Will Putin Submit to US-Imposed 'Weakening'?

Townhall.com ^ | April 29, 2022 | Pat Buchanan

[Redmen4ever]

You want to leave a way out for (A) Putin and (B) Russia (these two things not are not the same thing). If at all possible, you want to avoid further escalation without backing down.

[Mariner]

“I wouldn’t be surprised by anything from Putin. He is totally evil.”

The incessant references to Putin are mis-characterization.

It is the state of Russia that is acting. And they are acting in what they believe to be their best interests.

Condensing to a single personality is naive.

[Redmen4ever]

sorry, the special military operation wasn’t declared by the Duma. Putin did it.

Now, to explain the difference of leaving Putin an out, and leaving Russia an out: #1 is to provide to the man currently in charge, and #2 is to give whatever opposition to Putin there might be, an out.

I recognize that, with Putin’s Stalinist purges and total control of the media, there might not be any opposition. But, we’re playing this for keeps.

[Savage Beast]

You're right, Red. That's exactly what we must do.

Putin's a monster. He must have some means of retreat. If cornered and threatened enough he would blow up the world.

[MinorityRepublican]

The Russian population is shrinking, with a specially big hole in military age men, and they’re getting stupid.

Russia will probably lose one million people a year in the next 20 years. So their population will shrink from 145 million to 120 million by 2040.

But the Putin years brought a mini baby boom. So they should be able to field more soldiers in the next 20 years. But it'll start to dry up after 2040.

So Putin needs to establish baby factories and pump them out. Russians have no desire to procreate. So they might as well as force people to do it (or pay them).

[Mariner]

“sorry, the special military operation wasn’t declared by the Duma. Putin did it.”

In their governmental system, a Duma declaration of war is not required. Just like here. It’s illegal here, not there.

If Putin was acting, on such a grand matter, contrary to the beliefs of the vast majority of the power structure in Russia, and Russian people, he would be out on his ass by now.

I believe Putin is acting in accordance with what he and the majority of Russians believe is in their best interest.

Whether it is, history will judge.

[Redmen4ever]

So again and again I am right. Why do you think you can say things like the entire government is behind the invasion? About Putin being “put on his ass,” by which of the people he has killed or arrested?

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Mariner: In their governmental system, a Duma declaration of war is not required. Just like here. It’s illegal here, not there.

Redmen4ever: So again and again I am right. Why do you think you can say things like the entire government is behind the invasion?

Technically, Putin did get authorization. It just wasn't from the Duma.

In the Russian government, the State Duma has no authority over how the military can be deployed. That authority belongs to the Federation Council, which is the upper house of Russia's Federal Assembly (their equivalent of the US Senate).

Said upper house authorized the use of military force outside of Russia on February 22: Lawmakers give Putin permission to use force outside Russia.

The money quote: Russia’s upper house of parliament has given President Vladimir Putin permission to use military force outside the country...Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the country’s parliament on Tuesday for permission to use military force outside the country — a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there.

[Redmen4ever]

Since 2004, Putin appoints the Governors and they, in turn, appoint the members of the Senate. This is the body that is supposed to act like a check on Putin’s use of the military. I touched on Putin centralization of power in post no. 11.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Since 2004, Putin appoints the Governors and they, in turn, appoint the members of the Senate.

Partially correct.

Each of Russia's 85 federal subjects have two representatives within the Federation Council, for 170 in total. One representative is appointed by the provincial governor, while the other is selected by the provincial entity's legislative assembly.

In addition, in 2009, Dmitry Medvedev signed into law a procedural amendment that transferred the nomination of gubernatorial candidates from the Administration of the President to the majority party of a given province's legislature. The gubernatorial candidates selected by the legislature are then submitted to the Russian President, who then recommends one of the nominees for election by the same legislature.

So it's not quite as one-sided as you make it out to be.