Putin is following Bush's playbook. He blamed Iraq for 9/11

[captain queeg]

Putin blames the Nazis for Ukraine. In both cases there was a majority that were willing to believe it. Even now many Americans won’t acknowledge that Bush lied to take us to war. Look how long the whole thing dragged out even as the truth came out. So I’m not so sure the Russian people will reject Putin’s lies for a long time. There are some differences of course, we were far away and little impact to the average american. And we were fighting brown Arab/Islamic people. The Russians are fighting their neighbor with similar culture and background. Still, as much as Im impressed by the Ukrainians I think this war might go in for a long time.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Russians will be facing severe economic hardship which may force them to reality.

[Lovie777]

2. Maybe ....

and I'm assuming that Russian's mind set is very familiar to the RWers/GQP here in the USA - at this point in time there is no reasoning nor reality for them. In Russia tho, the propaganda machine consumes the airwaves there. Here in the USA the people do have a choice, but alas, the GQP are brain washed.

I don't know the % of Russians who do know the truth about Ukraine, but right now, and the GQP cult is in the minority here.

The minority party has positioned itself in major political advantages, i.e. state, legislation, county, judges both state appellate, supreme court and the United States Supreme Court.

Russia's citizens will put full blame on the West, especially the USA. Sounds familiar huh.

[Irish_Dem]

3. The GOP/Putin mindsets are almost identical.

The GOP has been tutored by Putin for a long time.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what every day Russians think.
In a dictatorship, the will of the people is meaningless.

Just like where the US is heading.

But yes they will blame the west.

[uponit7771]

4. K&R, Putrid is even using the "WMD" excuse Bush 2 used to attack Iraq. Its in the interest of the ..

... west to grind Russia military and economy to a nub

[rso]

5. Bush

There are similarities, but let’s not pretend that Bush’s actions to bring down a murderous dictator like Saddam Hussein are equivalent to Putin’s actions against a democratically elected President whose Nation wants to be in the European camp.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Authoritarianism 101...

start a foreign war to jinn up domestic support. Once the gov't controls media they can say anything and it will last a while.