I find the wording of the article interesting
-Kremlin Strongman
-a former Communist

These descriptions are in the story because?
Whether Tsipras was a Communist seems irrelevant to the story
And why is Putin the Kremlin Strongman, instead of President

the Russian government as 'anti-imperialist' (which is absurd to the point of delusional, but it's a thing);

(B) Putin routinely has his opponents imprisoned and assassinated.

In fact, the story only statement tying the two nations together appears to be the statement about both countries being Orthodox Christian countries
So, it begs the question, 'Why mention he is a former Communist when the story doesn't make any reference to why it's significant?"

As to Putin throwing people in jail
Saudi Arabia still does crucifixions. I have yet to see a story on the Saudi Royal family referring to them as the Crucifixion Supportive Royal Family of the KSA

Their choice of terminology for their stories is selective, to say the least

family--rule by monarch is not democratic.

Yahoo, figure out if you're reporting or editorializing.

Attempts to impose EU political agendas on sovereign nations like Greece are anti-democratic. Greek voters elected Tsipras to implement policies which will improve the lives of the citizens of Greece. Period.

There was quite a bit of blatant editorializing in this article. Referring to the elected president of Russia as "Kremlin strongman" is a Red Scare tactic worthy of the New McCarthyism we are now seeing in the West. Evidenced by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra cancelling a performance by a Ukrainian Pianist because her political beliefs don't fall in line with the approved Washington dogma.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026471571

We are living in a new McCarthy era. Critical thinkers beware and watch your backs.

From the horse's mouth:

I took a class in the EU for a semester to qualify for an advanced French language diploma, so I know all the reasons, very admirable ones, for the EU. Nevertheless, the nations comprising the EU voted against a constitution, to drive home a point, for which I understand the reasons perfectly.

I don't want to trade internet articles about this, because I live here and talk to Europeans daily. Misunderstandings about any sort of political consensus and scope in Europe are what are driving current conversations about an EU breakup or reorganization.

When EU policies directly destroy industry in France to profit German industries, such as current changes being considered in the agricultural sector, it is normal and rational to consider alternatives. This is just another example, besides the Greek example, of how an economic union hurts rather than helps individual nations. Consider the case of Iceland, who has withdrawn its application for membership.

The reality of the EU today is not AT ALL what Schuman and Monnet had in mind after WWII, they intended to create socialists societies, not neo-liberal societies.

Been a long time since I was in Europe, but I do remember the students in a class I was teaching (computer operators) in Denmark saying they could see the advantages of a trade agreement, being in the EU, but there was no way they would vote to join the EU if they had to start using the Euro instead of their own currency. Because to do that was the start of letting Germany control things. To this day, Denmark is using its own currency. Those guys were quite correct.

Thank you. The common currency is a problem that the UK also avoided as they remained under the British pound sterling.

Another economic problem hurting the EU is the fiscal paradises. I've heard that if France could recover the tax money it is owed by companies basing their headquarters in fiscal paradises, France would have no debt and thus no need for austerity policies. I imagine this would hold true for other EU countries including Greece.

This is a great new documentary (2015 release) about this issue: the French title is "Le Prix à Payer" by Harold Crooks. I couldn't find an English title or release date in my brief IMDB search - here's a link from Le Figaro. The Film is in English and French with English subtitles.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2015/02/06/20002-20150206ARTFIG00004--le-prix-a-payer-un-documentaire-qui-denonce-les-paradis-fiscaux.php

constitution, so that's not much of an argument.

There are a whole host of EU treaties that cover a bunch of political issues, including foreign policy and human rights. These treaties, and their implementation by the EU including its judiciary, are binding upon the member states.

To argue that the EU doesn't need a constitution because the UK doesn't have one is comparing apples and oranges. The UK is too old and stable politically to have had need for a formal constitution, unlike the USA, France and Germany.

seriously, who wrote this shit?

Why shouldn't the Greek Prime Minister meet with the Russian President. Greece needs help. Greece and Russia have some common interests to do business; Greece needs $$ and Russian needs pipeline routes for its oil and gas and maybe could use a spare warm water port.

EU's sole interest is in bailing out its banks that made bad loans on the backs of the poorest who didn't take out the loans to begin with. Not unlike when Iceland's 1% bankers went down and the IMF thought they would make Iceland's reindeerherders bail out them out.

Russia or the whole EU sanctions package is scuttled.

All member countries in the EU must approve.

since they need to sell their fruit to Russia, who needs fruit.

They should vote against the sanctions. Greece needs to take care of Greece first.

Is the EU worried that Russian monies will then prop up the Greek economy? Who would blame Greece for going where the money is and not being forced to hand over the store to Germany.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/moscows-mafia-finds-an-island-in-the-sun-cyprus-is-awash-with-dubious-dollars-from-russia-robert-fisk-reports-from-limassol-on-the-visitors-with-private-jets-bulging-suitcases-and-a-reluctance-to-answer-questions-1381056.html

http://www.voxeu.org/article/russian-cyprus-round-tripping-corruption-linked-money-laundering

The above links are old but the laundering happened for over 20 years in Cyprus - Greece could be next if Germany doesn't butt the fuck out and give Greece some breathing room.