pcr speaks about the putin who started out well but seems to have petered out;

Will Putin Fight or Surrender?

Paul Craig Roberts

In his meeting the other day with the Russian Defense Ministry Board, Putin discussed the accomplishments of the past year and measures needed to ensure Russia’s security from Washington’s aspirations for world dominance. “We see the US administration and the collective West relentlessly trying to preserve their dominance, pushing their rules on the global community and manipulating them as they see fit.”  Washington, Putin said, is engaged “in an effort to weaken our country and inflict a strategic defeat.”  

That is true, but why is Putin helping Washington succeed?  Putin complains about the growing instability and violence in the Middle East.  Does he realize that he contributed to it by withdrawing Russia’s defense of Syria?  Did Putin forget “seven countries in five years”?  Did Putin forget “Greater Israel”? Did Putin forget Turkey’s ambition against the Kurds?

Putin complains about the West’s participation with Ukraine in the conflict with Russia.  Why did Putin make this possible by dragging out a limited military operation for 3 years?  How could Putin fail to understand that Washington would test the intervention waters step by step to see if there are any real red lines.  The absence of red lines has reached the point of Washington and NATO firing missiles into Russia, and Putin, despite his warnings to the West, retaliates only against Ukraine.  Indeed, Putin’s retaliations are measures that should have been conducted on the first day of Russia’s intervention in Donbas.  Putin has prevented Russian military action that would have made it impossible for Kiev to continue the conflict. What purpose is served by dragging out the conflict? Certainly not the preservation of lives.........more............