Vladimir Putin was a psy-ops specialist in the Soviet KGB, he was never a military officer or field marshal.
From the moment he assumed power in 1999, his mission was clear. He has said so, the restoration of what was the Soviet empire. His M.O. has been clear: Discredit Western liberal democracy and sow dissension via the propagation and spreading of volatile disinformation, all in order to “soften” his envisioned battleground.
With the surprisingly successful influence campaign waged on behalf of and with the cooperation of the Trump campaign in 2015-16, Putin saw his way cleared considerably. Russian disinformation “astroturf” campaigns in Europe, the U.K. and here successfully fomented and heated up dissension wherever he operated.
Brexit was a notable success. Do we remember Maria Butina, the “Russian Bombshell” (since deported) influence peddler who allegedly brought a donation to the NRA from Putin, ostensibly to “set up gun safety programs in Russia.”
Coincidently at the same time the NRA dramatically increased its political giving (purchase?) of the RNC, the Trump campaign and any number of one-time Republican senators and Congress members. I say “one-time” because they are all Trumplicans now, the “R’ being simply a vestigial reference and homage to their current racist intent. Has there since been anything more divisive in our body politic than gun rights?
After receiving his orders directly in Helsinki, the wholly owned useful idiot proceeded to do his best to dismantle or disable NATO (soften the battleground) culminating with his actions towards Ukraine and President Zelenskyy (directly soften the battleground). The defeat of this disgraced, twice-impeached useful idiot, despite his attempts to recreate the previous success, caused Putin to accelerate his plan for Ukraine.
Now Putin has “Let Slip the Dogs of War” which know no bounds. He has demonstrated in Ukraine that he is clearly a war criminal whose vile butchery the world is duly noting. The Trumplican right and its propaganda outlet, Fox News, continue to spew Russian disinformation and propaganda.
Blood is on their hands. Blood is on the hands of Trumputin.
Eric Cashdan
Sands Point