Yesterday I watched a startling video on Twitter showing Vladimir Putin ranting about what’s happening to Russia in the last couple weeks. So far, I haven’t seen the video on U.S. news, but the public should be aware of it.
In the video Putin glared into the camera and went on a rambling tirade about how the West is trying to bring down Russia, & how there are infidels in Russia fleeing his country. He used the words “caste, higher race, etc. to elaborate on the types of qualities he feels are driving his decision to invade.”
I’m going to quote here what a Russia follower for the last 3+ decades has to say about Putin’s condition. He’s not a politician but an economist and author. Anders Aslund has actually lived in Russia for a period, and written a book on Russian-Ukrainian relations. I like his assessment of Putin and the Ukrainian War because he deals with Putin not only as a political/economic leader, but a psychological being as well.
After viewing yesterdays video Mr. Anders says: “Whatever Putin does, he does not look as if he can survive for long after he has revealed how great his madness is. Why fight for a mad loser without values or ideology?”
From the video… “Putin seems truly desperate. The young & well-educated are fleeing as fast as they can, (from Russia), so Putin calls them the ‘fifth column’ & ‘national traitors,’ who would ‘sell their mothers.’ He announces that he will seize the firms and real estate of emigres, (yet) He (Putin) mobilizes convicts and prison guards to Ukraine.”
“Russia has become the leading terrorist state of the world. The US, EU, UK & UN need to confirm its status as a terrorist state. Then, all Russian embassies should be closed and their intelligence officers kicked out. They don’t deal with diplomacy but information warfare.”
“The Ukrainians say that 40% of the Russian units involved (in the invasion) have been completely lost or lost combat capability. For how long can the deficient and demoralized Russian forces continue fighting? Their collapse might be approaching.”
“Militarily, Russia is about to lose the war in Ukraine. (More in another post.) Putin is likely to react in 3 ways: 1. Massive air bombing which makes the US air defense so vital. 2. Chemical weapons: The US needs to respond. 3. Tactical nukes: The US needs to say, we will do the same, but far worse.”
“Please note that Putin would never think of “de-escalation”! He is not acquainted with the concept of “off-ramp,” so don’t try it on him!”
“What the West will do if Putin decides to use tactical nuclear arms in Ukraine? The only acceptable answer, which can only come from the US, is that we shall respond with similar tactical nuclear arms. This must be clearly communicated to the Kremlin NOW to stop it.”
“Three words that should be avoided in discussing Russia’s war against Ukraine: 1. “off-ramp.” Putin does not want it. 2. “Face-saving device” for Putin. He doesn’t want that either. 3. “De-escalation” is alien to Russian thinking. Anybody who uses either word is out of touch.”