There is considerable evidence that Russia isn't the strategic ally America likes to think of it.
Its on an ongoing military build-up, Russia is aligned with China and its military plans include a nuclear strike on America.

http://www.iir.ubc.ca/cancaps/ding.html

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2.../16/102442.shtm

What do you think, Russia: Strategic ally or threat?

well, with the never ending struggle of our current leaderships crusade to bring western democracy to the world, i just wonder if that same leadership agrees with anything that may come from it. More or less i would hope that the fact the first cold war, the one that did not go nuke will, will help china decide a different way in which to deal with the u.s. Overall i think most sane nations would not resort to nuke death, well at least i hope not

Russia is the ally. She is too weak and too disorganized now to be a threat to anyone. The Chechens obviously don't fear her because they keep sneaking into Russia and blowing things up

I think though, that Russia may be returning to her communist ways because of the shut down of independent media outlets

[She is too weak and too disorganized now to be a threat to anyone]

You'll be saying that when New York is a wreaked radioactive ruin?

I consider them to be an ally on the fence. I don't believe they would risk directly opposing us, but I also think they want to ensure they are in as favorable of a position to do so should we push them too far in our belligerent approach to foreign policy.

I can't speak for their organization, but Russia is far from being weak. Saying it is because of fearless Chechen strikes is no more a sign of weakness than saying America is weak because al-Qaeda isn't afraid to strike us.

I'll sort of agree with you there

Russia is a good ally who wants to make sure that we can keep relations, strong even after the huge war of words over Iraq. But they will ocassionally question our policies like all allies do

I don't trust the Russians. Putin seems to be beholden to the military over there. Organized crime is rampant.

The Chechnians have been a problem for a long time, it is nothing new. We just hear about it more now.

I would put the Russians in the "potential threat" category. That does not mean I would be belligerent towards them. Just keep a close eye on them, especially if Europe weakens its defences or evicts the US military.

If you ask me, Putin's close ties to the KGB scare the crud out of me

Dead political opponent:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,84439,00.html

Censorship in Russia:
http://www.indexonline.org/news/20020419_russia.shtml

Time to be very worried