Vladimir Putin

[Fisherking]

Accurate sketch or western propaganda?

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26769481


Some see him as a principled counter to the west. Does he have principals?

[rvg]

He is first and foremost a thief and has been that way for at least a decade.

[Sarmatian]

Ok, we can close the thread. rvg has spoken and his arguments are flawless.

[rvg]

Ok, we can close the thread. rvg has spoken and his arguments are flawless.

The padawan is finally learning not to question the master. Good, very good.

[Beskar]

This is still my favourite.

Time Headline across the world - September 16th

[Kadagar_AV]

He is first and foremost a thief and has been that way for at least a decade.

Let me guess, you didn't read a word and just jumped to your echo chamber conclusions. Fox News is proud of you.





Regardless, I think the article did its best to be objective. I especially liked the part about how again and again people mistakenly look for depth, lies and hidden agendas when he talks, when in fact history has shown that he should be taken at face value.

What you hear is what he say.

That's just so... unpoliticianish.

[HoreTore]

He is first and foremost a thief and has been that way for at least a decade.

I'd say at least two decades.

I find it highly unlikely that he wasn't stealing stuff right, left and center before he came to power. It is, after all, the Russian Way(tm).

[Ironside]

His closest American equivalence seems to be the neocon.

Low focus on international respect of laws. Low focus on economics (this is going to hurt Russia hard economically). High focus on macho manliness. High focus on national supremacy.

[Sarmatian]

The article itself, while interesting, doesn't bring anything new for discussion.

Since 1999, we've been hearing about imminent collapse of Russian economy, mass protest against his dictatorship that will happen any day now, serious consequences of military actions, isolation on world stage...

After 15 years, it hasn't happened. "Experts" might wanna rethink their statements, especially when comparing SU and Russian Federation.

Ironically, his approval rating was lowest since 1999 and than Ukraine crisis propelled him up in the comfortable 60-70%...

[Montmorency]

Well, maybe that's because Russia's ills are more chronic than progressive.

The problem with Russia, more even than pure demographics or economic in-diversity is that it's so fragmented. Without authoritarian leadership, Russia simply could not remain a unified country - and it's not just a matter of bits here and there from the South and East. It's a Catch-22: better transport infrastructure and stronger civic institutions would foster more national unity than opportunistic jingoism and an iron fist, but those take time to develop, and in that time and by their very nature, they would break Russia apart. To put it another way, it's sort of like the dilemma faced by Gorbachev.

But the United States kind of doesn't want Russia to totally dissolve, for obvious reasons. So get comfortable with the back-and-forth, with or without Putin.

[Greyblades]

With how much he scares the US; it's a wonder we havent heard of any failed assassination attempts yet.

[rajpoot]

Scares is a strong word. He is doing stuff the USA does not approve of. He isn't planning on invading.

[drone]

With how much he scares the US; it's a wonder we havent heard of any failed assassination attempts yet.

He's a main player, it would be against the "code". It would be too risky, and then it would be open season on POTUS.

[Greyblades]

Scares is a strong word. He is doing stuff the USA does not approve of. He isn't planning on invading.

Not invade, but I do get the general impression that the americans are getting antsy that putin might be one to restart the cold war.

[rajpoot]

Not invade, but I do get the general impression that the americans are getting antsy that putin might be one to restart the cold war.

I doubt he'll last long enough to start anything serious (with the USA I mean), given the current weather.
Anyhow a little bit of competition (short of the cold war of course) never hurt anyone. It keeps people from becoming sluggish and complacent. It takes a rival to point out your weaknesses. And if I'm any judge most USAnians on this board don't think ill of Putin anyway. I might be wrong though.

IMO this whole incident has been overhyped, because it is the USA, because it is Vladimir Putin and because it is Russia. Had it been someone else, it wouldn't have gotten half the press it is getting now.

[Kadagar_AV]

I'd say at least two decades.

I find it highly unlikely that he wasn't stealing stuff right, left and center before he came to power. It is, after all, the Russian Way(tm).

Blatant racism. I absolutely LOVE it, welcome to the fold HT.

Anyway, I don't think Putin is in a position to look for monetary gains. Nor was he when he gained office.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Putin's financial records are probably not lily white but thing they are probably considerably whiter than those of his rivals. Avarice is not really a particularly glaring weakness of his (at least not when compared to your garden variety politician, say a British MP). More importantly as someone with ties to the FSB he knows about the vices of his would be rivals and the closets they use for skeleton storage, since his would be rivals pay the FSB and civil servants protection money to keep the government from meddling in their affairs.

[HoreTore]

Blatant racism. I absolutely LOVE it, welcome to the fold HT.

I fail to see how pointing at how Russian officials are corrupt is racism.

Anyway, I don't think Putin is in a position to look for monetary gains. Nor was he when he gained office.

Yeah, I'm sure he made himself a billionaire to support the needy children.

[rvg]

I fail to see how pointing at how Russian officials are corrupt is racism.

One Russian historian (Nicholas Karamzin) back in the late 18th century went on a trip to Europe. In France which had a Russian expat community he was asked what was going on in Russia. He answered: "Theft."

[Major Robert Dump]

He is great warrior and everlasting champion of the people.

[Fragony]

One Russian historian (Nicholas Karamzin) back in the late 18th century went on a trip to Europe. In France which had a Russian expat community he was asked what was going on in Russia. He answered: "Theft."

That's about fiefdom

[Sarmatian]

You mean thiefdom...

[Fragony]

Most unlikely and guinenly surprising pun evar!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

He is great warrior and everlasting champion of the people.

And kind to babushkas no doubt.

[rvg]

And kind to babushkas no doubt.

And even kinder to little boys.

[Kadagar_AV]

And even kinder to little boys.

Can you be more USAnian?

[Kagemusha]

Interesting article Fisherking , thanks for posting it. In my opinion Putin is a smart, calculated and ruthless politician and like most politicians, power hungry to the boot. I believe that he is indeed somewhat indoctrinated and believes himself that his goal is to lift Russia back to its feet and that might be how he can comfort himself to sleep during nights. Nevertheless such indoctrination should not and will not excuse many of his shady dealings. Still the fact that Russia´s lack of democracy is so obvious that people like Putin are the ones benefiting Russia is a disturbing notion in itself, but like Monty explained already. A democratic Russia would not be a Russia anymore, but something more akin to pre Moscovite ruled Russian principalities and that does not sound exactly swell either.

[Sarmatian]

And even kinder to little boys.

He's not a catholic priest.

[rvg]

He's not a catholic priest.

Yeah, the last guy to make such allegations ended up drinking tea with polonium. Or was it coffee?

[Brenus]

"Yeah, the last guy to make such allegations ended up drinking tea with polonium. Or was it coffee?" The former KGB agent?