Putin's War Exposes His Declining Power and Strategic Missteps, Says Former Speechwriter
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Abbas Gallyamov worked as a speechwriter for Putin for 3 years and found him to be rational and patient in meetings. However, Putin is a hypocrite who believes rules don't apply to him.
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Putin is not driven by a desire to restore the Soviet Union, but escalates conflicts abroad to strengthen his domestic political standing when it weakens.
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Putin disastrously misjudged Ukraine's preparedness for war and the capability of Russia's hollowed-out institutions filled with lies and corruption.
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Putin escalated the war to boost his declining popularity ahead of elections, but military failures have exposed his weakness and increased instability.
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If Putin appoints a successor to change course, it could allow him to step down and avoid revolution. But his archaic rule based on fear means perceived weakness may doom him.