Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits an agricultural exhibition at Russia's Exhibition Centre in Moscow October 11, 2008. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA)
‘Once a Spy, Always a Spy’ -- Daniel Wiser, Washington Free Beacon
How Putin's KGB past shapes his autocratic rule
It was January of 1990, and a middle-aged, overweight Vladimir Putin was depressed.
Working as a paper-pushing KGB intelligence officer in Dresden, Germany, Putin spent most of his time attempting to recruit undercover foreign agents and writing reports. News from back home in the Soviet Union caused great concern.
Mikhail Gorbachev had ascended to the head of the Communist Party and was pushing liberalizing policies, and by 1989 the KGB leadership had begun to back some of his reforms. Hundreds of thousands protested in the streets of Communist East Germany for reunification—culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall in November.
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My Comment: I am surprised that it is only now that attention is being focused on Putin's past .... what makes him tick, his background, the events that shaped who and what he is today. I say good luck to this exercise .... it is not going to be easy. On a side note .... here is an entertaining photo gallery of Putin .... 43 Photos That Show Vladimir Putin Doesn't Mess Around (Business Insider)
5 comments:
One thing you can gather from the pictures is that he suffers form "Captain Kirk Syndrome" when it comes to his shirt.
I am impressed by the tagging of animals and conservation assistance, rather than killing them. Those are not the actions of a brutish man. Again I feel this man is severely underestimated and over-vilified in the West.
Black Knight .... I have always been a critic of Putin. But among my family, friends, and former colleagues (this is a very large circle) .... I can honestly say that I am the only critic. When you hear reports that his popularity among Russians is 80% .... this is probably true. And yes .... "he is severely underestimated and over-vilified in the West".
Black Knight,
"Those are not the actions of a brutish man."
Well not trying to be too harsh, but remember Hitler was an artist, vegetarian, and loved animals. That all worked fairly badly in the end.
So true about Hitler.
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