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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Putin gets away with whatever he wants | Putin gets away with whatever he wants |
| (2 months later) | |
| There is another hypothesis about President Putin’s actions (Bungling agents leave Putin exposed in the global spotlight, 5 October). He is an old security agent himself and has been very successful in a complex environment. Isn’t it better to assume his behaviour is deliberate, rather than that he’s losing his touch? His recent actions, for example in Syria and the UK, demonstrate that he can get away with whatever he wants. | There is another hypothesis about President Putin’s actions (Bungling agents leave Putin exposed in the global spotlight, 5 October). He is an old security agent himself and has been very successful in a complex environment. Isn’t it better to assume his behaviour is deliberate, rather than that he’s losing his touch? His recent actions, for example in Syria and the UK, demonstrate that he can get away with whatever he wants. |
| The Skripal case sends a message to possible opponents that they can never escape the Kremlin wherever they go, in a way that previous executions might not have done. Even this “bungled” operation shows that he can interfere with international agencies however he wants, so his influence could have had an impact in enhancing his preferred candidate in elections and other democratic processes. None of this will do him any harm at home. Maybe we should look more closely at his enablers in our own countries and ask whether taking Russian money to support their own personal interests is not in itself weakening democratic societies on behalf of a hostile foreign government.Michael PeelAxbridge, Somerset | The Skripal case sends a message to possible opponents that they can never escape the Kremlin wherever they go, in a way that previous executions might not have done. Even this “bungled” operation shows that he can interfere with international agencies however he wants, so his influence could have had an impact in enhancing his preferred candidate in elections and other democratic processes. None of this will do him any harm at home. Maybe we should look more closely at his enablers in our own countries and ask whether taking Russian money to support their own personal interests is not in itself weakening democratic societies on behalf of a hostile foreign government.Michael PeelAxbridge, Somerset |
| • Putin’s manipulation of the US presidential election and the Brexit referendum must have afforded him much satisfaction, enough to sit back and watch the resulting mayhem. As he smiles and shrugs it is as if he felt he deserved a bit of relaxation – after all, why bother lifting a finger when nationalist populism spreads its poison across the world without him having to? It’s unlikely that his self-esteem is damaged, and the deplorable outcome of Brexit will hardly look to him like a “major setback” (Putin’s plan to divide Europe is backfiring, 10 October). The irony for Britain is the delight taken by the rightwing wreckers led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ukip and co as they promote the deluded vision of regression they like to call “patriotism”. Europe must not be divided.Carolyn KirtonAberdeen | • Putin’s manipulation of the US presidential election and the Brexit referendum must have afforded him much satisfaction, enough to sit back and watch the resulting mayhem. As he smiles and shrugs it is as if he felt he deserved a bit of relaxation – after all, why bother lifting a finger when nationalist populism spreads its poison across the world without him having to? It’s unlikely that his self-esteem is damaged, and the deplorable outcome of Brexit will hardly look to him like a “major setback” (Putin’s plan to divide Europe is backfiring, 10 October). The irony for Britain is the delight taken by the rightwing wreckers led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ukip and co as they promote the deluded vision of regression they like to call “patriotism”. Europe must not be divided.Carolyn KirtonAberdeen |
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| Vladimir Putin | Vladimir Putin |
| Russia | Russia |
| Sergei Skripal | Sergei Skripal |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| Article 50 | Article 50 |
| European Union | European Union |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| letters | letters |
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