So Russia is claiming to annex part of Ukraine. Honestly, I dont know what to think. I mean, de-facto it seems they HAVE annexed part of Ukraine, though a military/political coup. Is this consolidation of power, setting a cold war with the West, to get internal support? Is he really interested in re-establishing a greater Russia? In really important ways, for all that Hitler an horrifying monster, he was a charismatic kid, who after a decade of rejection got a lot of power channeling his inner rage. He was 44 when he came to power in Germany, on the back of all his rage and failure. That failure and sense of I deserve better was well echo-ed in Germany, at the time. In my read of history, Hitler really meant what he said about the great Aryan nation. I read Putin as a self-centered rationalist. He has spent a career ruthlessly amassing power. War is rarely rational. I think of WWI as a mis-approximation by a bunch of diplomats of what they would do, and what the other side would do. It slowly, accidentally escalated, until it was wholly out of hand. WWII was the madness of Germany asserting their true value, their true place in the world. (Again, my paultry reads). Russians feel slighted. They have an internal notion of their own greatness, a former world power. Putin is playing off of that. But does he personally believe it? Or is this a tool to start a limited cold war? In which case, can we please get troops on the ground in Ukraine, as quickly as possible, so that it becomes clear that he cant contain what happens, if he continues his expansion? I see no reason that his expansion wont continue, otherwise.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:10:18 +0000
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