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From the article: Looking back, however, it is clear that the outside world has consistently misread him. From the moment he took power, outsiders too often saw
by jleyank 5y ago
From the article:
Looking back, however, it is clear that the outside world has consistently misread him. From the moment he took power, outsiders too often saw what they wanted and played down the darkest sides of Putinism.
People have preyed on hopes and dreams forever, at large and small scale. People see what they wish to see, which has been amply demonstrated in politics and other collective activities. Russia was supposed to be different, somebody European who could be dealt with. Err, no. Unfortunately, the eu is learning others share that approach and might be cuckoos in the nest.
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” ~Maya Angelou
- mytailorisrich 5y agoI don't buy that the outside world misread Putin, at least that governments misread him. The question is what they could and were willing to do. Political, geopolitical, and self-interests constraints meant that the answer has been "nothing or little". But it's easier to claim that he was "misread".
- LichenStone 5y agoMikhail Khodorkovsky, speaking about Putin's rise to power in the documentary Citizen K - > "It seemed to me that, ideologically, he was one of our people. A man of our generation, who gets it, who wants to push Russia in the same direction that we want for it. That is towards openness, towards democracy. Boy was I mistaken. He's a very talented KGB guy. Very talented. You like leftists? Putin will behave around you in a way that you will be convinced that he's a leftist. You like nationalists? Putin is going to act around you in a way that you'll think that he's a bit of a nationalist. You like conservatives? Talk to him and you will get an impression that he's a conservative. That's a talent."
- mytailorisrich 5y agoI find this either delusional or disingenuous. Putin has been Putin forever. Remember that Khodorkovsky had a massive fallout with Putin and ended fleeing the country, he has a vested interest in painting himself in a certain way.
- jleyank 5y agoHe’s also saying Putin hasn’t changed, and that he’s able to present himself as aligned with the listener. Makes sense as the best politicians can do this well.
- LichenStone 5y agoI don't know what you find hard to believe in the idea that an ex-KGB man who has been an autocratic illiberal leader for over 20 years now, might just be quite manipulative and duplicitous in his diplomatic communications.
- mytailorisrich 5y agoBecause it has always been quite clear, and he has always been quite clear, about what he is about. And that's also not new for Russia. Do you think the guys in Langley haven't known exactly what he is about all along? Of course Khodorkovsky knew as well but now it's best for him to say he was played and is a victim.
- jleyank 5y agoWell, if they knew who and what he was, they could have avoided building their energy policy on Russian materials…
- mytailorisrich 5y agoWhere can you buy gas and oil? You have a good choice of dictatorships! The game is to try to control those dictatorships but that only works with small countries.
- jleyank 5y agoUhh, you could use local sources that are “distasteful” rather than turning them off and subordinating yourself to countries you find out are distasteful…