> a somewhat democratic government that can be conditioned to work only in the ideological confines we set That is not what a puppet regime is...especially whe

> a somewhat democratic government that can be conditioned to work only in the ideological confines we set That is not what a puppet regime is...especially when you consider that "ideological confines" for the US means free trade, civil liberties, justice system, free elections. Calling that a puppet regime is whitewashing the truly horrible puppet regimes that Russia is installing.