2) As for the Soviet Union having 200-300 political prisoners, can I assume that you mean near the end of the USSR under Gorbachev? - Yes.
Stalin's political prisoners numbered in the millions - Yes, tens of millions.
I venture even under Brezhnev there would have been tens of thousands - no. Most people were too scared to protest, so most kept their mouths shut or whispered in the kitchen, listened to Voice of America at 2 am when jamming stopped, and only several hundred courageous souls dared to openly protest, for which they were promptly jailed. By then even Ukrainian and Baltic armed resistance was completely destroyed.
3) I was not making Russia my role model. My comparison to Russia was not to make Russia look good, but to say that things are getting bad here. Thank you, I am appalled when people jump on supporting Putin just because he is not a fan of transgender transition of teens. Hitler wasn't a fan of it either - just saying.
4) - This is off topic, but as we are talking about Russia - what do they hope to achieve in Ukraine? Total victory and taking over the country? Or holding on to what they have and leaving the rest of Ukraine "Finlandized" - neutral? Finally, do you think, given the weakened state of the United States and much of the West, will they attempt to take over the Baltic states?
This is way beyond a post here, I can write a long article about it. Anne Appelbaum could be a good source for you in terms of global strategic vision, another great source is Christo Grosev, Bulgarian investigative journalist who uncovered multiple Kremlin crimes mostly by using public sources and who had to flee Europe because security agencies told him that they can't guarantee his life. Putin's goals and hopes have changed over 2.5 years. Remember, his primary goal is to stay in power. Whatever adds to his idea of grandeur and admiration of the world is great, too. Remember, he is not a strategist, he is a tactician, kinda like a robber who broke into the department store and is trying to figure out how much more he can grab and get away with. Russian ruling class is really more like one giant El Salvadorian drug cartel, without any moral boundaries or restraints.
Judging by what is being said by him and his propaganda machine recently, they are bluffing to keep control of the occupied territories. They are constantly maneuvering between China, Iran and any terrorist organization in the world, regardless of their religious or political affiliation. Everything goes. If they could, they would restore USSR and subordinate regimes of Eastern Europe - just like in 1953 before Stalin's death.
If they feel weakness, they will attack. Did you hear about recently thwarted assassination attempts throughout Europe?
2) As for the Soviet Union having 200-300 political prisoners, can I assume that you mean near the end of the USSR under Gorbachev? - Yes.
Stalin's political prisoners numbered in the millions - Yes, tens of millions.
I venture even under Brezhnev there would have been tens of thousands - no. Most people were too scared to protest, so most kept their mouths shut or whispered in the kitchen, listened to Voice of America at 2 am when jamming stopped, and only several hundred courageous souls dared to openly protest, for which they were promptly jailed. By then even Ukrainian and Baltic armed resistance was completely destroyed.
3) I was not making Russia my role model. My comparison to Russia was not to make Russia look good, but to say that things are getting bad here. Thank you, I am appalled when people jump on supporting Putin just because he is not a fan of transgender transition of teens. Hitler wasn't a fan of it either - just saying.
4) - This is off topic, but as we are talking about Russia - what do they hope to achieve in Ukraine? Total victory and taking over the country? Or holding on to what they have and leaving the rest of Ukraine "Finlandized" - neutral? Finally, do you think, given the weakened state of the United States and much of the West, will they attempt to take over the Baltic states?
This is way beyond a post here, I can write a long article about it. Anne Appelbaum could be a good source for you in terms of global strategic vision, another great source is Christo Grosev, Bulgarian investigative journalist who uncovered multiple Kremlin crimes mostly by using public sources and who had to flee Europe because security agencies told him that they can't guarantee his life. Putin's goals and hopes have changed over 2.5 years. Remember, his primary goal is to stay in power. Whatever adds to his idea of grandeur and admiration of the world is great, too. Remember, he is not a strategist, he is a tactician, kinda like a robber who broke into the department store and is trying to figure out how much more he can grab and get away with. Russian ruling class is really more like one giant El Salvadorian drug cartel, without any moral boundaries or restraints.
Judging by what is being said by him and his propaganda machine recently, they are bluffing to keep control of the occupied territories. They are constantly maneuvering between China, Iran and any terrorist organization in the world, regardless of their religious or political affiliation. Everything goes. If they could, they would restore USSR and subordinate regimes of Eastern Europe - just like in 1953 before Stalin's death.
If they feel weakness, they will attack. Did you hear about recently thwarted assassination attempts throughout Europe?