An act of desperation by a declining country

Russia's tanks roll into its neighbor Ukraine and Donald Trump calls Vladimir Putin a "genius," I think it's time to gain a little perspective on the state of affairs. If I had to use one word to describe Putin right now, it would not be "genius," or "cunning," it would be "desperate."

Look at things from Putin's perspective: his country had some real promise in the early 2000s, a reasonably educated middle class and some signs of entrepreneurship, but a generation of kleptocracy and autocratic rule has nipped that in the bud. Now Russia is an entirely resource-based economy with the usual corruption (Putin and his friends are certainly getting very rich) and economic stagnation (the average Russian's standard of living has been declining for years) that go with it. Russia is just Saudi Arabia with an army.

But how about that army? Russia's large, well-equipped, modern army is the only thing that makes Putin a real player on the world stage anymore and he has a deep, psychopathic need to be a player.

So here we stand at this unfortunate, but long-predicted moment, where Putin has nothing left but to threaten his neighbors and his region with an army that is fully capable of winning any small war and starting another World War.

Putin will probably eventually back down, after declaring a glorious victory - that is unless he has truly tipped over the edge mentally and then his generals may have a say. But let's not look at his maneuvers as anything more than what they are: the desperate dictator of a declining country making one last grab at relevance.

Guy Rosenthal

Wheaton