So, a couple of thoughts on why Russia even does this. We've sort of accepted that they do it "because Russia," but that's not enough. /1
There was a time when post-Communist Russia and the West were, if not friends, at least not enemies. Putin, a man of the Soviet system, seemed to be part of that for a time. /2
Whether he was always a just a KGB stooge, or made a run at being a more democratic leader and failed is irrelevant. This is now a Soviet mafia state. /3
Putin's regime is predicated on the sore nerve of Russia's sense of victimhood and insecurity - which is also a way Russia absolves itself of its Soviet-era crimes against its neighbors. /4
To this end, Putin and his Soviet Men in the power ministries *must* identify the West as the enemy, especially now that the Russian people have developed a taste for, and access to, things Western. /5
This takes us by surprise in the West, because when the Soviet Union collapsed, we stopped caring. We cut our military and slashed our nuclear inventory. /6
We also screwed up: Bill Clinton, especially, by pressing rapid NATO expansion, played into the hands of Russian nationalists. But still, NATO cannot invade Russia. And doesn't care to. /7
It is, perhaps more than anything, the fact that we stopped being so concerned about Russia that offended Putin and his coterie so much. But there is more to this than bruised ego. /8
Putin, in order to keep his regime afloat and legit in the eyes of his people and the world, has to prove that the democracies are no better than Russia and not a model to emulate. /9
So, the Russians have attempted to smear all of the democracies, as a way of showing that Russia's mafia is no worse than any other. /10
Always remember that the thing Putin fears the most, maybe even more than nuclear war, is being deposed by his own people. He will attack every form of democratic government to forestall that possibility. Including, first and foremost, ours. /11x
