"That would create political problems, because a great superpower such as the Soviet Union will not feel comfortable in such a role."

And he offered more-he offered a way for Russia to once again become a great superpower, to regain its lost empire.

The machinery of government was autocratic, and the world was polarized between two great superpowers much as it had been during the Cold War.

This was supposed to be the year the continent focused on becoming the next great economic superpower, linked by a single currency and a huge market.

The two great superpowers stipulated rules of conduct that the others could not overlook.

"We were the backbone of a great superpower," she said.

The aim was simple-havoc, pandemonium, the great superpower humiliated, like a Third World country, right in front of the entire world.

This argument is based upon a fundamental misunderstanding of what drove these two great superpowers.

"China and America were the world's last great superpowers," he said.

Mr. Blaha replied, "It is incredible that once two great superpowers who were enemies with nuclear missiles aimed at each other are now holding hands."