Well, you acknowledged the Russian setbacks and that Russia, based on most indexes one can find on-line, does regularly rank slightly worse than Ukraine on the list of most corrupt countries. So maybe we are kind of in agreement. IMO the setbacks and corruption are related.
Systemic corruption rots, weakens, and destroys from within. It is one thing that can explain, at least in part, the Russian setbacks, incompetence, brutality and war crimes. From the surprising defeat of Russian forces on the outskirts of Kyiv, the massacre of civilians in Bucha, looting, the sinking of the Black Sea flagship, Multiple General officers killed, problems with encrypted radios, logistical problems, maintenance problems, some units refusing to fight, failure to achieve air superiority, etc.
Corruption can play a role in all the above. If corruption is not the Russian Federations underlying problem what, in your opinion, is?
On a related note, I wonder if Putin will survive this. In a democracy when things go badly enough a leader generally loses an election. In an authoritarian regime when things go badly enough a leader may lose his life. An interesting question is, what comes after Putin?
@MOS:96B2P
Yes, as I have already stipulated, corruption appears to be endemic to that corner of Europe, but again I contend that it would be a mistake IMO to attribute its negative aspects to uniquely just the Russian side of the equation.
As to whether, corruption alone should be attributed to the early set backs you listed, your guess is as good as mine. Although, given the amount of territorial gains Russia has made since those early days, they have either found religion and corruption is no longer a factor, or maybe it was not much of a factor to start with.
Those same set-backs could also have simply been poor strategic and tactical planning in the early stages of the conflict, thus explaining the sacking of the overall General in charge of the operation and subsequent change in Russian fortunes that followed.
After all these set backs are known to happen in war. The British didn’t pack it in when the Hood was sunk, and when just over 6,000 predominantly Canadian soldiers were put ashore in Dieppe during Operation Jubilee and within ten hours, 3,623 of the 6,086 men who landed had been killed, wounded or became POW’s and the RAF lost 106 aircraft against 48 German losses, while the Royal Navy lost 33 landing craft and a destroyer, I do not believe the reason given was the Canadian Army was rife with corruption.
As to Putin’s survival, I’m not sure on what basis you are considering his future political fortunes, but currently amongst the Russian population,
his approval rating stands at 83% and 69% of the population think the country is moving in the right direction. Russian forces as I have noted control 20% of Ukraine’s landmass and of its GDP. Russia been raking in more oil income now than it was before the conflict started, the rouble is as strong as it has ever been, their inflation rate is tracking downward from what it was at the start of the conflict and they are currently cutting interests rates, there have not been any reports that they are experiencing any energy or food shortages and the government has said that a general mobilization of the population is not planned.
Meanwhile, here in the West, only 24% of Americans think their country is headed in the right direction. Biden is out trying to curry favour with such flourishing democracies as Venezuela, Iran and Saudi Arabia to have them pump more oil while energy costs are continuing to shoot up in all NATO countries and Europe is confronting a probable energy shortage to heat homes and keep businesses open this coming winter. Meanwhile the head of the EU saying their plan to resolve this is that if it comes to that, will be that Brussels is putting together a plan
to decide what business to give natural gas to down the road. Food shortages are starting to pop up, while inflation is also ramping up, as are interest rates, talk of a looming recession is becoming more common in MSM and overall, virtually all Western leaders are viewed unfavourably by their citizens.
Johnson – Great Britain – Approval 27%
Rutte – Netherlands – Approval 29%
Fiala – Czech Republic – Approval 29%
Store – Norway – Approval 30%
Scholz – Germany – Approval 33%
Nehammer – Austria – Approval 34%
Macron – France – Approval 35%
Duda – Poland – Approval 37%
Biden – U.S.A. – Approval 38%
Sanchez – Spain – Approval 38%
Trudeau – Canada – Approval 42%
De Croo – Belgium – Approval 45%
Draghi – Italy – Approval 51%
Andersson – Sweden – Approval 55%
Putin – Russia – Approval 83%
So, bottom line I don’t think Putin is looking over his shoulder as much as his Western counter-parts are.
Sources:
Global Leader Approval Ratings (morningconsult.com)
Putin’s Approval Rating Jumps After Invasion, Poll Shows (wsj.com)
Right Direction or Wrong Track - Rasmussen Reports®
Cheers!
