Something happened today that marked a change for my thinking. I had sort of half-hearted rooted for Putin due to his standing up against homosexuality and his fight against terrorists. However, his response to Castro’s demise was way too positive-almost laudatory. He called Castro a “great friend of Russia.” Putin said Castro was “a major and important figure of the 20th century.” Really?? This murderous, dictatorial, oppressive animal is one of your “great friends?” No mention of his crimes? Whitewashing his history?
My feelings toward Putin have definitely shifted.
Castro knew he was in the catbird seat, that the Russians would support him no matter what due to his place in the Main Adversary’s front yard, and he often acted like it, stirring up unwelcome trouble in places where Moscow was trying to accomplish things behind the scenes...and frequently pulling them into the thick of it.
The Kremlin publicly backed him, but privately considered him a major pain in the ass.