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I had exactly that response when I first heard Putin speak, too, and for years now the contrast between his erudition and calmness, and the fundamental falsity of our own political class, has been glaring.

My guess is that he responded to Corona the way he did because he'd been temporarily outmaneuvered. Had he taken Lukashenko's openly belligerent path of opposition, the Atlantacists within his government would have eaten him alive. Instead, he played along, maintained power, gave the liberals rope with which to hang themselves; but notably, refused to implement any federal mandates, leaving things in the hands of local administrators ... and, I suspect, relying on the natural distrust towards authority of the Russian national character. From what I've heard, compliance in the liberal cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg was low; covidianism is a thing of the past; and the liberal third column now seems to have utterly discredited itself.

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Well said, quite eloquent. I admit I have not done copious research into whether or not Putin mandated any "vaccination" -- I've heard both that he did, and that he did not. I think it's entirely possible that the response from the fellow below is accurate, or simply that like millions, billions of other people, Putin was initially frightened and sought to do what seemed best at the time. I don't know, but I have watched Putin speak on several occasions and was also impressed with his "way," and how very avuncular he comes off, while being very astute and unassuming. I was also impressed with the Syrian president, al-Assad, hearing him for the first time, not just reading about him, perhaps a couple or three weeks ago... Erudite, very rational, knowledgeable, even wise-- a leader, but no used-car salesman! We Americans are being cheated and it's time we had some good leadership again... I say David E. Martin for Prez.

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Well the thing is, you know, that being an Arab country and back then all the fuss and commotion about Arab women and warring 'tribes' or religion factions: Shia or Sunni, made women a very significant part of the narrative.

So when you see Assad and his wife together and she's quite beautiful and beautifully dressed and they both comport themselves very well - it impresses.

And the whole of Syria was like that. It led the Arab nations. Was a powerhouse and a leading country for cultural development, women's education, emancipation, everything.

I believe it is virtually a failed State now with Assad grimly hanging on. Though I haven't looked to see and learn anything in recent years at all I'm sorry to have to say.

It is a still living memorial to the total diabolic machinations of the American government. I think.

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