[Krosan]

without an economic model that can ensure sustainable growth or keep people out of poverty, the missile-rattling is a terrifying but hollow sound

It is hollow, but it is not that terrifying. Putin just lies. It has happened so many times already.

• Putin has something extraordinary announced like Russia building a base on the Moon
• People will love him for it
• Russia won't and couldn't ever build it.
• Putin will just announce the next thing and the previous is forgotten.

They don't have this missile and they will never have this missile. He is just showing cheap computer animations hoping to rile up the old Russian Imperialism (I think he will succeed) and scare the rest of the world (I doubt he'll succeed).

He needs to do it because it will be the Russian version of "elections" soon. He won't care about how the people will vote as he'll be counting these, but he wants a lot of people to show up and this is part of the advertising campaign for that.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Where do all those Russian wristwatches, TVs, refrigerators come from ?

[Sam Gamgee]

The people do indeed love him which is so frustrating. Reminds of the love affair the Columbian people had for Escobar. But at least Escobar shared his money with them, rather than taking it.

[MarMema]

This is the way of the Russians. You are correct.

BEEG everything. That huge canon at the Kremlin.

I laughed so hard I cried when I learned that bolshoi meant big.