What's Going on with Russia?

In a article in The Wall Street Journal about recent US and Russia cooperation.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Thursday an increasingly authoritarian Kremlin was taking "a dark turn" toward international isolation. She described Moscow's military occupation of Georgia and its subsequent recognition of the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as illegal acts that threatened Europe's stability.

"Our strategic goal now is to make clear to Russia's leaders that their choices could put Russia on a one-way path to self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance," Ms. Rice said in a speech.

Is Russia choosing international isolation intentionally or has Russia been bullied over the past decade as Samantha Powers suggests in an August 2008 article in Time Magazine? Russia's "brewing rage" should not come as a surprise to anyone. The re-opening of communication between the International community and Russia is crucial for every state’s security, especially Russia’s neighbors. The recent cooperation is a step in the right direction, but Russia has a long ways to go.