After over three decades of covering Russia, I leave in despair.

[Ocelot II]

One man has extinguished the bright hope many once felt.

Excellent, very sad analysis by Nic Robertson. Long but worth reading.

Over the past couple of months while I’ve been reporting from Moscow, I’ve met many people who have been horrified, shocked and numbed by Putin’s wanton aggression. Some of them believed him when he said he wouldn’t invade Ukraine. Some even knew players in the Kremlin inner circle and thought they understood the President’s red lines, but now that trust is blown and they fear he has no limits at all.

What makes Putin’s actions all the more galling is how he executed his plot in plain sight. Distracting with one hand, transfixing attention on diplomacy, even while insisting falsely that his massed troops were carrying out exercises on Ukraine’s borders.
.....

Part of the pain of seeing all this is knowing that so much of Russia’s vast wealth of intellect and resources lies untapped. Meanwhile, one man and his cronies is destroying the country.

What I know for sure as I leave, and will continue to hold on to through all the ugly tomorrows that Putin is poised to inflict, is that this is his war and not Russia’s. The question facing the world today is how to make clear that distinction.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/11/europe/leaving-russia-analysis-robertson-intl-cmd/index.html

[onecaliberal]

1. It might putrid's war, but the people are the only thing that can stop him.

[empedocles]

3. 'Public sentiment'

[stopdiggin]

2. That distinction

(and I am quite willing to entertain it) will be made when the Russian people make a clear break with the monster. And, sadly - they are no where close to that now - and it may take them a good while.