I think Putin uses the “power” he needs to to keep the otherwise criminal element in line, KGB style or not it works on this type of people...as well as any who oppose the direction he has wanted to take the nation. Hard ball is just that and he's not afraid to use it. We would do better if we'd play that with our own criminal element here instead of catering to them!
"Freedom" in that part of the world is not easily grasped for what it means...it comes with responsibilities these peoples have not had to account for, rather the public has had decisions made for them. As I've mentioned before...it's rather like an abused woman learning how to live without remaining a victim....which they often return because there is a certain degree of comfort in the familiar...even if it's hurtful at times.
I'm currently listening to a video series on Putin that's quite revealing as he's generally kept his accomplishments and his private life just that private. so few really know the man himself outside of his workings in Gov. and the KGB. Frankly Putin is exactly what Russia needed to pull Russia back up.....rather like we needed Cowboy Bush when 9/11 hit....though many bashed his speech the Islamist understood him very well.
I think it's always wise to study nation leaders we're contending with or even for that matter negotiating and dealing with.....Putin's certainly a character...as is Poroshenko and the 'other Oligarchs' playing in this geo-political theater....who also remain behind the scene... though it's 'very interesting' to see where they pop up in political circles once you identify them....surprisingly so.
Putin , and for the most Poreshenko knows every one of them...so they've got at advantage...Obama doesn't and few in EU do.
Agree with all points. It’s interesting to watch how, when the criminal element actually is put in charge, control takes a sort of new twist to hold the other criminal elements at bay. :-) He quickly tossed some big-money power brokers in prison just to send a message. Of course, like here, the commoners hate rich people, so it worked well.
Putin is a smart cookie. Yes, Russia needed and still does need this guy. The old guard should be proud, but like you say, the new young crowd will need to be controlled. “Abused woman” is the perfect analogy. That’s why the country teetered shortly after ‘89. The people were so used to being force-fed, freedom was down right terrifying. There is comfort and stability even in corruption/payoffs, etc. I think that is why Yeltsin had a hard time (er, well his drinking, too). The large vacuum shortly after the collapse caught him off guard, and needed to be filled, but they didn’t know how to do that.
Study the guys in the background? Absolutely. Medvedev seems to be worthless, but who knows, he could be a ruthless leader, provided he lives through Putin’s reign.
I really don’t think Bush believed that, but said it as an appeasement at the time. We now know there is no appeasement, ever, with these scum. I appreciate your insight!