If I understand correctly, a majority of the (largely Russian) ethnic minority population in Estonia and in Latvia have taken out citizenship, a task which requires passing a proficiency test in the local language. The rest content themselves with residency permits; some have citizenship in other countries, some are stateless. Latvia’s Russian voters do collect in a couple of the country’s political parties; Estonia’s do not. There is a Russian-majority canton in the Estonian borderlands that Russia might seize. Russians in Latvia tend to live around the country’s capital and not near the borders. Note, the Russians in both countries are a colonial population which did not return home. The ethnic Russians in Central Asia did depart for Russia after 1992, by and large.

About 55,000 people live in South Ossetia. They’re not ethnic Georgians. What’s curious about Abkhazia is that the territories ethnic Georgians were successfully expelled en masse by militias drawn from the much smaller Abkhaz population. What’s left of Abkhazia has a population of about 240,000. Georgia’s population is about 4 million and it is as we speak ethnically homogeneous enough to be courteous to its minorities; It’s also a great deal more affluent than the residue of Abkhazia. Best to let it go.

You’ve confounded Putin and Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

Same old story: using Russian or Russian-friendly segments of the host country to complain about discrimination and then demand their right to a breakaway republic, which “human” or “civil” right is firmly supported by Moscow (with both money and materiel, as well as boots on the ground).

This is why, as John Tyler mentioned above, Estonia, especially, but also Latvia, are likely getting more than a wee bit nervous. (OTOH, this was always something for them to worry about.)

Putin is indeed on record as greatly desiring of Russia’s return to the former Soviet Union’s territorial boundaries and military and economic prowess. That agreed to does not preclude also having the motivation to resist NATO’s passive /aggression.

Elements within nature long expressed interest in the Ukraine joining NATO. The Western installed autocrat president of the Ukraine is on record repeatedly and most recently expressing his ‘openness’ to the Ukraine joining NATO. So that is not a case of Putin ‘inventing’ that concern out of thin air.

In addition, both Georgia and the Crimea lie on Russia’s border as well. If memory serves, Georgia also was being recommended for inclusion within NATO.

As for Putin’s expressed reasons for his actions, the Great Politics ‘Game’ is not played by revealing the actual reasons, rather what is offered is the most ‘acceptable’ moral rationale. Every nation follows that formula, as public opinion in an opponent’s nation can affect leadership’s response. Especially true in democracies.

Rather than encourage NATO to fall apart, I think Putin desires continuance of the status quo. A militarily toothless Germany and a weak US president manifestly serves Putin’s interests.

Putin may well have his eye on Estonia and Latvia, those would give Russia more options in access to the Sea.

I’m not suggesting that Putin isn’t a right bastard. Simply that the situation is more complex than appears on the surface.

Now if you want to see a real work product of a couple old Hollywood commies (or commie sympathizers) that’s pretty good, check out “Thieves’ Highway” (1949). A grand drama that revolves around some pilfered apples (and some subtext). Workers throw off your chains!

Completely off topic. Apologies.

This is also one of the reasons he has supplied for his present action in Ukraine. And it was similar to the reason he gave when he invaded Crimea in 2014.

Putin is one sly and very smart guy and he can spot weakness and stupidity (both of these qualities are found in copious quantities in the White House, State Dept as well as in the “leadership” of the US military – think General Milley and his boss, LLoyd Austin, both “supervised” the “successful” Afghan disaster) .
He realizes that NATO is a paper tiger presently being led – ideologically speaking – by a senile Obama puppet; which is to say, NATO is rudderless and clueless and being “led” by hate-America-first” leftists.

If Putin is motivated to rebuild the USSR, which I believe is true, his other main goal to “encourage” NATO to fall apart.
This should not be too difficult considering that the biggest economy in Europe and NATO member, Germany, basically has no army, zero intention of getting involved in any sort of military operation however tangentially, and of course, really really resents the USA; but they will send bandages and helmets as their contribution to any NATO effort.

Putin / Russia came away mostly unscathed after taking parts of Georgia, the Crimea and there he has no reason to believe his most recent exploits should produce a different outcome.

Keep an eye on Estonia and Latvia; both nations have a population of about 1/4 Russian. When the Russians there start staging demonstrations, etc.- all, of course, without the “help” of Putin provocateurs – Putin will be forced to send military aide there to protect Russians.
NATO, the USA, Europe will respond to this by enacting more meaningless, ineffective sanctions.

Putin must be laughing all the way to the bank as he watches Russian State revenues increase exponentially as joke bidet’s energy policies drive up the world price of oil and gas; recall that about half of Russia’s revenue is derived from oil and gas.

When you think about it, if Putin could have installed his man in the White House, he could have done no worse than selecting the senile moron Obama puppet, joke bidet.

“China is communist today the say way that your form of government is Constitutionally Republican. Outward Forms do not equal actual mechanics of Power or Economic arrangements either.”

Please. The behavior of the CCP in the recent Olympics alone demonstrates the falsity of that claim.

“a system of ruling party discipline and decision making which says NOTHING about economic or world-view ideologies”

The CCP’s widespread and growing “Social Credit” system demonstrates the falsity of that claim. Such a system results in ideological manipulation to an unparralled degree. It is exactly the type of system described in 1984. No apologia you can offer wiil change the basic reality of that system, nor its ideological purpose and inherent goal.

As for the West’s corrupt current governments, no one here disagrees with that assessment, so bringing up it as an attempted defense in discussing the ideological reality and inherent nature of the CCP is either an indication of an inability to offer a reasoned defence or intellectually dishonest.

Seems we’re living in a house of mirrors…
(Gosh, who knew?)

Oh heck, while we’re at it we’ll throw this in FOR FREE! (TODAY ONLY! JUST FOR YOU!!):
“Special Report: ‘The True State of the Union’ “—
https://justthenews.com/tv/watch-now-special-report-true-state-union

“Hail Caesar” is an excellent movie IMO. The Priest, Pastor, Rabi scene among many others.

Behold!