| | | Thanks for your kind words. I’m just trying to tell what I see and what I think. That’s the best thing about writing - it helps clear one’s own thinking. Also, I decided many years ago to just share what I want to say - and not try to change anyone’s mind. So, I’m not afraid of different views - and I still enjoy the conversation.
People often think of Putin as some evil genius. I don’t see any mystery around that person. Again, if one thinks of the Russians as real people, living in a real country - many things fall into place. Putin is popular because he’s able to serve as the common denominator for several different political movements and blocks. Also, most of the population seems to feel that he’s working with their well-being in mind.
I fully believe that if he were to die suddenly - their next president would be doing essentially the same thing. Obviously a smart, talented guy - but not irreplaceable - and not a monarch. Speaking of Monarchs - over the centuries, the Russians killed - or otherwise got rid of, rightly or wrongly - of a number of monarchs or other absolute autocrats. That never stopped them. There are credibly sounding stories about Joe Stalin having been helped along in his departure by some of his top apparatchicks.
I’ll link below an article by “Spengler” (David P. Goldman). Over the years, he wrote a few articles in which he meets the ghost of the great Cardinal de Richelieu - and “his Eminence” comments on todays political problems. This is the latest installation.
(The Cardinal, btw, was possible the greatest geopolitical thinker who ever lived. He was a big player in the 30 year war (1618-48) - and, while being Catholic, held the interests of France above all. He conducted the war in such a way that the emerging power of that time - Germany - would come out weaker upon its completion. The result would be that France would emerge as the dominant power. And so it happened - and for the next ~200 years France remained the greatest power in Europe. Brutal guy, really).
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