I won't comment on corrupt and dictator, but opportunistic? Hardly. He's just protecting his interests, in a very transparent and predictable way.

He was the only one supporting Assad and warning about the "Islamist rebels" in Syria, long before the current crisis happened. Sure, he annexed Crimea, but what do you think would happen if Russia/China orchestrated a coup/revolution in e.g. Japan, where US has military bases with significant strategic importance? Do you think US would peacefully stand away?

Oh, old Russian propaganda about 'US orchestrated a coup'?

I thought it was already gone sour, but apparently some people still believe in that fairy tale.

Wait, the US effected a government change? I don't believe that has ever happened! /s

as opposed to the US which is a democracy?

I didn't mean to imply that. I think the US is a republic with some vestiges of democracy, but I feel that's corrupt as well at this point.

sadly so. what hurts double is that the US is kind f a role model (or has been fr us Europeans) because we kind of grow up with Hollywood and it's original values (freedom). Seeing this deteriorate feels like a betrayal when as a foreigner you have no way of shaping their policy (yet still be affected by it)

You can buy or hack elections same as anybody else, and you can campain on issues. If anything, foreign Hacker News readers have more say than the average U.S. citizen.

It should be a republic, but it isn't really. Republic implies rule of law, which the U.S. doesn't really have anymore. The government, and to a certain extent the upper classes, are not ruled by law at all, they have impunity, and neither are the lower classes, as they mostly bargain a plea deal.