I Wonder If Mad Vlad Thought He'd Be Helping N A T O?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-61404062
Finland to join ASAP and Sweden probably not far behind, oh dear Vlad, not going as planned is it.

[bhg481]

It makes it obvious why he took up judo rather than a tactical game like chess.

[ichkeria]

He's losing in Kharkiv oblast too.
Leaving a trail of more war criminality behind there.

Finland has done the right thing by itself.
Not so clear cut in Sweden, but they almost must not let themselves be deterred by threats from Moscow.

[ichkeria]

Chess is a game of strategy, really, and Putin is no good at that, plainly.

[naomi24]

I think this will escalate.

[ichkeria]

Putin made a monumental error on Feb 24 and I think he knows it.
He threatened on that day "consequences the like of which they have never seen" or words to that effect, for anyone who "interfered" in his "military operation".
Eleven weeks to the day later and that threat has long been exposed as idle.

[davebro]

I think he must be insane. Why else would he start a war killing tens of thousands and threaten the world with nuclear destruction. I'm surprised he still retains authority.

[naomi24]

I wouldn't be so sure. Such is his arrogance - and his madness - I can't see him capitulating - ever.

[bhg481]

The worrying part is that the reports on his physical health could imply that he has no fears about going out in a blaze of glory; if there's no world left he's not going to care.

[ichkeria]

I don't think Putin is insane.
I think he is isolated, sociopathic, and obsessive.
If you look at how so many Russians act and behave, it is not totally dissimilar, and they can't all be mad.
A man with too much time on his hands for concentrating on unhealthy things. In his case, that is a particularly deadly thing.
It's almost like the deep complexes that affect the Russian psyche (Russia didn't just become a nasty place when Putin took over, in fact for a while it was a better place for many) have festered into what we see now.
He also I believe has become complacent after his other military adventures, but all those successes were achieved in largely different circumstances.

[ToraToraTora]

bhg, yes but he can't actually launch nukes himself, the guys that actually do it will think twice about committing suicide. I think as time goes on He will just be the old man in the corner being told what he wants to hear. A bit like the SBC character, "The Dictator". The rest of the leadership will quietly start to take over and stop this madness. They can save face by blaming it on Vlad and then do a deal with the west.

[naomi24]

I don't think he's 'insane' either but 'sociopathic and obsessive', as you say, to me indicates a degree of mental health issues. It's not 'normal' is it. I don't believe he even contemplates the notion of Russia's defeat and therefore I think he will continue - and because of that this will escalate.

[bhg481]

TTT - I think you're right with the caveat that someone who ignores the orders of a (mad) dictator is, effectively, committing suicide anyway. The Russians are very good at mysterious deaths.

[ichkeria]

No, I am sure Tora is right.
Putin won't get away with pressing a nuclear button just because he's terminally ill. He isn't THAT powerful :-)
The risk of nuclear escalation comes when the Russian state or enough of it collectively, feels it is existentially threatened (seriously believes it rather than claims to). Plainly that threat does not exist in the current situation.
What is more likely (but still IMO not that likely) is the use of a tactical nucelar weapon to "cheat" if he thinks Russia is going to lose the war. Plainly Putin thinks he can still win or he wouldn't still be waging war.

[naomi24]

It won't necessarily be nuclear escalation - but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he ventures across other borders. Finland, I think, is in the firing line, but if he does I've no doubt he will be making a very grave mistake.

[ichkeria]

If he invades Finland, which has one of the largest and best armies in Europe (possibly the largest and best), particularly when his own army has been weakened and humiliited and exposed as not fit for purpose then I'll take it all back: he would be insane!

[davebro]

Russia got a bloody nose in Finland before. I doubt they'll go there.

[naomi24]

We can hope.

[William51]

He either underestimated the Wests resolve against him or he does not care. He appears to be going head first for his destruction and Russias humiliation.

[naomi24]

I agree, William. He seems oblivious.

[Ken4155]

Guy says Putin has created a 'Freudian Loop' for himself and his country. Scroll to about 12.30 in.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/channel-4-news/on-demand/73703-131

Though the opening story is also worth a watch. Apparently the Russians are refusing to reclaim many of their dead soldiers!