Thank you for posting what’s been simmering in my noodle today - yes, “some kind of internal power struggle ?” going on. I can see parts of what this struggle might be; but there’s far more which remains elusive, and certainly not yet revealed.
This is not a power struggle. Putin is clearly and firmly in charge. This is a coming out party, a debutante ball for the Russian empire. They are tired of languishing in the minors and want their place back at the top of a two-nation superpower structure. I don’t think they are ready for it, militarily, but I don’t think we are ready, psychologically, to confront a belligerent with a large force at the ready, and so, the stronger willed aggressor may be able to get away with it. Putin has given himself some wiggle room in case he bites off more than he can chew; so far, we have given him no reason to believe he has overreached.
I am not so sure of that. Simply energy grab. Iran will be willfully part of the Bear’s empire. A lot of neighbors of this monstrosity tend to anchor there currency to the strongest player. Consider this a grab for a big prize, the international monetary peg of the globe which the U.S. held for 50 years and is now losing because of Washington corrupt and greedy on housing partnering up with investment banks corrupt and greedy. It’s the money, always about the money.