CIA chief: Russian elite left questioning war after Kursk incursion

9 comments

1. All anyone has to do is reel off all the things Putin wanted that haven’t gone his way; the expansion of NATO, the timeline of the war, the unbelievable casualty count, the breadth of the financial penalties, the removal of the rights of the oligarchy from visiting their posh assets in the west, etc.

   It’s delusional to think it’s headed in a way which is favorable to them. Even within Putin’s own interests, he fails repeatedly to achieve them in a timely or cost effective way.

2. Burns is just belting out the hits now. Fantastic turn and way to get it into public discourse.

3. Maybe they should get together and decide how to off the person responsible for this

4. I wonder what another 3-6 months of consistent strikes on oil refineries/storage will do for Russian elites

5. Bomb their neighbors. That will motivate them.

6. > Burns suggested that Russia has not yet used Iranian short-range ballistic missiles on Ukraine. However, added that an Iranian shipment would signify “a dramatic escalation.”

   Let’s note that it is about ~500 miles from the Black Sea to Tehran.

7. This happens when u realise ur getting old and ur going to die and go for briliant idea of marking yourself in a history as a best leader in the russian empire…

   But the thing is after such a smartness russian empire collapses… Well played

8. The sanctions are really starting to destroy the elite Russian “image.” Image is everything to these robber barons.

   All the equity/integration built up with western elites through social networking/hobnobing since the late 90’s is likely evaporating. These elites had created a visage of a “suave” and “business savy” Russian oligarch. They were openly admired by many (albeit ill-informed) powerful people within western influence spheres. They are now (likely) beginning to be looked down on in the same way they were in the 90’s, as corrupt opportunists that aren’t worth spending social capital on.

   To make it worse for these oligarchs, those that have adolescent children have not been able to send them to posh western prep schools. Can their kids miss a year? Sure. But 4 years? That’s all of high school. Having their children network with other well-heeled western families was their opportunity to establish a lasting, long-term legacy. This is now disappearing.

9. Russia has an elite left?