“The Russian autocrat is both unique and banal. He is unique in that he established a regime in the 21st century that is more typical of the mid-20th century. In the post-heroic age, which knew no borders for the movement of people, capital and ideas, he staged a theater of the ‘heroic’ defense of a sovereignty that no one had ever attempted to destroy. And he orchestrated the practical application of imperialism in an era when no empire existed.
At the same time, he is as banal as the dictators and autocrats of the 20th century - they are alike in many ways. They all fostered the cult of the leader, relied on the indifference and obedience of the masses, deified the state and laws, maintained a cult of strength, militarism and heroic death, confused themselves with the state, built an autarkic economic model, often surviving by extracting rents from resource dependence. They also refused on principle to allow a rotation of power, fought against national traitors (those who oppose him), imprisoned or threatened their opponents, imposed censorship and sought to rule forever.”
Navalny’s description of Putin found in the Time 100 Edition, June 2022 says, “Putin has reminded us all of the “duck test”: if something looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. The very same logic should be applied in this case: if someone destroys the independent media, organizes political assassinations, and sticks to his imperial delusions, then he is a madman capable of causing a bloodbath in the center of Europe in the 21st century. . .However, the answer to the main question he poses – how to stop an evil madman with an army, nuclear weapons, and membership in the U.N. Security Council – is yet to be answered. And we are the ones who must find that answer.” (The Moscow Times, 7/12/2022)
Hopefully, the International Criminal Court will discover the elusive path to arrest Vladimir Putin. The ICC has opened the case against Trump, Vance, Musk, Rubio, and others.
While this description of Putin is similar to Donald Trump, the circumstances are different. First and foremost, Vladimir Putin is in complete control of Donald Trump, a fact the rest of the world openly acknowledges. Second, under normal circumstances, Trump and Washington officials would see Beijing and Moscow as partners in the world order - the three largest world powers.
Trump, of course, wears blinders. He sees himself through rose-colored glasses, compares himself to the Pope - a world savior, and contrasts himself to other world leaders. In actual fact, he is a liar, a fraud, a convicted felon, and a sexual predator. He has disrespectfully defamed our military men and women. He is deliberately killing men, women, and children in Africa due to his obvious belief in the superiority of an Aryan race – just like good ole Hitler. Every business venture he has started has ended badly. He has filed six bankruptcies, and almost a seventh - Russians bailed him out. And perhaps more importantly, world leaders and others acknowledge Trump’s subservient relationship with Vladimir Putin. It is conspicuous and transparent to all, except perhaps Americans - the MAGA followers and Trump himself.
Unfortunately, both Xi and Putin see Trump as a political puppet who lacks the spheres of influence that define global partnerships due to his tariffs and belligerent attitudes. Xi views Trump as a willful child playing games with worldwide leaders and bullying his domestic domain. Putin, on the other hand, sees Trump as a “Russian asset” - someone who sits in the Oval Office solely because of Putin’s grand plan - carefully and leisurely executed - over the last 20 to 30 years. Trump’s habitual transgression of rules and norms prevents his ability to craft collaboration between nations - yet he boasts about stopping seven wars. This is a complete fairy tale, and one in which all others worldwide question his sanity.
The American post-Cold War approach to Russia and to China evolved because US leaders believed they no longer needed strategic diplomacy. The American government - led by presidential misplaced self-esteem, were more eager to claim victory and an end to the Cold War than to accomplish this task. American grandiose egos and overconfidence became inflated - a known problem with American politicians. CIA agents in Moscow stopped caring, and the rest of the United States were duped into believing we were suddenly living in peaceful co-existence with Russia.
This ploy unintentionally sealed the potential lethal fate of the United States. This is a muddle of Washington's own making and the widespread willful unconsciousness of the American public. Time will decide, but almost all indications and prophecies are frightening.
In 1994, Ukraine signed an agreement with Russia who pledged their protection if they willingly surrendered all nuclear weapons. By 1994, Putin was creating the new FSB by enlisting former KGB employees, and his “grand plan” included the seizing of all Ukrainian territory. In 1997, the Foundations of Geopolitics was published in Moscow. This 600+ page book outlines Putin’s worldwide intentions.
The American public and our elected officials all thought there were no more great powers with which to compete - we let our guard down just like at Pearl Harbor. Then out of a cave on the other side of the world, Russia’s behemoth and monstrous bear emerged - hungry for world domination. His first meal is the United States of America.
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