A Victorious Nation

All is fair in war and politics - we'll leave love out of this equation - so whatever it takes to win either is rarely shunned by those whose principles have long since been compromised; or who had few to begin with. It has long been recognized that Vladimir Putin is one such individual on the world stage.

And here's where love does come into the equation - the love of self, that overweening egotism that imbues the self with the certain knowledge that they deserve to reign supreme and for an eternity.

Little wonder that Russia's official position in defying prospective United Nations' sanctions biting deeper into Syria in an effort to staunch the bloodshed, remains fast. Alongside China, another repressive regime fearing outside interference in the status quo, the Kremlin has a deep suspicion of the critical eye of the international community.

Its problems with Chechnya, following on the dissolution of Russia's satellites from the political binds of USSR domination, created a Russian angst relieved somewhat by its attack on Georgia.
More understated attacks on Ukraine, Poland and Estonia express more than adequately Russia's mourning of its past glory, and just why it is that Vladimir Putin has attempted to resurrect and whitewash the Communist past.

And to work toward instilling in the Russian collective an unambivalent resentment toward the remaining superpower and its Western allies that successfully courted former satrapies of the USSR, persuading them of the usefulness of installing American missile bases. Which local interference infuriated the Kremlin beyond reason. Though it is reasonable enough for them to protest the geographic incursion.

At a time when Russia is being politically wracked by the growing strength of opposition forces unwilling to allow Putin's party to continue to dominate the country's politics, and himself to return to the presidency for a third stretch of unalloyed power, that anti-government push-back has infuriated Putin. Ample reason for him not to allow Russia to join the anti-Assad campaign. Quite aside from the lucrative arms sales, and the docking facilities for its naval vessels.

He is determined to retake the presidency, and ensure his party remains installed as the driving force of Russian politics. And he uses the most egregious demagoguery in addressing potential supporters to fire them into a frenzy of resentment at the international community, his domestic critics, and to imbue them with a sense of mission toward his re-election. Despite or perhaps because of the vote-rigging at the December parliamentary polls.

"It is fitting that we have gathered here today, on February 23, Defender of the Fatherland Day, because today, together, we really are defenders of our fatherland. "We will not allow anyone to impose their will on us. We have our own will and this has always helped us be victorious. We are a victorious nation. This is in our genes. This is in our genetic code. It has been passed down to us, generation to generation."

As blatant manipulation goes, these inflammatory, incendiary, nationalistic overtures are proving highly successful, despite the shallowness of their message because they appeal to the chauvinist in the Russian psyche. "Do we love Russia?" Why, what other response could there possibly be than a riotously uproarious "Yes!"

And will United Russia unite Russia? It most certainly will not, but the enthusiastic crowd roared its approval.