1.  Why was Russia stunned by President Vladimir Putin's appointment of a new prime minister?

2.  Why did current Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov resign?

3.  Who had Russian analysts predicted would be the next prime minister?  Why?

4.  Why is Parliamentary approval for President Putin's choice considered certain?

5.  Mr. Zubkov has been a low-level Soviet official for 40 years.  What positions has he held?

6.  Term limits prohibit President Putin from running for a third four-year term in the next election, which will be held in  March 2008.  What do you think is President Putin's motive for appointing an unknown as prime minister?

Consider the following about President Putin from the links below:

• Russia tested a huge non-nuclear bomb this week. Read the article here.
• And an article with the headline "Russia Returns to Cold War Bombast" here.
• President Putin posed shirtless for official government photographers while on vacation in August. Read the article speculating on his motive for doing so here.