Yes. I’ve heard Savage on these issues. I tend to agree with him. People I respect disagree. So I stay cautious. I’m with you though, on many issues important to me, Putin is great. Good for him on the homo issues. When I read things he says, he seems smart and level headed. I’ll get bashed for saying that. I can’t deny what I see. As for the invasions, the Russians have said repeatedly that it is about the expansion of NATO. NATO agreed to not move closer to Russian borders and then did the opposite.
I am not pro or anti Putin. I’m saying I don’t see how he is so awful. Certainly there are far worse world leaders, some of whom get red carpet treatment.
I give Russia some grace because they are country with a dark history. Freedom is only in its infancy there. So people gripe the press is controlled. Probably that is mostly true. Look where they came from. It has certainly improved anyway. Look at our media. We are the free speech and press standard bearers supposedly. Our media is corrupt and our free speech rights are under attack from many directions. We are headed backwards. At least Russia is moving in the positive direction (started at -10). We are moving in the negative direction (started at +10).
See what I mean? Number line stats just used to illustrate.
I reserve the right to totally change my mind should different evidence present itself.
I also think Putin was right, calm, rational but strong in the conflict with Turkey.
The Soviet Union had an intelligence agency before it was even a country. They were called ‘Bolsheviks’ - which meant ‘majority’ - when that was far from true.
The first thing the Soviets had to do was kill off the White Russians. That got done faster than anyone expected it would.
Don’t know what it is about Russians, or Russia. Maybe its because most of their country is above the Arctic Circle.
Did the Russians ever agree not to invade and occupy any neighboring countries? Just curious.