Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, RIP

Boris Yeltsin led his country along the first steps of democracy. Along the way he managed the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of the largest new nation of the 20th century. He substantially reduced the threat of world war and assisted in the march to freedom of scores of millions of non-Russian members of the USSR.

His commitments to free markets and the rule of law were limited.

He was an improvement over his predecessor and markedly less corrupt that his successor.

The world is a far better, safer place because of his courage and his affection for his people.

R.I.P.