"Shrewdness
is not wisdom. Ostentatious public toughness is not strength. And even
clever short-term tactics are not long-term strategies.
"Yes,
Vladimir Putin has Ukraine and the West in a tough spot. He might win
some short-term victories. But he has created circumstances that could
lead to his undoing — as long as the democracies stay focused and
united. [snip]
"... [I]t’s not outlandish to hope that Russian citizens, including some among
its elites, will eventually tire of the isolation bred by their leader’s
misadventures and misjudgments — especially if he drags his country
into a large and costly land war. If the West remains patient and
determined, Putin could yet reap the whirlwind at home." -- E.J. Dionne, Jr., writing in the Washington Post prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier today. He recounts the many ways Russian thug Putin has unintentionally rallied his enemies, rather than weakened and divided them. Not very "genius" or "savvy."
(Cartoon: Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune)
