You think there's anyone who is different - Biden, Leyen, Putin?
Yes. None of those people remotely compare to Stalin in ruthlessness. Not even Mussolini or Hitler compared to Stalin. Stalin, and perhaps Mao, were on a level of ruthlessness unseen among humanity since Qin Shi Huang.
The difference is that they think alternative ways would advance their interests better, and that there are (institutional) restraints that would prevent them from doing something like that.
Stalin targeted those institutional restraints and mass murdered them to take over the Communist Party, and then once he took over, he used mass murder and fear to do the same to the Soviet military and population writ large.
I don't think Putin is a "nice guy", but it takes a special kind of ruthless evil to literally bathe in the blood of your "enemies" on a daily basis, without end, for decades. Stalin's wife straight up shot herself in the chest because she couldn't handle him.
They'll face severe punishment regardless.
I do not share your institutional faith in the Russian bureaucracy. I don't think they have the capability or the will to lock up even tens of thousands of objectors and deserters. What usually happens in this situation is that when the government drops the jackboot, there are reactions and escalations until the bureaucrats refuse to fight on. That is how the USSR fell. The will to continue to sustain it simply wasn't there except among the hard line leaders, who didn't have enough support among the rank-and-file.
Yes. None of those people remotely compare to Stalin in ruthlessness. Not even Mussolini or Hitler compared to Stalin. Stalin, and perhaps Mao,
It was not for lack of 'ruth'. It was because they saw their interests differently. Biden and Putin may or may not commit similar mass murders if they were in Stalin's position, but that is obviously not out of any humanitarian motivation, but because they believe not committing those mass murders is not in their interests.
were on a level of ruthlessness unseen among humanity since Qin Shi Huang.
Nice reference. Blame legalism for that.
I don't think Putin is a "nice guy", but it takes a special kind of ruthless evil to literally bathe in the blood of your "enemies" on a daily basis, without end, for decades. Stalin's wife straight up shot herself in the chest because she couldn't handle him.
It is not established why she did so. Allegedly she had the Ryutin Manifesto with her. But it was only after her death when Stalin went truly on a murder spree. Earlier, he had even failed to get the Politburo to agree to the execution of Ryutin, who was clearly guilty of showing some concern for the people. Later on, people were just randomly killed.
Putin and Biden would not do that, probably. They'd have Ryutin killed, but not the random folks. Not out of humanitarianism, but because they would not see the point. They have other ways of ruling than through mass terror.
I do not share your institutional faith in the Russian bureaucracy. I don't think they have the capability or the will to lock up even tens of thousands of objectors and deserters.
Russia has always been corrupt and dysfunctional. But that's why, as the old Chinese proverb goes, you punish one to scare a hundred others. As long as the risk of deserting is greater than the risk of being killed in Ukraine, they will not desert. Which is actually good, because it motivates the regime to try to minimize casualties as opposed to going full Stalin.
What usually happens in this situation is that when the government drops the jackboot, there are reactions and escalations until the bureaucrats refuse to fight on. That is how the USSR fell.
The USSR fell because Gorbachev viewed the bureaucracy and the party as an obstacle to his power, and systematically dismantled them. And when the day came that his power was challenged by the so called reformists, there was no one left who would obey him.
The will to continue to sustain it simply wasn't there except among the hard line leaders, who didn't have enough support among the rank-and-file.
I mean, the August coup leaders were clearly right that Gorbachev was leading the state towards perdition.
I mean, the August coup leaders were clearly right that Gorbachev was leading the state towards perdition.
Point is, they didn't have enough people like you willing to execute their orders and plans. Top generals are powerless unless they have an army who is willing to follow their orders and impose their will.
Will Russian government officials really support cracking down on the Russian people when babushkas are screaming and crying at them to not send her sons to die when they show up to arrest them? Enforcing orders like that is walking a tightrope. Too gentle and too harsh and both fail states. All it takes is one rifle butt to the babushka to go viral on telegram and start a revolution.
Point is, they didn't have enough people like you willing to execute their orders and plans. Top generals are powerless unless they have an army who is willing to follow their orders and impose their will.
I think it was missteps on the part of the coup plotters, as well as the destruction that Gorbachev had wrought on the bureaucracy and the party. You are correct in the general statement, but wrong about the specifics.
The coup plotters were sweating profusely and never looked like they were going to succeed. That is not a situation where your orders are going to be obeyed. It is different for the established order.
Will Russian government officials really support cracking down on the Russian people when babushkas are screaming and crying at them to not send her sons to die when they show up to arrest them?
Absolutely. What illusions you have about Russian government officials, and any government officials. It's touching, sort of a fairy tale Disney view of the world that is common in the West. But they are mercenaries. They will shoot you in the neck if told to do so.
Enforcing orders like that is walking a tightrope. Too gentle and too harsh and both fail states.
Correct.
All it takes is one rifle butt to the babushka to go viral on telegram and start a revolution.
Revolutions do not start over babushkas. The people are powerless. You and I are powerless. No unified ruling order has ever fallen to a revolution. If you hope for a revolution, you should look to Russian elites, who are the only ones who will make it happen - and even then, Putin will be replaced by someone who is more firm, not more obsequious to the EOL.
Yes. None of those people remotely compare to Stalin in ruthlessness. Not even Mussolini or Hitler compared to Stalin. Stalin, and perhaps Mao, were on a level of ruthlessness unseen among humanity since Qin Shi Huang.
Stalin targeted those institutional restraints and mass murdered them to take over the Communist Party, and then once he took over, he used mass murder and fear to do the same to the Soviet military and population writ large.
I don't think Putin is a "nice guy", but it takes a special kind of ruthless evil to literally bathe in the blood of your "enemies" on a daily basis, without end, for decades. Stalin's wife straight up shot herself in the chest because she couldn't handle him.
I do not share your institutional faith in the Russian bureaucracy. I don't think they have the capability or the will to lock up even tens of thousands of objectors and deserters. What usually happens in this situation is that when the government drops the jackboot, there are reactions and escalations until the bureaucrats refuse to fight on. That is how the USSR fell. The will to continue to sustain it simply wasn't there except among the hard line leaders, who didn't have enough support among the rank-and-file.
It was not for lack of 'ruth'. It was because they saw their interests differently. Biden and Putin may or may not commit similar mass murders if they were in Stalin's position, but that is obviously not out of any humanitarian motivation, but because they believe not committing those mass murders is not in their interests.
Nice reference. Blame legalism for that.
It is not established why she did so. Allegedly she had the Ryutin Manifesto with her. But it was only after her death when Stalin went truly on a murder spree. Earlier, he had even failed to get the Politburo to agree to the execution of Ryutin, who was clearly guilty of showing some concern for the people. Later on, people were just randomly killed.
Putin and Biden would not do that, probably. They'd have Ryutin killed, but not the random folks. Not out of humanitarianism, but because they would not see the point. They have other ways of ruling than through mass terror.
Russia has always been corrupt and dysfunctional. But that's why, as the old Chinese proverb goes, you punish one to scare a hundred others. As long as the risk of deserting is greater than the risk of being killed in Ukraine, they will not desert. Which is actually good, because it motivates the regime to try to minimize casualties as opposed to going full Stalin.
The USSR fell because Gorbachev viewed the bureaucracy and the party as an obstacle to his power, and systematically dismantled them. And when the day came that his power was challenged by the so called reformists, there was no one left who would obey him.
I mean, the August coup leaders were clearly right that Gorbachev was leading the state towards perdition.
Point is, they didn't have enough people like you willing to execute their orders and plans. Top generals are powerless unless they have an army who is willing to follow their orders and impose their will.
Will Russian government officials really support cracking down on the Russian people when babushkas are screaming and crying at them to not send her sons to die when they show up to arrest them? Enforcing orders like that is walking a tightrope. Too gentle and too harsh and both fail states. All it takes is one rifle butt to the babushka to go viral on telegram and start a revolution.
I think it was missteps on the part of the coup plotters, as well as the destruction that Gorbachev had wrought on the bureaucracy and the party. You are correct in the general statement, but wrong about the specifics.
The coup plotters were sweating profusely and never looked like they were going to succeed. That is not a situation where your orders are going to be obeyed. It is different for the established order.
Absolutely. What illusions you have about Russian government officials, and any government officials. It's touching, sort of a fairy tale Disney view of the world that is common in the West. But they are mercenaries. They will shoot you in the neck if told to do so.
Correct.
Revolutions do not start over babushkas. The people are powerless. You and I are powerless. No unified ruling order has ever fallen to a revolution. If you hope for a revolution, you should look to Russian elites, who are the only ones who will make it happen - and even then, Putin will be replaced by someone who is more firm, not more obsequious to the EOL.
Idk man the balkans started genociding each other over a dude putting a bottle up his ass.