Non-Experts With Horrible Takes on Russia-Ukraine Conflict

There is no end to musings, crazy conspiracies, and ideas of what Putin’s “actual” goals are, in addition to claims that he has lost it and essentially gone insane.

So here I am as a complete non-expert on both Russia and Ukraine complaining about other non-experts. Oh, the irony. But please hear me out. We can all analyze and offer our analysis about what is in the media and what is well known.

The problem starts when people start wild speculations about what is actually going on inside the head of Putin and his inner circle. Many are starting to claim Putin has entirely lost his connection with reality — that he is irrational. What do I care? Because many are pushing this narrative that Putin is irrational and therefore could push the nuclear button at any time.

That is a dangerous belief to spread because it basically encourages the West to think that we should pre-emptively nuke Russia becauses Putin will likely nuke us anyway. I have seen people who suggest that the invasion of Ukraine is just a trick to pull in the West and start WWIII. Really? If that is what Putin wanted, then why did he not simply nuke us right away? Why give us a chance to prepare an attack on him first?

My position is that if you are going to speculate on what Putin is thinking and whether he is rational, then you should at least try to read up on or…