Quote Originally Posted by SouthernDukie View Post
I guess I'm drawing a distinction between a "rational thinking" nut-job and a complete nut-job. One is guided by some weird principle they think is everything. The other is guided by nothing and might do anything.
Quote Originally Posted by budwom View Post
OK, I can see that. He's just not going to be able to re-grab all the old Soviet republics...
That was my original point. He is rationale and strategic in pursuit of his goal, which we may all view as an irrational one. He clearly understands power dynamics, the power of (mis)information and has a vision for Russia we might not agree with but it's a vision. He is not an uncalculating or shoot-from-the-hip type of guy. Those guys are dangerous in their own way but Putin is strategic. That's more dangerous, methinks.