I just spent 10 or more minutes watching a 36 minute video linked in comment #16 by a frequent FR Russia supporter, and then dozed off. When I woke up I was near the beginning of a 49 minute presentation by a British historian who also had experience in Russia, and international security positions. I watched that one for over 30 minutes and am now posting my thoughts. Here is the link to the historian’s lecture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95zlfbW9yE
The presenter in the video linked from comment #16 says he is reporting in a public square in Moscow. He shows a view of the Kerch Bridge taken from a train moving past the damaged auto roadway. It does not look as severe as the damage caused months ago by a truck bomb. He suggests it will be fixed in a few days. Other reports suggest it will take a month. From my own experience with construction renovation I think a month is more likely, although a lane or 2 of the 4 lane highway might be restored more quickly as it was the last time. He then goes on to discuss/report many other thoughts about the current conflict. One thing that struck me was his failure to ever really look at the camera. His head shifted from side to side, but never directly ahead. He also had a full beard and dark sunglasses so you could not see his eyes. The impression this gave me was of someone hiding himself.
I missed the first few minutes of the historian’s talk, but will go back after posting this to see if I can report his name. I will also finish watching the rest of his report as it was deep and detailed. He mentions Alexandr Dugin, who published a detailed plan for how Russia should restore it’s power and greatness. Putin is reported to be much influenced by his major work which I will also try to find and link here. He has multiple decades of experience in various national and international security situations. The historian reports that in 2006, he himself said he believed Putin/Russia would reassert itself as a growing power and look toward Ukriane in this effort. He further reports on the great psychological impact from the breakup of the Soviet Union and the future impact on world events. He suggests the state of friendliness between Russia and Ukraine is rather like that between Great Britain and Ireland. At any rate, I repeat the link below and then am off to find out more as promised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95zlfbW9yE
I have said Putin’s mistake was in not looking at the history of Japan up to and including post-WWII Japan.
Japan lost all its global empire and post-WWII has not seen a need to regain it, and yet is one of the top ranked nations economically and way ahead of Russia in many important respects.
Russia in the post-Soviet era did not NEED to rebuild imperial Russia in any sense and did not even NEED to continue the “cold war” (nuclear arms) with the west. It NEEDED to immulate the post-WWII experience of Japan in every way - freedom and economic development. Without beligerance and with a dictators dominance or dominance of neighbors, Russia today could have been NOT at war and at peace with everyone around and as prosperous as western Europe. But THAT, lack of imperial dominance, is not Putin’s vision.
It's called "new technology", granny glee.
If he looks directly into the camera that he's holding at arm's length for too long, he'll end up on his face.
You can see how he's doing the recording occasionally when he walks by a reflective storefront or office window.
He doesn't always wear sunglasses - just when the ambient light requires it.
I've seen many, many videos by Alex Christoforou, where he does a walkabout in many historical Greek and Cypriot locations. Many times he's is not wearing glasses.
The immersion in history while also talking about geopolitics is amazing.
You should get out into the world of personalized videos more often. You'd learn something.
Below is the CORRECTED link for the long lecture by British historian Paul Dibbs which appears in mistaken form at comments #168 and #167.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7uwtNoWBK0
2,170,531 views Aug 3, 2022
“This ANU Public Lecture by Emeritus Professor Paul Dibb of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre examines why President Putin decided to invade the Ukraine and what the implications are for international order, including the risk of a wider war in Europe and the potential use of nuclear weapons.”