What would a regime change in Russia look like?
Most experts believe that a regime change in Russia is not even within the realm of possibility. That creates a very serious conundrum. The west cannot defeat Vladimir Putin in Ukraine without removing him from office – and he cannot be removed from office. Or can he?
There is one scenario that IS possible, but it may not produce good results.
There are an increasing number of reports that Putin is a very sick man. According to insiders he suffers from both Parkinson’s Disease and abdominal cancer that requires serious surgery. According to the rumors, the surgery will be performed sometime after Russia’s May 9th Victory Day celebration.
Since this is Russia, an official announcement can often vary from the real situation. The official view is that Putin will be under anesthesia for a couple of hours. During that time, Security boss Nikolai Patrushev will keep watch in the Kremlin.
But will Putin survive the surgery? Based on the diagnosis of his condition and his age, the odds are in his favor. But we are talking about Russia, where intrigue and political assassinations are the mainstays of political life. What if this is a golden opportunity for a palace coup? What if there are people around Putin who would want him dead.
This is not the first time that a Russian despot was done in by his “friends.” It was officially reported that Joseph Stalin died of a stroke. It was later revealed that the “stroke” was the result of a poison administered by the head of the KGB, Lavrentiy Beria – who was on Stalin’s execution list. The murder gains some credibility since no doctors were summoned when Stalin fell seriously ill. There are also other theories.
But taking Putin out of power – one way or the other – does not guarantee positive results. Remember that guy I mentioned above — Nikolai Patrushev? (pictured above with Putin) Most folks will never have heard of him – even people who follow Russia from a distance. But those who know him do not say nice things about him.
First, we must understand that Patrushev is head of the Security Council of Russia. Rising through the ranks, Patrushev is a trained killer – one-on-one or mass murder. He has a heartless disregard for human life. He rose in the ranks of Russia’s “murder inc.” at the same time as Putin was rising in the old KGB.
Many allege that Patrushev is even more ruthless and more obsessed than Putin. He was one of the principals that has pushed for the invasion of Ukraine. It is even claimed that it is Patrushev who has been feeding Putin all those stories about Nazis in Ukraine – and Russian-speaking people being oppressed.
Of course, all of this is just rumors and conspiracy theories – and yet not entirely out of the realm of possibility. So, what if Putin’s surgery is successful and he returns to his office in the Kremlin? And what if the West’s mission creep in Ukraine fails to defeat Putin? And what if the only way left to win the war in Ukraine requires that Putin be removed? What then?
That is when war with Russia itself may be the only option left? Perhaps the only way to avoid a real war between NATO and Russia would be a credible – repeat credible – threat of such a war. Turn the tables on Putin. Intimidate him. Call his bluff. That just might motivate those closest to Putin to see the wisdom of his removal from office – which, in the Russian tradition, would mean death.
This three-part series began with the argument that war with Russia may be the only way to stop his aggressive plans. If the tide of battle moves against Ukraine – and all the current mission creep has failed – what should the West do? I would like to hear from readers on that point.
So, there ‘tis.
Is it possible he’ll never wake up from surgery?
Anything is possible in Larry-world. Pigs can even fly…..Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…..Joe.
Be careful looking up. A bird might shit on your face
Another most creative voice of experience hath spoken. Hope your big mouth was shut.
We really need to improve public education.
If you represent the results of public education, I couldn’t agree more.
Teddy, you ability to judge is highly suspect. Probably just a lonely, bitter, curmudgeonly half with a ged.
The conservative people try. But democrats want to teach kids how to be queer and that it’s shameful to be white. Busted!!!
“Teach people to be queer.,” as if sexual orientation is learned. What a moron. Who taught you? Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse. I’m betting on the mouse. You’re so obsessed with it. It’s in so many if your posts Just come out of the closet already and let your freak flag fly. Be all the catcher you know you can be. At least your wife can know why she’s been so awfully disappointed all these years
You are still not getting this. Some homosexuals are that way genetically, others are created by their environment. That is a fact. There are dozens of examples in the current body of news.
The gay community knows this, apparently you don’t know anyone in that community.
From what I’ve seen of your responses Benny boy, I’d say that your ability to judge doesn’t exist except in your own perverted leftist mind. Unlike you, I’m far from lonely,nor am I bitter, and haven’t reached the curmudgeon state yet. If you ever come up with a logical and honest answer to anything that doesn’t reek of leftist BS, don’t bother to let me know. I usually only read your tripe when I’m bored and need a good laugh anyway.
Well then, you can just reteach all those gays to be heterosexual and the troglodytes round here will say: mission accomplished.
There is no single gene for being gay. It’s a cacophony of genes, environment, experiences. It happens in every country, religion, race in the world. OzK, a little more in the Catholic Church. But the gene part is just a wink; like some people are predisposed to like to try new things, others reticent.
As is the genetic relationship to our experiences It’s far too complex to conclude nature vs. nurture. Sorry.
There is little evidence that gay exposure causes gayness. Otherwise the Catholic Church would be the gay super spreader to the stars. It’s a fear fest.
Yes, Joe, it’s nature and nurture. But it’s never just Nature just as it’s never just nurture. It’s very complex and unique to each individual. There is no gay Jean, there is no gay training school, there’s just a very complex relationship between nature and nurture. It happens in every culture all across the globe. There is no reason to be afraid that you will catch being gay, that you could be brainwashed into being gay, or that it’s a learned art. That’s just for your talking
But that’s not the point. The dumbshit said “democrats want to teach people to be queer” and you know that’s pure bullshit on many levels. You can’t teach people to have a sexual orientation. And democrats aren’t doing it anyway.
Reminds me how when I started high school in 1973, being gay was considered a mental disease. They can be cured! It’s a mental disease. Now it’s all about some sort of strange mind control, pedophilia, and human trafficking. I’m just not sure where these people are coming from.
Some things remain the same irrational back biting, quarreling, and unintelligible put downs. This all while our social landscape is crumbling under your noses.
Not one comment regarding Larry’s premonitions about Putin, the Kremlin’s palace intrigue, a supposed heir apparent worse than Putin on his worst day, The presumption Larry makes is Ukraine inevitably not going to prevail. Even with military backing and humanitarian aid from supporting countries in the West, Larry predicts another fight for a country’s keeping a Democratic government.
All democratic free countries have a real and existential threat in Putin and Russia’s nuclear arsenal. His hatred runs deep for EU states and especially the US, which is us.
After using Victory Day for propaganda spin convincing Russians his lies are truth and his actions in Ukraine ridding Jewish Nazism at every level. He will equate that victory with Ukraine and agitate for victory in Ukraine at any cost justified.
Larry’s grand finale in his Russian Trilogy is that President Biden is at fault for Ukraine’s ruin and it all began during Obama’s two term presidency. Biden, as VP, had to have mishandled negotiations with Ukraine.
With Larry, Democrats are the root of all evil and the cause of every economic downturn, poor jobs number, Stock Market drop, GDP decline, and Elon Musk’s takeover of twitter. In Larry’s opinion commentary Biden and the Democrats are not now and never have been competent leading this country.
On the other hand, had Trump actually legally won the majority vote, which the facts recorded reveal in both 2016 and 2020 he never received, and assumed a second term. Considering what has been happening in the nation and the world since 2020, and former President Trump’s trajectory in office at election time. Does anyone believe this country, Ukraine, and the EU would be in a better situation? How about all of them and is in the same condition? A majority is agreed the world is in a worse place now still fighting COVID, Russia invading Ukraine upset the world stage economy. and human suffering worldwide has not abated.
Larry “liked Trump policy” but disliked the man’s style.
Trump’s character, style, behavior, with his habit of not being truthful. Lost him his credibility among world leaders and weak with Putin.
What you have here, Larry, is a huge elephant in the room you and your Republicans weirdly dance around trying to ignore it. The COVID pandemic hit our world harder and more deeply than conservatives and the right are able to see, admit as a giant factor, and do anything restorative .
Democrats and Republicans are at loggerheads to an extent that actual governing bi-partisan appears at a standstill.
Republicans seem like they would rather wound the nation with objecting to Biden through and through. Cancerous venomous hatred infects thinking and moral judgement. Fitness for office is questionable.
Denial on all things virus related , vaccination , boosters. testing, education. The elephant is not going away.
Pandemic denial of its consequences has dire consequences of its own.
Playing fantasy games with “what if” scenarios maybe an amusing distraction. But, none of it comes off productive for instructive purposes.
Such theories are fodder some use in creating more far fetched conspiracy theories. We have enough of those .
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Ac … At first I thought you were criticizing those who were not paying attention tot he commentary but rather engaging in childish name-calling and insults. On a couple occasions, I have admonished people for not dealing with the commentaries, but just venting their spleens. later in your response, you seems to point your criticism at me — but at least you were on point. What you seem to see as meaningless conspiracy theories, I see as the type of potential scenarios the intel community engages in. There is a lot of folks hoping to see Putin go, but I bet not many who are aware of his potential successor. I should also clarify a couple of misimpression you have. Yes, I have been critical of the Trump personality, BUT I do not contend that it is benign. I think it is a problem that affects policy. And it is not just personality. If you have followed my writings, you know that I have disagreed some of his policies. While I blame Biden for surrendering in Afghanistan, i was critical of Trump negotiating with the Taliban to achieve a withdrawal. But the buck stops on Biden’s desk because he was not bound by anything Trump said or did — not even the alleged agreement and timetable. I disagreed with Trump’s treatment of the Kurds. While it is not policy, but influences policy, I have disagreed with Trump’s attacks on McConnell, AG Barr and others. And you should know that I have repeatedly written that Trump is very unlikely to get my vote in the GOP primary, if he runs. I have also written that I think his obsession with the 2020 election is useless. I wrote that at the time of the vote of the Electoral College. Once they voted it was over and Trump and the GOP should look forward … focus on the Democrat polices and results and what the GOP would do if empowered.
You’re getting there Larry. Soon you will put it all together and conclude Trump is bad for America. and Trumpism is worse. You ask will the successor to Putin be worse. One word for Trump’s successor being worse: DeSanctimonious.