Ukraine quagmire: Putin's perverted vision

ALL dictators have a shortcoming; they surround themselves with sycophants who reinforce the dictator's perverted view of the world. This is the only way one could explain Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Putin's parallel universe is based on his oft-repeated assertion that the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 was "the major political blunder" of the 20th century. The inference is that the leaders of the Soviet Union were a bunch of incompetents who failed to take appropriate measures to maintain the Union. Putin's mission accordingly is to correct the blunder and through his resolute leadership, revive the Soviet Union. In other words, Putin is trying to reverse the outcome of the Cold War.