Anyone watching Putin's speech?

[bellac11]

He's been at it over an hour.

Im exhausted.

You can understand why, in the light of limited outside information, the Russian's have no doubt about him.

Yes, I was watching it in the background, it was hard to follow to be honest, what were your thoughts on it?

Putin blames the west but countries have to apply to join NATO. If Putin was a peace loving man countries wouldn't feel the need to apply. Putin has a 20th century mindset he has never got over the Soviet Union collapsing.

Two hours he went on

Well I think that if I was Russian I wouldnt have any doubts about his compentency,, the way he sells all his 'programmes' for support, housing, tax regimes, etc etc. Why would you disbelieve any of that, unless of course you're at a level in government where you realise that perhaps these things are not being put in place

You can hear the paranoia as a westerner but as a Russian, it would all make sense to you you would believe it I think.

I am genuinely appalled. He actually said the west now had decided paedophilia was the norm, and expressed blatant homophobia about same sex marriages and said how a union was a man and woman. He also kept making references to nazis and history repeating itself.

utterly shocking and depraved.

Some average Russians feel aggrieved at the loss of russian dominance and influence on a global level. Losing the USSR is shameful and the west is too blame. It's a very 20th century mentality. Basically they are angry they lost their empire surely all previous USSR countries would want to be a part of mighty Russia ?

His message wasnt for me and you though, its for people who also hold those views. It will have gone down a storm

I remember a documentary from some years ago, might be Simon someone, it was before the war, he went round Russia and the Russian's view Putin as almost a semi god.

Absolutely and remember the limitations on alternative views, I dont know if they have access to other information?

And I wouldnt necessarily limit it to a 20th century view, Russian dominance was the aim for centuries and for much of that time was achieved too.

It’s called the Muscovite Mindset, and is a direct response to living under such a totalitarian regime. Ultimately it’s a survival instinct, in an environment where the slightest questioning of authority is subject to severe sanction, then the adaption is to simply believe and not question. It’s not as if they do know the reality deep down but never speak of it, as this causes all sorts of internal stress. So, partly as a result of this adaption, and partly as a result of indoctrination, the belief in the righteousness of the state (and as an extension, Putin), is genuine, widespread and unquestioned.

I remember a documentary from some years ago, might be Simon someone, it was before the war, he went round Russia and the Russian's view Putin as almost a semi god.

Simon Reeve I think

It's a great documentary, worth a watch. It's on iPlayer I think.