Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Putin thinks he's the hero of Russia's story. He couldn't be more wrong.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/russia-s-ukraine-invasion-could-lead-putin-s-downfall-n1289955

Shortly before he invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini stated, “I follow my instincts, and I am never wrong.” That war bankrupted the state, but it made him popular with Italians as the restorer of the Italian empire. It also further inflated his ego. In 1940, against the advice of many of his generals, Il Duce entered World War II alongside Adolf Hitler. He counted on a quick win and lasting glory, but instead dragged Italy through a disastrous war that ended with his own execution by anti-fascist partisans in 1945.

These dramatic events, and the terrible toll of strongman leadership, come to mind as Russian President Vladimir Putin embarks on a risky war against Ukraine. He is motivated by a desire to secure his place in history as the leader who revived a version of the Soviet empire. It could backfire on him in multiple ways.

After 22 years in power, Putin's governance style and structures resemble those that have led past autocrats to make bad decisions. The recent photographs of him at enormous tables, absurdly distant not just from foreign heads of state but from members of his own security council, suggest a state of isolation common among leaders who have exercised too much power for too long.

All strongmen build "inner sanctums" to manage day-to-day governance. Composed of flatterers, family members and cronies, all of them chosen for their loyalty rather than their expertise, they shield him from any unpleasant counsel — and share handsomely in the profits from his thievery. This is certainly the case in Russia, a fully realized kleptocracy: In 2018, 3 percent of Russians held about 90 percent of the country’s assets, with Putin's oligarchs owning the lion's share of those.

*snip*

[ultralite001]

1. Is Putin ill???

P's face looks bloated -- moon faced... His rambling, disjointed speech seems uncharacteristic -- similar
to having adverse steroid reactions...

Perhaps steroid/medication reactions are fueling P's aggressive behavior...


Moon facies:
[link:https://www.healthline.com/health/moon-face#definition|

[maxsolomon]

2. This rings true. It happens over and over.

You lose touch with reality. It corrupts your rationality too.