Well, it is a dire threat when you behave like he does. If he was a sane person though, and actually tired to improve the quality of life for his people instead of just making the top echelon rich, there would be no concern for NATO, would there? I'm actually kind asking that question. I know there is always power to be gained from acting like a dick occasionally, but in the long run, or even in the short run, wouldn't it make more sense to be focused on the economy and making his country better for all, than getting caught up in displays of power and nationalism? Would NATO in his backyard prevent him from inking good trade deals, or making things better in Russia? Or would it really just prevent him from lining his own pockets, solidifying his own political power and future, and prevent him from the illusion of glory of a bigger 'stronger' state, like the USSR he seems to be so fond of.
When your a corrupt leader, a leader that technically shouldn't even be in power (correct me if I'm wrong, but he basically laughed in the face of laws that said he was ineligible to be president again when he ran again last time, and there was talk of election rigging as well) then organizations like NATO that foster open governments and such, are going to seem like a threat.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to paint NATO as a shinning beacon of light and 'freedom', anyone who has followed my postings know I attack the west as well. But this is starting to feel like real cold war type shiznit, and there is definitely a right and wrong here right now.
Course in geopolitics, right and wrong has about as much importance as a hill of beans I guess. Still, I often wonder, in this highly tied and nuanced economic world we have right now, why leaders still want to go the old model of pissing everyone off and taking by force, when foten it see,s like you can earn so much more through cooperation.
Again, I think a lot of it has to do with securing ones own political power, rather than the improvement of your country as whole. And, leaders like Putin do seem to be concerned with the somewhat outdated and largely immeasurable image of power on the world stage.
Eh, I'm not explaining it the best, and I'm talking in circles now.
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