@tangs - power seems to be an irresistible temptation to some men to aggrandize themselves, enrich themselves, fill their empty hearts with pride in their achievement by seeing themselves 'reflected' in the adoration of the masses. They are deeply flawed humans with all kinds of negative psychological traits, yet they manage to persuade, enchant, coerce their fellows to let them be, let them take the leadership. They often get to power making 'unholy' alliances with thugs (Hitler recruited his first 'gangs' from prisons, who he took along to demonstrations by his opposition and eventually, with their help, he managed to grab power from a legitimate government).
Putin didn't have to do this, but he was there at the very end of the Communist empire, which he obviously adored. He grew up in it, honed his skills as secret agent in - even ratted on his class mates to the KGB - made a meteoric rise when quite young.
He probably did have a grievance against the West, but didn't let it show. In turn the former Communist (speak Russian-) dominated countries were in a funk of never-ever wanting to be Communist/Russian again, hence countries like Poland were happy to station the outmoded weaponry which the Americans left in Germany - on their Eastern border, which the Russians must have viewed as a provocation.
Putin made a number of speeches early in his career, where he clearly announced his intention to re-capture former Communist territory, not naming the Ukraine, but it was obvious, that he was going to 'make Russia great again' again. Such language has appeal and probably won him Russian hearts. He also allowed religion back into the Russian people's lives - hence he was seen by many Russians as a good guy and people may not have noticed, or simply overlooked the fact, that he and his buddies enriched himself by virtue of privatising industries which were formerly owned by all, i.e. the State.
What he couldn't stand later on was the fact, that Western 'culture' (such as it is, I am no fan either) seduced the youth of his country, by virtue of a similar language - which 'seeped' across the border from Ukraine; Russians understand Ukrainians and vice versa. It seduced them not just to all the silliness we have 'thunk' up, but also to the ideas of democracy: - uprisings, whisperings of which he fought tooth and nail and poison cup within Russia - his deceased or, if lucky, incarcerated, democratic 'enemies' are a legion now. It taught the 'people' to keep on keeping 'mum' - to shut up.
But the seduction from across the border kept coming by air, onto TV sets, onto mobile phones, maybe even travel - above all to the young.
He had to stop that and also he had to achieve his goal of being a Great Man (in the nature of ancient Czardom) before he became too old to do that.
So he unleashed a totally unnecessary war, which is sure to have thrown his country back by at least one generation, because no-one is going to help Russia back on its feet, whereas the West will think up another Marshall Plan - to help Ukraine, possibly with an eye on its natural treasures, mineral wealth, etc.
When will, we, humanity, develop an instinct for a leader who carries the deadly poison of war in his veins and shun him (sorry guys, it's been mostly a male trait, so far
), and lock him up in a place for the criminally insane?
Taurisk
