Manifest Destiny.
Russia is re-imagining itself. Think Big.
Vladimir Putin announced a new Russian holiday, the "Day of Reunification." It marks the re-integration of eastern Ukrainian districts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia into Russia.
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Russia has a tradition of being led by tyrants. These leaders were not celebrated for their compassion and humanity, but for their strength and ruthlessness. Ivan the Terrible. Peter the Great. Catherine the Great. Joseph Stalin. Now Vladimir Putin.
Even in this era of Trump, Americans have a different expectation of leaders than do Russians. Power is divided here. We still give lip service to rule of law, and a majority of Americans believe Trump is pushing boundaries. Trump getting away with shooting someone on Fifth Avenue is still understood as a troubling, ominous joke. Russians have a different sense of history and practice. Putin is part of a long history of willful, ruthless leadership on behalf of retaining power and achieving national greatness. In Russia troublemakers fall out of windows. Or get poisoned. Or their airplane gets shot down.
Tony Farrell, a college classmate who spent his career as a brand manager and marketer of products on TV, made a point that is useful for Americans trying to understand Putin and Russian aspirations in Europe. When making a TV pitch, the marketing rule is to "Make no small promises." The product isn't merely good; it is stupendous. It is miraculous in how it stops leaks, cleans bathroom tile, restores memory, or offers the best, most delicious steaks ever sold.
Americans hoping for a compromise settlement in a peace plan with Ukraine may get their wish, temporarily. There may be a cease fire. But there are ominous signs that this will settle nothing. Putin is not thinking small, simply trying to bring concentrations of native speakers of Russian into Russia. Putin referred to the breakup of the USSR as a great tragedy for Russia and mankind. Propagandists on Russian TV are now putting out new messages about Russia's intentions. The "no small promise" of Russia is restored greatness of Imperial Russia of 300 years ago. It goes beyond the territory of the USSR. That Imperial Russia includes the modern day countries of Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland and Georgia. Four of those countries are now part of NATO.
5 comments:
The ambition you describe is not a national obsession. It is the same fake nationalism of a Hitler, of any despot who seeks to enlarge his power and that of his enablers. It's not that different from MAGA, using grievances to turn vulnerable people against supposed oppressors and exploit them, in this case against external forces. The problem is that such a tyrant can recruit plenty of supporters who will assist him. They are the real threat. By many accounts the bulk of the Russian people are cowed.
Hitler killed himself. The Nuremberg Trials brought many of Hitler's enablers to justice. How will this saga end?
It’s more difficult to limit information to the populace which then makes it harder for the government to manipulate. 40 % of Americans are MAGA, so probably 40% of Russians can be convinced. The truth does eventually win. Call me an optimist, they live longer.
The main difference between Trump’s supporters and Putin’s is that Trump’s are more wary of murdering his opponents, although he and they keep hinting at it. I have no doubt that were our rule of law to completely fail and allow Trump back in the White House, he would try to unleash a Putin-like reign of terror on his perceived “enemies.” Having already gotten away with treason, what would stop him?
I see none of the usual conservative apologists disputing this column.
They want to destroy the US, and take away our liberty.
Mc, now is when I advise "Patience, Grasshopper ". It's still early.
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