Well that was chilling. But that last line," it will be as dangerous as it is satisfying " is what gets me. Amazing job once again, I don't think it can be explained any better.

@MrKenichi22

2 жыл бұрын

True

@dairallan

2 жыл бұрын

If there is one thing that we can see from history, it is that when Putin goes, the people of Russia will be able to say "and then, things got worse".

As a Russian, I want to thank you for this series. It's really well done and concise, I only wish it would've been slightly longer, so that you could elaborate slightly more on all the fuckery that was going on with Putin and his gang for all this years, but other than that - extremely well done.

@itseamuscallan7004

2 жыл бұрын

Natural Justice demands that Putin's Criminal wealth that is held for him in London by his lackeys, be turned into Euros and immediately distributed among the 11 million Ukrainian Refugees inside and outside Ukraine

@yourmaninlondoncollecting5749

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe he don't want som Polonium-210 in his Tea cup 😉😆

@sebs-shenanigans

2 жыл бұрын

You will most likely know what I will say mate, but to those reading this and wishing to look deeper into to putin's reign, I advice searching for Aleskey navalni's video on the subject, where he breaks down the entire operation this monster and his pocket pigs lead

@residentelect

2 жыл бұрын

@@yourmaninlondoncollecting5749 He is so paranoid (and deservedly so) that he probably has some poor bastard who takes a sip of his tea before it even makes it into the same room as him. If its going to happen, it will hopefully be during a public appearance for the world to see, struck down by a traumatised parent of one of the boy soldiers he sent to die, or a Russian who has lost Russo-Unkrani family members at the hands of his "special military operation" death squads. To dust off an olde English proverb; "I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire..."

@Skabanis

2 жыл бұрын

You are no Russian! Shut up!

You can't imagine how tragically devastated I feel, actually being born and living in russia for the last 32 years. The scary thing is, even leaving a like and this comment underneath this video could potentially lead to prosecution, fine and/or imprisonment, but I'm too past caring now.

@YanoshRagauld

2 жыл бұрын

Bless you brother, you must endure. My heart is with you.

@lif6737

2 жыл бұрын

The country you were born in no longer exists. Good luck out there.

@joenichols3901

2 жыл бұрын

Freedom can be yours. You must resist.

@onemorechris

2 жыл бұрын

If it helps, it’s clear from here (EU/UK), that all this not a ‘Russian people’ thing and very much a ‘putin thing’. There is a future for a Russian state, with its culture and history, but not it’s leadership.

@juneshay608

2 жыл бұрын

I hope you are doing as well as possible given the current circumstances. I’m so very sorry you are caught up in the middle of all of this. It’s absolutely not the fault of ordinary Russians, and I know it must be terrifying trying to be a progressively minded, inquisitive person in such an oppressive situation. Please stay safe. I hope you’ll be able to feel more pride in your country someday soon. 💜

As Russian, I avoided commenting on this series till the end, because I didn't want to praise you in advance and then be disappointed. So often I saw documentaries on Putin depicting him in a grey color, "look, he did some awful things, but he's so strong and charismatic, and smart, what a strategist" and all that jazz. After february, 24th I saw that people outside Russia, in Europe, USA, even in Ukraine, totally don't understand who Putin is. What he did and what he does to our country, to our people for 20 years. Y'all don't even know what was going on here for last 3 years. This series... I applaud you, Georg, thank you for your work.

@vitorafmonteiro

2 жыл бұрын

Pryvet. There have been a lot of comments lately trying to analyse pro-Putin sentiment in the west through ideological and philosophical reasons, but I think there is an element often forgotten: for later-Gen-Xers and millenials opposing George W. Bush and Iraq was a defining part of their politics this century, and pre-2008 Putin seemed to be the "anti-W.-Bush" whose foreign policy was not marked by unipolar unilateral action but defending world multipolarism: relations with Germany and most of EU, mild relations with the US, relations with Iran and most neighbouring Muslim states, support against the Taliban and islamist terrorism in general together with many governments, involvement in the BRICS, relations with both pro- and anti-western governments... And in those times, many got a false image of Putin as a less imperialist and more multilateralist alternative to Bush Junior. What they failed to understand is that Putin's objective was always rebuilding Russia (under him and his supporters, naturally) as a dominating (locally and globally) superpower, but after hellish '90s he knew it wasn't realistic to make a US/Russia divided world (yet), so he played the multipolar game for a while, and the moment he felt Russia was developing and growing enough, he went to the imperial method and now basically only knows how to play along with weaker and more dependent countries (like Belarus) and no one else unless they really need too and very begrudgingly (as the Ch1na relations now show) and is insolating Russia by the day. I guess many misjudged Putin for years due to that and have a hard time admiting they were fooled. Da Svidanyia and stay safe in these crazy times out there.

@MrManio1000

2 жыл бұрын

What was going on there for the last 3 years? Please tell us if you can. Also, any info on the situation now, what people say, what you see and what is the mood of the people. Thank you ✋❤️ All the best from Poland

@engaby

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrManio1000 I started to write a response outlining recent events, but it turned out so haphazard, so I need some time to put together a coherent timeline with enough explanation and advices for further information. Right now I just can say it's been a lot. Total shit show of lies, censorship and violence. On the current situation, I can say that the society is very poralized. Some are devastated, some are so brainwashed by our propaganda earning their fee. Families even break apart because people don't want to hear the truth. All free media are banned, most of them left the country. Peaceful protesters are arrested for standing in single picket with blank paper or Tolstoy's War and peace for "discrediting Russian army". As a cherry on cake, we have a new law "about fakes" - you'll be heavily fined or get prison term up to 15 years for spreading misinformation about the army. Misinformation in this context is anything that wasn't reported about the "special operation" (aka the war) by our Ministry of defense. So now people are very cautious with their words.

@MrManio1000

2 жыл бұрын

@@engaby You poor people. I hope this will end soon. I know a lot will not change, but at least hope they will stop sending men to fight, on both sides. I feel terrible for the mothers and the families. Please do not lose hope.

@engaby

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrManio1000 thank you. Really hoping for peace and freedom

As a citizen of Ukraine who was forced to flee his home with his family because of Russia's absolutely destructive and barbaric aggression, I want to thank you for this video. Unlike many Western observers, you have grasped the essence of Putin's anti-human regime and his personal psychological portrait by following all the major steps that have led to the current situation with completely rational conclusions. I have had to discuss many times with people from different countries who perceived the Putin regime as simply corrupt-opportunistic, not imperial and Nazi, and Russians as "innocent victims" rather than a historically oppressive construct prone to such behavior and model of the state. Now, as a structured answer to the first question, I will use the link to the three parts of your video to save time and effort. Thank you once again!

@MostlyPennyCat

2 жыл бұрын

I'm _not_ Ukrainian (British) but I've also always wondered why people don't notice that how many chances at freedom are you willing to give Russians before you realise that being a ruled-people is what they desire the most? Something you wonder whether had been bred specifically for the purpose of playing the role of, "Subjects"? The Tsar is dead, long live the Tsar.

@arndbrack2339

2 жыл бұрын

To me it is baffling how deeply entrenched unhuman treatment seems to be in russia. yet i live in a country in which this has changed in just two generations, and don't tell me one could have seen this coming in germany - times have changed. Now there is little to compare between russia and germany, but i don't see historical necessities, and i hope future generations of ukrainians will have better luck with their eastern neighbors. Best of wishes to you

@kyletitterton

2 жыл бұрын

@@MostlyPennyCat No. This video, for example, explicitly documents how Putin first neutered (or controlled) the oligarchs and then suppressed the 'proles'. Russian people may on the surface may be prone to wish to be led by a 'strong man' but you could say that about any people or county on the planet. Political instability allowed such a man to take over but Russians themselves were some of the first to offer opposition. They even had a revolution 100 years ago. Britain is yet to match that level of individualism.

@MostlyPennyCat

2 жыл бұрын

@@kyletitterton I know it's not _actually_ true. But for a developed nation, they sure do love their authoritarian strong men.

@MostlyPennyCat

2 жыл бұрын

@@kyletitterton Also I'd say they've had two revolutions in the last 100 years. Both times they replaced a strong man with a strong man. And no, we've not had a revolution here in the UK in the last 100 years. We're actually quite proud of that. We had two, both in the 17th century. First one we executed the king and became the commonwealth. Then we realised Cromwell was a dick and revolutioned back where we started, except with a monarch who ruled at the will of the parliament.

"Putin saw this as an existential threat, or at least a threat to his pride." For psychopaths, there's no difference.

@Subhumanoid_

2 жыл бұрын

oh wow, well said - there truly is no difference!

@elibrod9981

Жыл бұрын

That would make 80+ % of the Russians as psychopaths as well, for supporting him. Are you ready to diagnose 120-130 millions of people..?

Yeaaah...i was getting into a good mood. About time for you to put that to an end.

Didn't this channel used to do humorous reviews about pop culture stuff? what a bold, refreshing, necessary shift. I bet you'll get 1/4 of the Subs, but 400% of the respect. this is gonna work as long as you keep your heart in it. you're refreshingly candid for a KZread™ personality. keep this up, man. we need it. we do. thank you for this. -HC in 22

@leeboy2k1

2 жыл бұрын

@@criminalsaint9611 It's because of the lack of integrity in the West that grifting "paying the bills" like this video is shat before us.

@mitchellhorton9382

2 жыл бұрын

He's always have a variety of stuff

@mrcoiganable2988

2 жыл бұрын

Was gonna say fk respect, who cares about that in this world fs.

@timinou9915

2 жыл бұрын

Call me spoiled but id want both content 🤫

Georg, you left your Hanna Montana discography at my house again.

Respect for a sombre and genuine analytics.

>the CIA said Putin interfered in 2016 I remember when they said there were nukes in Iraq too.

I Love your videos Georg! Please keep doing what you're doing!

"Hope lies in the proles" (6:35) is a reference to 1984

I've always been curious how Putin's political career wasn't over after the Kursk Disaster? In case you're unaware in the year 2000, his first year in office, a Nuclear Submarine christened as "Kursk" unexpectedly exploded and sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea during a training exercise. The Kremlin was ready to simply right the crew off as dead until British and American Intelligence broadcasted that they could hear tapping within its hull, indicating their survival. When offered foreign assistance, they played dumb while they tried in vain to launch a rescue with faulty, out-dated Soviet equipment. When that failed, they lied to the family of the sailors with the ludicrous claim that it sank because of an NATO attack which outraged one parent to the point where the FSB was caught on camera injecting her with anesthesia in broad daylight. Finally, by the time where the Kremlin accepted help from a Norwegian Deep Diver Team, it was too late and the crew had suffocated waiting for help. And where was Vlady-boi while his own countrymen were either dying or bungling their rescue? He was having a grand old time on vacation at a Dacha along the Black Sea. Despite learning about the accident, he couldn't be bothered to end his fun until days later when it was becoming apparent what a PR Nightmare the event evolved into. Again, how was his career not over?

@makingastardestroyer3066

2 жыл бұрын

Because he is essentially a monarch, not a president. His power lay not in votes, but in force. So the popular opinion is little to no effect on him

@doncarlodivargas5497

2 жыл бұрын

And Norway with excellent equipment to rescue people offered help for days, until it was too late, but Russia/Putin refused, probably he wanted the sailors dead

@stariyczedun

2 жыл бұрын

He had backing of the Berezovsky's 1st channel media empire and soon after coming to power he subjugated what was left of the major opposition TV channels. So he basically controlled the narrative. This PR slip was at the point when the control was not fully established yet but it was fixed quick.

@brianbozo2447

2 жыл бұрын

Putin always seems to use bad juidgement. Kursk, Beslan school and Moscow Theater botched rescue, Allowing continuous NATO expansion over 20 years until its too late allowing corruption, not challenging the oligarchs who continued to lead lives of crazy excess with yachts mansions etc.

@doncarlodivargas5497

2 жыл бұрын

@@brianbozo2447 - Putin have the bottle with the poison, he poison everyone, also his own people, and his generals, everyone, like a Stalin, killing everyone around him

Schmidt-son, i look forward to your videos and always smile at their release. That is all. That is what I can offer you.

Peak Georg. Enjoyed this series immensely.

This series on putin has been incredibly informative and a totally engrossing watch. Thank you so much for your excellent content, and stay safe.

As soon as you can bother is how this whole channel Is run and I like it

Been enjoying your series on this. Very good. Thanks for the hard work!

Your channel is one of the bests. Merry Christmas. And yes I know this isn't on one of your Christmas watchlist video thingies, but those were all solid suggestions.

Very well done as always my friend

Thank you for adding some actual information and sense to this conversation

Great video!!!

I'm getting Adam Curtis vibes while watching this video. The editing is top notch. It's good stuff.

Thank you for being so thorough in your research for this topic. I think its important to give this context to english speaking audiences right now.

@rusalkin

2 жыл бұрын

here is a more chilling thought: who do you want to lead russia? a capable uncorrupt competitor or ideally a drunk and then this guy? as long as they are dying quietly nobody cares, its the thrashes that bother a bit

@eenuff

2 жыл бұрын

@@rusalkin im sorry, what do you mean? Literally. I don't get the point of your comment.

@rusalkin

2 жыл бұрын

@@eenuff you just won the cold war, you get to pick who gets to be president of russia, who do you pick? a winner or a loser?

@eenuff

2 жыл бұрын

@@rusalkin are you asking who I'd choose to be the president Putin or Yeltsin?

@rusalkin

2 жыл бұрын

@@eenuff between putin - yeltsin and stalin

Putin all those informations together was nice of you , thanks Georg great videos 👍

Putin to Russian soldiers: Welcome too week 6 of our 2 day invasion.

@leeboy2k1

2 жыл бұрын

Western leaders to the lower classes..welcome to day 800+ of the 'great r3set'

@uniktbrukernavn

2 жыл бұрын

It seems Russia is experiencing some time dilation, which would be logical as the sanctions brings Russia back to the cold war era. Time travel is possible after all, although at some expense.

@Simon-gc6uf

2 жыл бұрын

God modern western people are dumb. You hear something on the media and you take it for truth. 2 day invasion.. for the love of.....

@Horatio787

2 жыл бұрын

Same shit that happened with the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.

Really well done, Georg. Thanks for continuing with your work.

Amazingly good work. On point 100%

Thank you for making this portrait of a man who seems to have no conviction beyond the strive for power and recognition. There is no telling what can happen once he completely drives his country into the wall. My feeble hope is that there are still people left in his circle of sycophants who could or would stop the worst.

@btarczy5067

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnSmith-mc2zz I am unfortunately very pessimistic and thus often happy to be wrong. When Yeltsin abdicated the political system was very different but yeah, maybe.

@stephenmeier4658

2 жыл бұрын

There is no hope for Russia now, only the ancient path of obscurity and poverty for the sake of petty tyrants who demand more, more, always more.

@Simon-gc6uf

2 жыл бұрын

As opposed to the altruistic western leaders... You're a brainwashed sheep just bleating out what you are told to bleat out.

@btarczy5067

2 жыл бұрын

@@lilithdvs13 K. What a hero that guy is.

@btarczy5067

2 жыл бұрын

@@lilithdvs13 Yeah… I know you didn’t. Naming his fight against homosexuals as a positive is a bit absurd to me but I know my limits and don’t think I‘ll convince you of anything. I‘m only guessing when it comes to his convictions but the homophobia is politically beneficial to him, bringing religious conservatives on his side.

I am really digging these videos. Thank you!

Excellent video. Just wanted to show my appreciation.

Good video!

Well reasoned and presented.

Thanks for that focus. Very interesting 🤔

Great series

"Russia's handsomest man?" He looks like a guy who sends emails about the dress code.

9:48 Wow. Amazing editing. And a keen eye to spot that moment.

Great series. Though I'd avoid any suspicious cups of tea you encounter from now on.

@hoze1235

2 жыл бұрын

Careful you might get Novichok

Excellent work. Very glad I stumbled across your channel.

Bravo. What a wonderful job you did on this three-part series. This should be broadcast worldwide.

@carlosrivas1629

2 жыл бұрын

Except the Steele dossier, the key piece of evidence to prove trump is puppet, is total bullshit.

@elibrod9981

Жыл бұрын

You can watch garbage like that on any western channel already..

My question is how hard is he willing to thrash around if he loses. Will he show any restraint. Or is he going to knock down as many sandcastles his power allows him on his way off the beach

Great series of videos. Thank you for taking the time.

Nice one, Georg.

That was the most ominous intro music ever.. love it!

Great video.

Really enjoyed your 3-parter. Great work. - Free Navalny!

Hey bud, I want you to know that I've noticed that you've been working out. You look good. The lava lamp has been really distracting me from this discovery. The lava lamp looks good too. Good episode. Good channel.

1st class video, as always. 🙂👍🏻

fantastic video

great work! keep it up!

You are doing damn good work.

@Silver-rx1mh

2 жыл бұрын

Ditto!

Rather good mate. Cheers

Best channel on youtube

The power vaccum that'll follow Putins death/fall from power is something that I think about constantly. It's gonna be nutz.

@Giguv05

2 жыл бұрын

Same

@Horatio787

2 жыл бұрын

It's going to be Stalin dying all over again. There's no one strong enough to overthrow them, so everyone is going to break up their piece of the pie when he inevitably dies.

Damn, those videos were really good

enjoyed cheers georgo remember to get some fresh air

I am an American, and I'm an avid reader of history. I certainly don't seek to speak for Russia or throw stones, and I know there are times when my own nation walks on thin ice. I do have to ask from a historical context if Russia has ever broken this repeating cycle. Russia massive inequity and stagnant class mobility led to a communist uprising to overthrow the oligarchy. Soviet Russia was far from equal and was pulled into a similar oligarchy. The oligarchy seemed to fall apart and open up Russia to pursue democracy, but again... it seems to tragically follow the same historical beats. And I know I'm simplifying a lot of history in an attempt to hit the big-picture beats, but I look at Russia and I'm scared for my own country. Oligarchs are clearly something to be feared, and corruption spreads from them like disease. Perhaps I am only petrified by the scope of the world and how little my thoughts really mean.

@gent9358

2 жыл бұрын

This is what is called the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Generally, most governments, be they ultra-totalitarian, anarchic, absolute monarchy or neoliberal democracy, tend to return to a baseline, that being oligarchy, power controlled by a shrinking circle of unelected officials. One tends to forget that for the better part of history, democracy has been very rare, and is in fact the exception, rather than the rule. Hell, Feudalism was simply a very codified form of oligarchy and Capitalism justifies it with money rather than birthright. However, while I say all this, as a Russian, I will tell you a simple fact: if you are scared of oligarchy, and if your fellow countrymen fear it, then that means it cannot spread. Oligarchy sustains itself on apathy, that is why there was never a democracy in Russia, not even with Yeltsin (a can of worms that would extend my comment by several paragraphs, but the general gist being that he did not reduce civil or political rights because it allowed him to embezel either way, and putting in the effort was too much for the fat drunk ugly bastard), because the historical prescedent in Russia is that government isn't viewed as something you participate in, it is something far away, it's changes alien and uncontrollable, surviving through the changes of government rather than influencing it yourself, like very uncontrollable weather. People didn't care for the post-Yeltsin sham democracy, in their eyes, these were just "better times", like a year with good weather or a calm monsoon season, stable government and growing economy. The fact that it became repressive is seen by the silent majority as an annoying return to form, one that was inevitable by the nature of government, the weather has again become hostile, and it's time to learn new ways to survive.

@camelopardalis84

2 жыл бұрын

"when my own nation walks on thin ice" Um, what? Thin ice? The US? And you call yourself an "avid reader of history"? The US keeps proving over and over that it simply has no right to exist.

@rusalkin

2 жыл бұрын

sorry bad news but the US was founded as an oligarchy from the very start (mankind has not invented anything new in the last few thousand years, at least what concerns politics) unless of course you got to vote when the US decided to bomb some brown people into the stone age, when people say democracy they mean wealth

@hazardeur

2 жыл бұрын

you're scared? as an american? are you serious? the only thing you need to be scared about is WW3 with Russia and if that comes into effect we're ALL gone so it really doesn't matter. until then you're safe and sound overthere and can support your current and next governments to keep meddling in foreign affairs to further put the world out of balance time and time again

@fisticuffs12

2 жыл бұрын

I in no way mean to equate the two countries but hasn't there been research that suggests the actual decision making in the US isn't determined by the preferences of the people? And it could be argued it is, due to whose opinions end up mattering, a type of oligarchy itself. A very different one from something like Russia but still, not controlled by its people to a meaningful degree.

I always look forward to your videos Georg!

Thank you

A very clear analysis.

Amazing my dude

In ability I truly view you in the same vein as Herzog… Pls keeping making videos until you suck or lose interests 🙏

Great 👍

Good stuffy, triloggy

9:49 I had to pause and rewatch this part, had me nearly crying laughing. Here’s hoping we see footage of Vlad getting hot under the collar soon. What a bunch of children.

@paineoftheworld

2 жыл бұрын

Three times, well four because I clicked your timestamp, here.

@sprobablycancr4457

2 жыл бұрын

That's called upper body strength. Look it up.

@paineoftheworld

2 жыл бұрын

@@sprobablycancr4457 , watch closely, the pen remains in one piece, strength notwithstanding.

@therealbearminator

2 жыл бұрын

@@paineoftheworld I did the exact same thing haha

A superb trio of videos, which in my opinion even surpasses the consistently high quality of the rest of your oeuvre. My thanks for covering the topic of this loathsome tyrant. You have a remarkable ability to cut through the lies, the propaganda, the avarice and the hypocrisies that seem to be constantly shoved down all our throats with naked insolence. I've never failed to enjoy any of your presentations on any subject, although I've yet to see them all. My quest to do so continues apace. I know that whatever you come out with will not only be rational and well-researched, but entertaining as all hell. I mean, you managed to make a video about godforsaken tax-dodging justice-evading scum bastard child molesters entertaining enough to watch several times. That's the quality you bring to the proverbial table. Your clear commitment to transparency, justice, equity and the common man do you immense credit. You probably don't need me to tell you this, but you're a superlative filmmaker and, to my mind, a vision of what productions on KZread would look like in a better world. I regret that I'm not in a position to support you monetarily at the moment - but rest assured you'll be first in line whenever I am. Thanks for doing what you do. I hope you continue as long as you wish to. Don't order any pelmeni for a while, though.

Quality stuff

Thanks. If that wasn't depressing enough - now I've got the Art Attack theme stuck in my head as well.

that was definitely the theme tune to 'art attack' at the end lol

Pretty thoroughly put together. Nice work.

music at 0:21 is Тёмная ночь by Alexander Bogdanov

Well done, as always.

Nice work, and all totally spot on! Tops advice, don't accept any offers of cups of tea.

Glad you're not moving too far! Just found out you were in the Indy area. Safe travels. Use your gas wisely!

What's the music used in the background?

Can we have a 4th part to the trilogy about how the future might play out?

can you make a playlist of these putin videos

Terrific series on Putin, Georg. Thank you.

Good stuff man. Do the brabant killers and sinking the rainbow warrior next.

I really appreciated watching this whole series.

Brilliant

Really enjoyed these, like everything from George. Similar to Adam Curtis, which is a compliment.

I completely lost it at the public announcer over the throat singers, it's meme-worthy

fantastic intro close shot

Wow thank you. Damn well done. Content like yours is why I defend KZread to people that think it's just a mindless mine field of mindlessness.

What’s particularly frustrating about this period of Russian history, is that it’s all so unnecessary. The United States, and it’s political and economic ally’s, faced very real and fundamental idealogical differences with the Soviet Union. Differences that were irreconcilable and permanent, and that drove a very messy existential Cold War. That Cold War was only held in check by mutually assured destruction in the event of direct military confrontation. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fundamental economic idealogical divide evaporated. The United States, to a large extent, stopped caring about Russian politics, influence, etc., because Russia was no longer exporting an incompatible ideologically driven economic system. Paradoxically, it’s this very “irrelevance” of Russia (given its status as a minor economic power) that underpins Putin’s warped world-view. Putin can’t stand Russia’s diminished position yet, had he not risen to power, stifling Russian progress, they’d likely have re-emerged as a major economic power. In our current global economic system, all real power is derived from economic footprint. Want to field an effective and modern military, capable of real force projection? You need the economic ability to pay for it. Otherwise, you end up with Russia’s “all bling, no capability” military, dominated by prestige projects. There was another path that Russia could have taken. A path that could have led them all the way to EU and possibly even NATO membership. They could have become a dominant member of such organizations. As a modern, federal republic, they could have become a “super Germany”, a cooperative counter-balance to US power (not to mention China). This Russia would have been able to reassert effective power over their former Soviet and Imperial territories, not through tanks and military invasion, but through sheer economic mass. And those nations would probably accept such conditions gladly, given their historical ties. Hell, a reasonably democratic, economically prosperous Russia would likely find a number of those nations willing to voluntarily fold themselves into a broader union. This would be a Russia with the economic power, resource wealth, inter-continental territorial reach and military power to become a true global power. A power with true projection that neither the old Soviet Union, or the Russian Empire, ever possessed. It wouldn’t have been a linear process, but all the component seeds were there, and the economic growth potential was evident (as noted in this series). Instead, along came Putin, as documented beautifully in this series. A ruthless, clever, ambitious but, nevertheless, two-dimensional personality. His obvious frustration that Russia can’t escape its third-rate status, only continues to fuel behaviors that ensure that status is reenforced. There’s no idealogical foundation for Russia’s current policies, just the frustrated ambitions of an increasingly desperate old man who can’t see that it’s his own actions that have resulted in Russia’s stagnation. Now, with his military’s prestige destroyed, his actual military capability badly diminished, relations with his few ally’s frayed, and his nations economy in serious jeopardy, he’s also managed to do the unthinkable: he’s elevated his imagined “mortal enemy”, the United States (and its global military and political ally’s) to a new level of power. Some of this he’s been unwittingly doing for a decade. However, the majority of the damage he did to his (and Russia’s) position, he’s managed to accomplished in a breathtakingly short 60 days. In recorded history, Putin’s Ukrainian blunder will be remembered as one of the single worst decisions ever made by a head of state. One has to go back pretty far to find a single historical decision that so thoroughly and immediately failed to accomplish intended outcomes. But now is not the time for gloating or military adventurism by the west. Yes, it’s obvious that, in a conventional head-to-head confrontation, the US and NATO would decimate Russia. Putin is now acutely aware of this reality. He’s also sitting on the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world (with the second largest immediately deployable force of such weapons). Western foreign policy should be very, very careful right now, because Putin doesn’t have many cards left to play. The United States and NATO, for all of their extreme conventional military and economic might, cannot survive (let alone win) a nuclear confrontation with Russia. They should understand, as outlined above, all of Putin’s terrible decision making is tied back to his own fragile ego and identity, not an idealogical divide. He posses a doomsday button, and if his ego decides that this is “the end”, he’s more likely push that button than any Russian leader since Stalin.

@donnievance1942

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for one the best YT comments one rarely sees. You've given a big picture assessment. I agree with you across the board.

@donnievance1942

2 жыл бұрын

One thing I'd like to add. I think the West bears a great degree of responsibility for what has happened in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The missed opportunity for Russia that you describe was partly the result of the lack of enlightened leadership in the West to help Russia transition in the 90s to a pluralistic and just economy. Our own oligarchic political classes were happy to see Russian state assets devoured by predatory capitalist schemers. Business leaders in the US and elsewhere looked at Russia as a prospective regulation free opportunity for no-holds-barred laissez faire capitalist adventurism. Western political leaders stood silent while internal Russian predators gobbled up the assets of the Soviet state.

@sk-sm9sh

2 жыл бұрын

> faced very real and fundamental idealogical differences with the Soviet Union Same difference exists with Putin's regime. Putin sees NATO as existential threat because to his regime it really is. While NATO is not a threat to Russian nation - it is to Putin and his vision of the world where tzar style regime is free to reign their assumed geographical areas. And not because NATO would ever come to occupy Russia. It's because ideas spread - and idea of freedoms would bleed to Russia - and Russians would overthrow their tzar regime. Also because surrounding nations are understood as important sources of resources. Apart from having fertile soils and being breadbasket of the world - in 2010 Ukraine also found gas reserves in Donbas region. It could make Ukraine energy independent from Russia- something Putin fears the most as energy supply the most powerful card he holds.

@incognitomister1029

2 жыл бұрын

i think you really hit the nail on the head by saying that the USSR disbanded and it's almost like a new Russia emerged, an economically and ideologically seperate state from its former days. However, I don't think the situation is as simple as saying that everything wrong with the current state of affairs is due to one person and that Russia had the opportunity to become a "better version" of itself. In my opinion, the problem is systematic, there was no groundwork for that to happen because after the disbanding of the USSR sattelite states seperated, however, the ideological core remained in mainland Russia, so really, only the name changed. Nearly 80 years of totallitarianism, censorship, straight up terror used on the common population left huge scars that would forever remind the former union members of what Russia as a state stands for. I don't think former members would favour political ties to a state which brought so much hurt to their country, because even though a lot of things depend on economy, some virtues are left unturned for integrity reasons as well. Furthermore, it's quite an interesting position to be in - nothing really changed in your state, however, everyone automacially treats you like a commonly imagined "better version". The West can finally lower their suspicions and try to facilitate some economic ties, but really, the changes again are all in name. And I would argue that those affected by the USSR the most have a keener sense of the actual danger that could occur because they may be more able to see through Russian "political" bullshit (i would draw a parallel to the concept of doublethink).

@smakfu1375

2 жыл бұрын

@@incognitomister1029 This is a great comment that begins to fill in the obvious gaps that I left in my own comment. I somewhat (disingenuously) ignored any real discussion of the conditions that led to Putin’s rise. Just a few of those being the crushing exposure to the Asian economic crisis, a failure of the global economic community to help Russia develop properly integrated economic institutions, and a general failure to understand how deeply rooted the economic morass was, created by the former Soviet Union (especially post Khrushchev). In retrospect, Russia needed the support of something akin to the Marshall Plan, but instead was mostly left to deal with the stark humiliation of being a functionally destitute shell of a failed super-power. While not quite as extreme as Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, that humiliation, along with significant economic hardship, was a major theme for many Russians during the 90’s. One of the most dangerous individual and group psychological motivators is humiliation. This is especially true when combined with economic hardship. The United States policy towards Japan and West Germany, post WW2, was to not repeat the mistakes of the post WW1 environment, and instead provide support to rebuild failed nations, and to do so in a way that allowed them some dignity (including the very controversial, but nevertheless wise decision to allow Japan’s emperor to remain on his throne). But when the USSR collapsed, the west celebrated for a bit, patted themselves on the back, snickered at what a dilapidated economic mess the USSR had been, and then alternated between ignoring or exploiting the situation (in conjunction with internal opportunists). People wonder why a significant portion of the Russian population do (actually) support Putin’s actions, but a lot of Russians still harbor (even trans-generationally) a deep sense of resentment towards the west (though admittedly, a lot of it is currently fomented by propaganda). None of this excuses the actions of Putin or Russia today (anymore than the Treaty of Versailles excuses Hitler’s actions), but it is absolutely correct to note that we ignore human behavioral tendencies, and the conditions that create such behaviors, out our collective peril. We allowed what should have been a moment of triumph for the Russian people (throwing off the shackles of a deeply repressive and destructive regime) to regress into a situation of defeat, e.g. “they lost the Cold War” and economic hardship. In that context, it comes clearer as to how the situation was primed for Putin to come to power. That said, Putin is still a jerk.

Please you or someone make a backup channel and just upload the entirety of your channel

"my president ain't no hobbit..." Ok Kanye

Was Georg singing the Art Attack theme tune?!

“Perfidious Albion” has never rung so true.

since this is the end of the trilogy... we're about to get a 2 part prequel, right?

@tbk2010

2 жыл бұрын

I'm more afraid of the sequel.

Was that the art attack theme song at the end?

Astute, as ever.

Whats the name of the song at the beginning?

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I have a slightly different theory: he's dying. The swelling in his face, one might argue, is caused by Cancer therapies.

@bgtaplr6393

2 жыл бұрын

dream on ;)

@BobHoss4

2 жыл бұрын

Nah I'm pretty sure he looks like that because of all his face lifts. You can see little tag-like lipping in front of his ears, and multiple cosmetic surgeons say probably he's gotten like 3 procedures. In 2020 around November I remember there being talks about him getting a Parkinsons diagnosis. Its not a fatal disease but it could be part of his lashing out. A disease like that might make him feel like an old man losing control.. Granted, I haven't heard anything about his Parkinsons since then.

@lundsweden

2 жыл бұрын

@@BobHoss4 I don't think he has Parkinson's. The theory was based on the fact he doesn't swing one arm. It later was revealed this was part of his KGB training. Analysis of other top Russian politicians also walked with a similar gait.

Brilliant takedown of a vile, seedy little man.

@leeboy2k1

2 жыл бұрын

I'm sure the East is quaking in their boots at this puffpiece.

@stephenwalker2924

2 жыл бұрын

@@leeboy2k1 " Noun. puff piece (plural puff pieces) A journalistic form of puffery; an article or story of exaggerating praise that often ignores or downplays opposing viewpoints or evidence to the contrary." And it's two words not one. Just for future note, of course.

@Simon-gc6uf

2 жыл бұрын

As opposed to who? Biden? Macron? Johnson? Keep bleating sheep. You just do what you are told and think what you are told to think.

@zephyr8072

2 жыл бұрын

Yep the Kremlin Gremlins are malding.

Why are Adidas track suits so popular in former Soviet republics?

@YanoshRagauld

2 жыл бұрын

Hahahaha. Brilliant comment. So so true too.

Was that the Art Attack theme tune?