Except that's not true. Western propaganda makes Putin out to be a Stalinesque autocrat, but that's just not accurate. He can't govern without the oligarchy on his side, and he can't afford to piss them off. That's the truth.
Yup. Every Russian I've spoken to says it's the Oligarchs who run Russia and Putin is more or less a figurehead. It's no different than western countries except Putin is actually competent and command respect in his own right, whereas western leaders do not.
It's a fine line. If the boss isn't afraid to kill enemies of the country/state/your gang/whatever then it's respect. If he starts killing members of the team, it turns into fear.
Insane? You literally buy that? The guy seems incredibly smart and knowledgeable to me. You realize they called Trump insane for years. Everything Putin is doing is good for Russia so why call him insane?
Ah yes, tens of thousands dead, hundreds of thousands without a job and more below the poverty line. Severe lack of international trading and banking and propaganda pieces designed to breed slaves. He's a national hero!
Except that's not true. Western propaganda makes Putin out to be a Stalinesque autocrat, but that's just not accurate. He can't govern without the oligarchy on his side, and he can't afford to piss them off. That's the truth.
Yup. Every Russian I've spoken to says it's the Oligarchs who run Russia and Putin is more or less a figurehead. It's no different than western countries except Putin is actually competent and command respect in his own right, whereas western leaders do not.
Respect? He's insane. It's most likely just fear of repercussion from his cronies.
It's a fine line. If the boss isn't afraid to kill enemies of the country/state/your gang/whatever then it's respect. If he starts killing members of the team, it turns into fear.
Insane? You literally buy that? The guy seems incredibly smart and knowledgeable to me. You realize they called Trump insane for years. Everything Putin is doing is good for Russia so why call him insane?
Ah yes, tens of thousands dead, hundreds of thousands without a job and more below the poverty line. Severe lack of international trading and banking and propaganda pieces designed to breed slaves. He's a national hero!
I think you've got that order reversed. He's absolutely an autocrat, Russia's never had a government that wasn't autocratic.
He would still seize Russian assets at the behest of those Oligarchs. Just as our government will.