General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: That loud "SNAP" you heard around 730 pm EST was McConnell's and Ryan's asses snapping shut. [View all]Buckeyeblue
(5,499 posts)Does Putin have more power than Stalin? The interesting thing about Putin is that he isn't out holding big rallies. He doesn't seem overly nationalistic. He seems to go about his oppression of the Russian people very quietly. He learned the Soviet tactics well. But he doesn't use ideology as a front. He just does what he does because he can.
It's difficult to tell what his end game is. I don't think he necessarily wants to rule the world. I think he is too smart for that type of goal. I do think he'd like to take back the part of the old Soviet Union that might have resources that would be lucrative to him.
He gains by having the world a little less stable because it takes attention from him. And maybe it gives him some leverage to get out from under sanctions. And to be free to do what he wants in his big corner of the world.
Honestly, with the exception of a large reserve of oil that is very expensive to get to, Russia has very little in the way of resources.