30 states, that’s 29 excluding the US. Claiming these two are “many of the US’s allies” is dishonest.

> was making the country into what Ukraine is today

Quality of life, and economy, of Russia started to decline before the transition to democracy. Two main reasons were international sanctions for the war in Afghanistan (like Ronald Reagan’s security directive 75 in 1983), and collapse of oil prices around 1986.

Transition to democracy was not making the country into anything. Causations is directed from earlier to later events, never the other way around.

> Look at the current state of Ukraine.

The economy ain’t great because since 2014 Ukraine is losing many lives and resources defending Russian military aggression. In terms of democratic freedoms the country is way ahead: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index