Russia's Putin dreams of sweeping Eurasian Union

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with activists of the Popular Front in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, pool)
January 3, 2012 8:29:41 AM PST
By PETER LEONARD
ALMATY, Kazakhstan - January 3, 2012 --
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a vision for a Soviet Union-lite he hopes will become a new Moscow-led global powerhouse. But, his planned Eurasian Union won't be grounded in ideology: This time it's about trade.