Comment Re:Like in a 3rd world "shithole"... (Score 1) 233
The term "Third World" was introduced during the Cold War. It meant countries not aligned with the liberal Western countries or the authoritarian "Communist" block.
Putin has done what he can to recreate the "communist block", and its successor could be called BRICS.
USA isn't a liberal Western country any more. It is not aligned with Western Europe any more. It does not have freedom of the press any more. It does not have free trade any more.
It is a country that has gone against the liberal Western democracies more and more; not just not recognising the ICC (which it once was part of creating) but now even sanctioning judges in it that do their job. Not being part of international treaties against torture, war crimes or heinous cruel weapons.
It is now a rogue nation. Neither aligned with the West or with BRICS.