I admire Putin for being a competent player in the great game of international politics. I fully understand he is a hard case ruler would will not hesitate at murdering a real or imagined enemy. He is setting himself up as a new sort of Czar oover a revived Russian Empire. Is he a patriot, I think so, is he a “Christian”? hard to say—maybe when it enhances his goals. I admire him the way British Troops admired Erwin Rommel in North Africa. Give the devil his due, but keep him in check. sadly, Obama seems out of his pay grade dealing with this Neo-imperialst. He will lie, he will cheat, to get his way—Obama does this too—but only to achieve his Progressive goals nationaly—Putin lies to expand Russia—simple.
Well said!
That's the way I think of Putin.