@sleepyguy saidSummary of first part - Putin stealthily made himself a dictator and the Russians didn't notice and you have to look at this as a dictator's decision rather than a rational Russian decision. The author woke up to this reality when Russia invaded Ukraine.
A three part article on Russia/Ukraine for anyone interested. Not really partisan just an interesting perspective from someone who grew up in Russia and still has contacts there:
https://www.advisorperspectives.com/articles/2022/03/02/war-in-ukraine-why-i-was-blindsided-part-1
https://www.advisorperspectives.com/articles/2022/03/04/war-in-ukraine-part-2-the-new-world ...[text shortened]...
https://www.advisorperspectives.com/articles/2022/03/21/war-in-ukraine-part-3-the-future-of-russia
He says this is a good theme symphony for the invasion:
https://myfavoriteclassical.com/shostakovich-symphony-no-7/
It's very long.
@shavixmir saidIt isn't often you and I agree. Book it. and well said
Lovely framing you're doing there.
"The expansionist" Russia.
As if financial expansion isn't just as bad. And in that respect (do what the US wants or we'll target you), the West is much worse.
Just thinking of Afghanistan... Iraq... Libya... regime changes in God knows how many bloody countries... sanctions on nations as small as Cuba for over 40 years...
Yeah ...[text shortened]... e anything positive to add to the world or Ukraine at all.
They are not in it for the civilians.