People thought the same about Putin, or junta in Argentina. Problem is that they couldn't understand their motivation. Some people, don't care about GDP, well b

People thought the same about Putin, or junta in Argentina. Problem is that they couldn't understand their motivation. Some people, don't care about GDP, well being of their populace or popularity, not to mention media. They don't have to worry about reelections, or retirement. Just maintaining their power. And that gives them time to pursue things politicians from liberal democracies consider things of history.