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Stalin killed millions and the worst that happened was some hushed grumbling. Don't underestimate russian apathy and the government's iron grip on the populous

• comonoid 4y ago
  That's difference between totalitarian and authoritarian regime.
• rchaud 4y ago
  Yes because in the pre-satellite age, control over the spread of information was far easier. It wouldn't be possible now.
• rngname22 4y ago
  If you think about American manufacturing of consent for the war in Iraq (a war motivated by false claims of weapons of mass destruction but that was mostly emotionally accepted by Americans because of a general sense of anger towards the Middle East over the 9/11 attacks and terrorism), then imagine that Iraq was a neighboring country that America had historically controlled, then picture George Bush asking Americans to mobilize to invade in the context of America losing, you can sort of start to picture how people get swept up emotionally and maybe it becomes easier to believe Russians really will fight this war even past general mobilization. Imagine the most angry Americans after 9/11 being told that they needed to go fight as America was being pushed back by Iraqis military and Iraq was on our border. At some point you have to accept that the emotional climate matters more than the 'facts' as we may see them. /an explanation of why we might ought to not assume the Russian population might legitimately be swept up emotionally and actually support this war not rebel against it
  • draw_down 4y ago