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If public opinion didn't deteriorate till now (since people in russia generally grok what has been actually happening, lets not dumb whole population down to br

If public opinion didn't deteriorate till now (since people in russia generally grok what has been actually happening, lets not dumb whole population down to brainless incompetents), official war won't make a dent big enough to concern Putin. Those willing to protest largely already left the country or are in jail/worse. You can't apply democratic thinking to place like russia, you will fail tremendously in understanding and predicting anything. I agree with dilution of skills, with modern equipment number of troops alone mean almost nothing, high motivation and morale can be easily 10x multiplier etc... But equipment left in Ukraine - that's often part of that low morale. There are countless videos of russian soldiers ignoring their fellow soldiers lying on the ground bleeding and concerning about themselves only. Whole tank crew coming to police station to 'ask for direction', effectively giving up. Imagine US soldiers doing that anywhere... That's something that won't get fixed in 10 years even if they started in right direction now, and they aren't and won't. These are fragilities of dictatorships, where ass kissing and corruption trumps competence every time. This is one of the cores of what russia is as a state now. I say good for us, since they will never reach even fraction of potential their numbers and equipment gives them.

twawaaay 4y ago
> people in russia generally grok what has been actually happening, lets not dumb whole population down to brainless incompetents There is a difference between understanding what is happening and caring about it. I believe Russians do understand what is happening, for the most part. But I believe most Russians just don't care enough to do something about it. That might change when their sons, fathers, husbands are on the hook to go to a bloody war. It is kinda like eating meat. You know it comes from an animal that most likely had to live in poor conditions and then be killed. Most people do understand that this is what is happening, and yet they do not act on it because it is easier to not do anything.
PontifexMinimus 4y ago
> That's something that won't get fixed in 10 years even if they started in right direction now, and they aren't and won't. I agree. The Russian regime is based on corruption and cynicism. This breeds an attitude of everyone for himself. It is not fertile soil to grow a competent army in. > These are fragilities of dictatorships, where ass kissing and corruption trumps competence every time. There have been plenty of autocracies that have had good armies. E.g. Alexander, the Roman Empire, the Rashidun Caliphate, Nazi Germany.

twawaaay 4y ago

> people in russia generally grok what has been actually happening, lets not dumb whole population down to brainless incompetents There is a difference between understanding what is happening and caring about it. I believe Russians do understand what is happening, for the most part. But I believe most Russians just don't care enough to do something about it. That might change when their sons, fathers, husbands are on the hook to go to a bloody war. It is kinda like eating meat. You know it comes from an animal that most likely had to live in poor conditions and then be killed. Most people do understand that this is what is happening, and yet they do not act on it because it is easier to not do anything.

PontifexMinimus 4y ago

> That's something that won't get fixed in 10 years even if they started in right direction now, and they aren't and won't. I agree. The Russian regime is based on corruption and cynicism. This breeds an attitude of everyone for himself. It is not fertile soil to grow a competent army in. > These are fragilities of dictatorships, where ass kissing and corruption trumps competence every time. There have been plenty of autocracies that have had good armies. E.g. Alexander, the Roman Empire, the Rashidun Caliphate, Nazi Germany.