To this I would add that this Cold War mentality also pervades middle managers in many British departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British security services. Certainly certain leading journalists seem to have a twisted view of Russia.

Just the other day I came across this gem on the Daily Mail’s web site, written by Simon Heffer:

“The most likely threat to Europe comes not from radical Islam, but from an increasingly aggressive Russia under the tyrant Vladimir Putin.

“Britain should work through Nato and not the EU to devise how to contain this threat and how to respond to any provocations towards Nato members.”

Reporting on Prime Minister Putin’s marathon four and half hour televised phone in and Question and Answer with the RTR studio audience was also highly selective and distorted. I took the trouble to read through the nearly 40,000 words of transcript posted on the premier’s web site and I found many positive elements in what Mr. Putin had to say, including his proposed priorities for the next stage of Russia’s development should he be returned as President in the March election.