Is Putin's Warlike Twinkle in His Eyes?

Putin believed his own yes-men when they said the Russian military has been completely transformed. That was before, you know, seven years of NATO training and indoctrination. The New York Times says this is like it's almost like he got in these sort of radicalized in feedback loops that people do on YouTube or social media. And I've kind of felt this, but it's mushy thinking.