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unlike democratic leaders, who stay in power by providing goods to the public, Putin’s survival strategy consists of catering to a small number of political elites who make up his inner circle. As long as the inner circle remains happy, either as a result of direct payoffs and rents or policy, it has no incentive to replace him.
As it is, Putin’s inner circle consists of two remaining power blocs: the top-ranking FSB intelligence officers and the heads of the military and defence structures. Though similar in their ideological positions – both are anti-democracy, and isolationist – the two blocs’ ability to see eye to eye is impeded by their competition for power, resources and their leader’s ear. Everything they have attained they owe to Putin. In exchange, they pay back with loyalty and support and, when necessary, by doing some of his bidding.
Quote:
members of Russia’s intelligence and military elite are also impervious to western pressure. True to their anti-west rhetoric, they do not hold vast foreign assets, at least not in their own name. They prefer to live in Moscow rather than abroad, vacation in Yalta rather than in the French Riviera, and cheer for Russian football clubs rather than those in the Premier League.
Yeah, that G20 meeting was a joke on India's part. They thought they could steer it onto Third World developmental issues while ignoring the concerns of the majority of the G20 who are concerned about a major war going on with thousands of people dying. If India wants to help the third world, they can do it themselves since they are not helping anyone else.
That's my take on it.
The EU, Germany, France, Turkey, Australia, Canada, the U.S., ... have bigger fish to fry these days than India's never ending efforts to get them to help India out.
Perhaps India can convince Russia to give them a hand.
I don't trust India. They play all sides for their own benefit. If they smell money from you, they become your friend. They get $89B a year of remittance money from their people working in the USA. At the moment they tolerate being "friendly" with the USA.
Good article.
It seems like, at some level, NATO members have come to realize the truth of this article - Russia must be smashed into internal revolt or financial ruin.
From what we have seen so far, the people of Russia have an endless tolerance for corruption, so financial ruin it will be.
China is providing arms to Russia. But what type and how many?...... 1000 rifles, some body armor and some drone parts. That type of help is meaningless. It is intended to keep Russia in the war and hoping for more help. After all, if Russia abandons the war effort the oil wells in Siberia will never be owned by the Chinese, whereas if Russia stays in the war and suffers financial ruin, they will be unable to operate the well. China will then step in.
The Slovak government has approved providing Ukraine with 13 MiG-29 fighter jets, Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on March 17. Earlier, the Slovakian government announced the transfer of their 2K12 Kub air defense systems to Ukraine.
International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin and others because of their actions in Ukraine. This is important. Putin will never again be allowed to travel throughout the free world.
I don't trust India. They play all sides for their own benefit. If they smell money from you, they become your friend. They get $89B a year of remittance money from their people working in the USA. At the moment they tolerate being "friendly" with the USA.
I don't either.
But this attempt to get nations to ignore Russia's attack on Ukraine and focus on their poverty is so transparent that I imagine it's a security concern that so many from India are in imbedded in our IT industry.
During a press conference with Finland's president, Erdogan announced that Turkey would ratify Finland's accession to NATO.
Also, Hungary now says that they'll ratify Finland's accession on March 27. However, now, like Turkey, Hungary is splitting Finland's vote from Sweden's, undoubtedly due to Orban's beef with the EU, whose presidency is currently held by Sweden. What a coincidence.
Russia’s energy grid attacks, torture in Ukraine, could be crimes against humanity: UN rights probe
Russian forces in Ukraine faced fresh accusations of war crimes on Thursday as UN-appointed independent human rights investigators released the latest findings of their ongoing probe.
… These included attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas, wilful killings of civilians, unlawful confinement, torture, rape and other sexual violence, as well as unlawful transfers and deportations of children...
…For the report, which covers nine Ukrainian regions, investigators visited 56 towns and interviewed close to 600 witnesses.
The findings build on the Commission’s first report released in October last year, which found that war crimes had been committed by Russia in the regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy, early on in the conflict.…
During a press conference with Finland's president, Erdogan announced that Turkey would ratify Finland's accession to NATO.
Also, Hungary now says that they'll ratify Finland's accession on March 27. However, now, like Turkey, Hungary is splitting Finland's vote from Sweden's, undoubtedly due to Orban's beef with the EU, whose presidency is currently held by Sweden. What a coincidence.
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