What did russia do to become a true european power

As sad as it might be, the truth is that the transition came under Stalin. Intensive industrialization under Joseph Stalin, of both Agriculture and the production of Machinery, led them into arms production and got them competitive on the World Stage… it was Stalin who got them outdoing most of the Depression-hit Capitalist nations in the west.

But it came, of course, at a huge cost- thousands died from overwork, and massively unreasonable targets. Death and repression was the cost of such a speedy transition from poverty to power.

since most of current immigration into the u.s., both legal and illegal, is coming from latin america. it would be very difficult to imagine or rationalize a country my fellow citizens are trying desperately to flee into, would pose a threat to my prosperity or freedom. since the u.s. has a long history of intervention, but no record of permanent occupation, i would not feel oppression is the main objective.  

the largest free trade nation, along with the largest gdp in the world wanting to expand it's economic policy on us, and including us, could only be positive. the u.s. government has no interest in, or way of simply forcing american culture on us. and has no track record of it. other nations that adopted american social culture, or "americanization" did so voluntarily, mainly through the choice of allowing american businesses and u.s. citizens to come into their nations, as free operatives.

the manhattan project's indispensable man