RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT
RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT GENERATION? JOINING ME NOW IS
IN THE NEXT GENERATION? JOINING ME NOW IS TOMM NICHOLS. HE‘S A
GENERATION? JOINING ME NOW IS TOMM NICHOLS. HE‘S A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE
TOMM NICHOLS. HE‘S A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE ATLANTIC. AND HE RECENTLY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE ATLANTIC. AND HE RECENTLY COMPLETED 25 YEARS
ATLANTIC. AND HE RECENTLY COMPLETED 25 YEARS AS A PROFESSOR AT THE NAVAL
COMPLETED 25 YEARS AS A PROFESSOR AT THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE
AS A PROFESSOR AT THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE SPECIALIZING IN
WAR COLLEGE SPECIALIZING IN RUSSIAN STUDIES,
SPECIALIZING IN RUSSIAN STUDIES, TOM YOU HAD THIS ARE THEN YOU
RUSSIAN STUDIES, TOM YOU HAD THIS ARE THEN YOU HAD THE SOVIET
TOM YOU HAD THIS ARE THEN YOU HAD THE SOVIET PREMIERS AND YOU.
HAD THE SOVIET PREMIERS AND YOU. YELTSIN. AND NOW YOU HAVE
PREMIERS AND YOU. YELTSIN. AND NOW YOU HAVE PUTIN
YELTSIN. AND NOW YOU HAVE PUTIN RUSSIAN LEADERS DUTCH OF
PUTIN RUSSIAN LEADERS DUTCH OF A TRACK RECORD OF LEAVING
RUSSIAN LEADERS DUTCH OF A TRACK RECORD OF LEAVING POWER WILLINGLY
A TRACK RECORD OF LEAVING POWER WILLINGLY AND GRACEFULLY, DO
POWER WILLINGLY AND GRACEFULLY, DO THEY
AND GRACEFULLY, DO THEY NO,
THEY NO, THEY‘RE LIKE
NO, THEY‘RE LIKE MAFIA BOSSES AS TONY SOPRANO.
THEY‘RE LIKE MAFIA BOSSES AS TONY SOPRANO. ONCE SAID, GUYS LIKE ME END UP
MAFIA BOSSES AS TONY SOPRANO. ONCE SAID, GUYS LIKE ME END UP DEAD OR IN JAIL.
ONCE SAID, GUYS LIKE ME END UP DEAD OR IN JAIL. SOMETIMES
DEAD OR IN JAIL. SOMETIMES THEY‘RE REMOVED. SOMETIMES
SOMETIMES THEY‘RE REMOVED. SOMETIMES THEY DIE IN OFFICE.
THEY‘RE REMOVED. SOMETIMES THEY DIE IN OFFICE. I THINK WE SHOULDN‘T
THEY DIE IN OFFICE. I THINK WE SHOULDN‘T PUT TOO MUCH.
I THINK WE SHOULDN‘T PUT TOO MUCH. HOPE IN PUTIN BEING REMOVED
PUT TOO MUCH. HOPE IN PUTIN BEING REMOVED IN SOME KIND OF PALACE COUP.
HOPE IN PUTIN BEING REMOVED IN SOME KIND OF PALACE COUP. I THINK IT‘S INCUMBENT ON ALL
IN SOME KIND OF PALACE COUP. I THINK IT‘S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US AND
I THINK IT‘S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US AND THE
OF US AND THE UKRAINIANS, ESPECIALLY THE
THE UKRAINIANS, ESPECIALLY THE WHO ARE SUFFERING SO BADLY.
UKRAINIANS, ESPECIALLY THE WHO ARE SUFFERING SO BADLY. NOW TO JUST SURVIVE THE NEXT
WHO ARE SUFFERING SO BADLY. NOW TO JUST SURVIVE THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.
NOW TO JUST SURVIVE THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS. BUT PUTIN IS
FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS. BUT PUTIN IS ALMOST
BUT PUTIN IS ALMOST YEARS OLD,
ALMOST YEARS OLD, WHICH, YOU KNOW, BY RUSSIAN
YEARS OLD, WHICH, YOU KNOW, BY RUSSIAN STANDARDS IS PRETTY LONG IN
WHICH, YOU KNOW, BY RUSSIAN STANDARDS IS PRETTY LONG IN THE TOOTH.
STANDARDS IS PRETTY LONG IN THE TOOTH. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THE TOOTH. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT HE‘S
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT HE‘S BEEN VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT.
TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT HE‘S BEEN VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT. ANOINTING.
BEEN VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT. ANOINTING. ANYBODY IS AN OBVIOUS
ANOINTING. ANYBODY IS AN OBVIOUS SUCCESSOR, WHICH IS YOU KNOW,
ANYBODY IS AN OBVIOUS SUCCESSOR, WHICH IS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST RULES
SUCCESSOR, WHICH IS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST RULES OF DICTATOR
ONE OF THE FIRST RULES OF DICTATOR CLUB IS YOU DO MAKE IT OBVIOUS
OF DICTATOR CLUB IS YOU DO MAKE IT OBVIOUS WHO COULD POSSIBLY SUCCEED
CLUB IS YOU DO MAKE IT OBVIOUS WHO COULD POSSIBLY SUCCEED YOU?
WHO COULD POSSIBLY SUCCEED YOU? YEAH, AND BUT YOU HEARD
YOU? YEAH, AND BUT YOU HEARD LINDSEY GRAHAM EARLIER, WE
YEAH, AND BUT YOU HEARD LINDSEY GRAHAM EARLIER, WE PLAYED THAT CLIP
LINDSEY GRAHAM EARLIER, WE PLAYED THAT CLIP BEGGING FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE
PLAYED THAT CLIP BEGGING FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE OUT VLADIMIR PUTIN. I MEAN,
BEGGING FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE OUT VLADIMIR PUTIN. I MEAN, LET‘S JUST PUT IT ALL OUT
OUT VLADIMIR PUTIN. I MEAN, LET‘S JUST PUT IT ALL OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WITH ALL
LET‘S JUST PUT IT ALL OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WITH ALL THAT‘S GOING ON.
THERE RIGHT NOW, WITH ALL THAT‘S GOING ON. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE
THAT‘S GOING ON. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE THAT PUTIN‘S GOING TO LEAVE
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE THAT PUTIN‘S GOING TO LEAVE OFF AS VOLUNTARILY OR
THAT PUTIN‘S GOING TO LEAVE OFF AS VOLUNTARILY OR OTHERWISE SOMEHOW BEFORE THE
OFF AS VOLUNTARILY OR OTHERWISE SOMEHOW BEFORE THE NEXT RUSSIAN ELECTION IN
OTHERWISE SOMEHOW BEFORE THE NEXT RUSSIAN ELECTION IN 2024.
NEXT RUSSIAN ELECTION IN 2024. WELL, FIRST,
2024. WELL, FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT SENATOR
WELL, FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT SENATOR GRAHAM SAID WAS STUPID,
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT SENATOR GRAHAM SAID WAS STUPID, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
GRAHAM SAID WAS STUPID, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A UNITED STATES SENATOR SHOULD
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A UNITED STATES SENATOR SHOULD SAY,
A UNITED STATES SENATOR SHOULD SAY, THAT IS I THINK IT‘S BENEATH
SAY, THAT IS I THINK IT‘S BENEATH THE OFFICE. I
THAT IS I THINK IT‘S BENEATH THE OFFICE. I UNDERSTAND
THE OFFICE. I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION BEHIND.
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION BEHIND. DID
THE EMOTION BEHIND. DID YOU KNOW IT‘S ONE OF THOSE
DID YOU KNOW IT‘S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I SUPPOSE A LOT OF
YOU KNOW IT‘S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I SUPPOSE A LOT OF US HAVE THOUGHT AT SOME POINT
THINGS THAT I SUPPOSE A LOT OF US HAVE THOUGHT AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER
US HAVE THOUGHT AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER BUT A UNITED STATES, SENATOR
OR ANOTHER BUT A UNITED STATES, SENATOR CALLING FOR A FOREIGN LEADER
BUT A UNITED STATES, SENATOR CALLING FOR A FOREIGN LEADER TO BE ASSASSINATED BY HIS OWN
CALLING FOR A FOREIGN LEADER TO BE ASSASSINATED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE.
TO BE ASSASSINATED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE. I THINK WAS JUST
PEOPLE. I THINK WAS JUST FOOLISH AND IT‘S SOMETHING
I THINK WAS JUST FOOLISH AND IT‘S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEND
FOOLISH AND IT‘S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME
THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME TRYING TO GRAB THE ATTENTION
TOO MUCH TIME TRYING TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF TELEVISION AND
TRYING TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF TELEVISION AND SOCIAL MEDIA,
OF TELEVISION AND SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I, AND I THINK PEOPLE
SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I, AND I THINK PEOPLE SHOULDN‘T COUNT ON PUTIN
BUT I, AND I THINK PEOPLE SHOULDN‘T COUNT ON PUTIN LEAVING OFFICE VOLUNTARILY. HE
SHOULDN‘T COUNT ON PUTIN LEAVING OFFICE VOLUNTARILY. HE HAS CLEARLY HOT-WIRED
LEAVING OFFICE VOLUNTARILY. HE HAS CLEARLY HOT-WIRED EVERY POSSIBLE.
HAS CLEARLY HOT-WIRED EVERY POSSIBLE. CONSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM TO
EVERY POSSIBLE. CONSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN‘T HAVE
CONSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN‘T HAVE TO LEAVE OFFICE.
MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN‘T HAVE TO LEAVE OFFICE. THERE WERE SOME OF US,
TO LEAVE OFFICE. THERE WERE SOME OF US, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY SOMETHING
THERE WERE SOME OF US, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY SOMETHING OF US, I MEAN ME AS WELL AS A
YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY SOMETHING OF US, I MEAN ME AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER FOLKS
OF US, I MEAN ME AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER FOLKS WHO AS RUSSIA WATCHERS
FEW OTHER FOLKS WHO AS RUSSIA WATCHERS THOUGHT HE MIGHT LEAVE
WHO AS RUSSIA WATCHERS THOUGHT HE MIGHT LEAVE VOLUNTARILY
THOUGHT HE MIGHT LEAVE VOLUNTARILY BACK
VOLUNTARILY BACK IN 2008. WE WERE
BACK IN 2008. WE WERE WRONG.
IN 2008. WE WERE WRONG. HE APPARENTLY DOESN‘T FEEL
WRONG. HE APPARENTLY DOESN‘T FEEL SAFE LEAVING OFFICE.
HE APPARENTLY DOESN‘T FEEL SAFE LEAVING OFFICE. THINKS HE HAS SOME KIND OF
SAFE LEAVING OFFICE. THINKS HE HAS SOME KIND OF GRAND MISSION. SO I THINK
THINKS HE HAS SOME KIND OF GRAND MISSION. SO I THINK PEOPLE COUNTING ON THAT
GRAND MISSION. SO I THINK PEOPLE COUNTING ON THAT AS SOME SORT OF EXIT FROM THIS
PEOPLE COUNTING ON THAT AS SOME SORT OF EXIT FROM THIS CRISIS
AS SOME SORT OF EXIT FROM THIS CRISIS ARE BEING
CRISIS ARE BEING THEY‘RE HAVING BEEN SUCH A
ARE BEING THEY‘RE HAVING BEEN SUCH A GRAND STUDENT OF RUSSIAN
THEY‘RE HAVING BEEN SUCH A GRAND STUDENT OF RUSSIAN HISTORY AND KNOWING
GRAND STUDENT OF RUSSIAN HISTORY AND KNOWING PUTIN THE WAY THAT YOU DO.
HISTORY AND KNOWING PUTIN THE WAY THAT YOU DO. HOW DO YOU INCENTIVIZE
PUTIN THE WAY THAT YOU DO. HOW DO YOU INCENTIVIZE HIM TO LEAVE
HOW DO YOU INCENTIVIZE HIM TO LEAVE TO STOP THE BLOODSHED?
HIM TO LEAVE TO STOP THE BLOODSHED? WHAT‘S HIS
TO STOP THE BLOODSHED? WHAT‘S HIS OFF-RAMP LOOK LIKE, IN YOUR
WHAT‘S HIS OFF-RAMP LOOK LIKE, IN YOUR OPINION?
OFF-RAMP LOOK LIKE, IN YOUR OPINION? I DON‘T KNOW THAT HE HAS AN
OPINION? I DON‘T KNOW THAT HE HAS AN OFF RAMP BECAUSE I THINK HE
I DON‘T KNOW THAT HE HAS AN OFF RAMP BECAUSE I THINK HE NEVER PLANNED ON THINGS GOING
OFF RAMP BECAUSE I THINK HE NEVER PLANNED ON THINGS GOING THIS WRONG. THIS IS
NEVER PLANNED ON THINGS GOING THIS WRONG. THIS IS THIS IS HOW
THIS WRONG. THIS IS THIS IS HOW REGIONAL WARS BECOME
D WARS BECAUSE
D WARS BECAUSE HE WENT
D WARS BECAUSE HE WENT INTO THIS THING.
HE WENT INTO THIS THING. SEEING THIS WAS GOING TO BE
INTO THIS THING. SEEING THIS WAS GOING TO BE TWO OR THREE OR
SEEING THIS WAS GOING TO BE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR-DAY FAIR,
TWO OR THREE OR FOUR-DAY FAIR, A TIDY LITTLE WAR WHERE HE WAS
FOUR-DAY FAIR, A TIDY LITTLE WAR WHERE HE WAS GOING TO DISPLACE THE
A TIDY LITTLE WAR WHERE HE WAS GOING TO DISPLACE THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE
GOING TO DISPLACE THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE AND PEOPLE WOULD YOU KNOW,
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE AND PEOPLE WOULD YOU KNOW, THROW FLOWERS IN THE STREETS
AND PEOPLE WOULD YOU KNOW, THROW FLOWERS IN THE STREETS AND HE‘D GET TO PICK THE NEXT
THROW FLOWERS IN THE STREETS AND HE‘D GET TO PICK THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. HE DIDN‘T COUNT ON
AND HE‘D GET TO PICK THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. HE DIDN‘T COUNT ON PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK AS
GOVERNMENT. HE DIDN‘T COUNT ON PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK AS HARD AS THEY ARE AND I THINK
PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK AS HARD AS THEY ARE AND I THINK HE HAS PAINTED HIMSELF INTO A
HARD AS THEY ARE AND I THINK HE HAS PAINTED HIMSELF INTO A CORNER
HE HAS PAINTED HIMSELF INTO A CORNER WITH THAT SAID THERE MAY BE
CORNER WITH THAT SAID THERE MAY BE SOME SORT OF
WITH THAT SAID THERE MAY BE SOME SORT OF BASE SAVING
SOME SORT OF BASE SAVING ARRANGEMENT SOMETHING WHERE HE
BASE SAVING ARRANGEMENT SOMETHING WHERE HE MAINTAINS HIS CLAIM TO
SOME KIND OF PLEDGE OF
SOME KIND OF PLEDGE OF NEUTRALITY
SOME KIND OF PLEDGE OF NEUTRALITY FROM FROM UKRAINE, BUT
NEUTRALITY FROM FROM UKRAINE, BUT LET‘S BE CLEAR
FROM FROM UKRAINE, BUT LET‘S BE CLEAR THAT HIS STRATEGIC GOAL
LET‘S BE CLEAR THAT HIS STRATEGIC GOAL OF REGIME CHANGE AND OF
THAT HIS STRATEGIC GOAL OF REGIME CHANGE AND OF ABSORBING THE UKRAINIAN
OF REGIME CHANGE AND OF ABSORBING THE UKRAINIAN STATE INTO SOME KIND OF
ABSORBING THE UKRAINIAN STATE INTO SOME KIND OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION
STATE INTO SOME KIND OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THIS OR CONFEDERATION
RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THIS OR CONFEDERATION AND PUTTING UKRAINE UNDER THE
IN THIS OR CONFEDERATION AND PUTTING UKRAINE UNDER THE GOVERNANCE OF MOSCOW, HAS
AND PUTTING UKRAINE UNDER THE GOVERNANCE OF MOSCOW, HAS FAILED. I MEAN, NO MATTER HOW
GOVERNANCE OF MOSCOW, HAS FAILED. I MEAN, NO MATTER HOW THIS COMES OUT, PUTIN‘S PLAN.
FAILED. I MEAN, NO MATTER HOW THIS COMES OUT, PUTIN‘S PLAN. PLAN, A, WHICH WAS THE ONLY
THIS COMES OUT, PUTIN‘S PLAN. PLAN, A, WHICH WAS THE ONLY PLAN HE SEEMED TO HAVE.
PLAN, A, WHICH WAS THE ONLY PLAN HE SEEMED TO HAVE. TERRITORY, SOME KIND OF PLEDGE
PLAN HE SEEMED TO HAVE. TERRITORY, SOME KIND OF PLEDGE OF NEUTRALITY FROM FROM
TERRITORY, SOME KIND OF PLEDGE OF NEUTRALITY FROM FROM UKRAINE, BUT LET‘S BE CLEAR
OF NEUTRALITY FROM FROM UKRAINE, BUT LET‘S BE CLEAR THAT HIS STRATEGIC GOAL OF
UKRAINE, BUT LET‘S BE CLEAR THAT HIS STRATEGIC GOAL OF YOU MENTIONED THAT PUTIN AT
THAT HIS STRATEGIC GOAL OF YOU MENTIONED THAT PUTIN AT AGE, 70 IS KIND OF
YOU MENTIONED THAT PUTIN AT AGE, 70 IS KIND OF MASTERED THE ART OF BEING
AGE, 70 IS KIND OF MASTERED THE ART OF BEING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT LONGER THAN
MASTERED THE ART OF BEING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT LONGER THAN SOME OF HIS PREDECESSORS.
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT LONGER THAN SOME OF HIS PREDECESSORS. WHAT‘S HIS SECRET SAUCE? TOM.
SOME OF HIS PREDECESSORS. WHAT‘S HIS SECRET SAUCE? TOM. WHAT IS HE DOING DIFFERENTLY?
WHAT‘S HIS SECRET SAUCE? TOM. WHAT IS HE DOING DIFFERENTLY? THAT OTHER
WHAT IS HE DOING DIFFERENTLY? THAT OTHER PRIOR
THAT OTHER PRIOR PRESIDENTS? CZAR‘S ETCETERA
PRIOR PRESIDENTS? CZAR‘S ETCETERA THAT THEY DIDN‘T DO VERY WELL.
PRESIDENTS? CZAR‘S ETCETERA THAT THEY DIDN‘T DO VERY WELL. WHOA, WHAT A PROBLEM IN TERMS
THAT THEY DIDN‘T DO VERY WELL. WHOA, WHAT A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF
WHOA, WHAT A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF REMOVING PUTIN. IS THAT
OF REMOVING PUTIN. IS THAT UNLIKE SOME OF HIS
REMOVING PUTIN. IS THAT UNLIKE SOME OF HIS PREDECESSORS? HE DOESN‘T
UNLIKE SOME OF HIS PREDECESSORS? HE DOESN‘T REALLY HAVE A
PREDECESSORS? HE DOESN‘T REALLY HAVE A COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP.
REALLY HAVE A COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP. THE,
COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP. THE, THE SOVIET LEADERS.
THE, THE SOVIET LEADERS. WHO WERE
THE SOVIET LEADERS. WHO WERE TOTALITARIANS AND LATER,
WHO WERE TOTALITARIANS AND LATER, YOU KNOW, JUST
TOTALITARIANS AND LATER, YOU KNOW, JUST GARDEN-VARIETY
YOU KNOW, JUST GARDEN-VARIETY DICTATORS AND THE 60S AND 70S
GARDEN-VARIETY DICTATORS AND THE 60S AND 70S NONETHELESS GOVERNED AS PART
DICTATORS AND THE 60S AND 70S NONETHELESS GOVERNED AS PART OF A COLLECTIVE BODY. SO THERE
NONETHELESS GOVERNED AS PART OF A COLLECTIVE BODY. SO THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY IN THE
OF A COLLECTIVE BODY. SO THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY IN THE ROOM
WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY IN THE ROOM WHO COULD SEE THEMSELVES AS
ROOM WHO COULD SEE THEMSELVES AS THE NEXT SOVIET LEADER. SO
WHO COULD SEE THEMSELVES AS THE NEXT SOVIET LEADER. SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET RID OF
THE NEXT SOVIET LEADER. SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET RID OF KHRUSHCHEV
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET RID OF KHRUSHCHEV A CUP,
KHRUSHCHEV A CUP, ALL COULD GET RID OF HIM AND
A CUP, ALL COULD GET RID OF HIM AND PUT IN LEONID BREZHNEV
ALL COULD GET RID OF HIM AND PUT IN LEONID BREZHNEV WHEN BREZHNEV DIED IN OFFICE,
PUT IN LEONID BREZHNEV WHEN BREZHNEV DIED IN OFFICE, THERE, WAS JOCKING BEHIND THE
WHEN BREZHNEV DIED IN OFFICE, THERE, WAS JOCKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO REPLACE HIM WITH
THERE, WAS JOCKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO REPLACE HIM WITH AND ROPE OFF, AND DROP OFF WAS
SCENES TO REPLACE HIM WITH AND ROPE OFF, AND DROP OFF WAS SICK
AND ROPE OFF, AND DROP OFF WAS SICK AND SO ON AND SO ON IT,
SICK AND SO ON AND SO ON IT, MOST OF THESE GUYS
AND SO ON AND SO ON IT, MOST OF THESE GUYS DIED IN OFFICE AND I
MOST OF THESE GUYS DIED IN OFFICE AND I THINK THAT‘S PUTIN‘S PLAN IS
DIED IN OFFICE AND I THINK THAT‘S PUTIN‘S PLAN IS TO STAY IN OFFICE
THINK THAT‘S PUTIN‘S PLAN IS TO STAY IN OFFICE UNTIL HE IS LET OUT
TO STAY IN OFFICE UNTIL HE IS LET OUT YOU KNOW, TAKEN OUT.
UNTIL HE IS LET OUT YOU KNOW, TAKEN OUT. IN HIS OLD AGE, WHEN HE PASSES
YOU KNOW, TAKEN OUT. IN HIS OLD AGE, WHEN HE PASSES AWAY. NATURALLY. THAT‘S HOW
IN HIS OLD AGE, WHEN HE PASSES AWAY. NATURALLY. THAT‘S HOW MOST OF
AWAY. NATURALLY. THAT‘S HOW MOST OF HIS PREDECESSORS.
MOST OF HIS PREDECESSORS. I‘VE GONE,
HIS PREDECESSORS. I‘VE GONE, IT‘S VERY UNUSUAL TO ACTUALLY
I‘VE GONE, IT‘S VERY UNUSUAL TO ACTUALLY HAVE A RUSSIAN LEADER
IT‘S VERY UNUSUAL TO ACTUALLY HAVE A RUSSIAN LEADER REMOVED, BUT THE ONES WHO WERE
HAVE A RUSSIAN LEADER REMOVED, BUT THE ONES WHO WERE REMOVED
REMOVED, BUT THE ONES WHO WERE REMOVED WERE
REMOVED WERE REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WERE PART
WERE REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF A COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP
REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF A COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OTHER
OF A COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OTHER POSSIBLE PEOPLE
WHERE THERE WERE OTHER POSSIBLE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO COULD REPLACE
POSSIBLE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO COULD REPLACE THEM PUTIN HAS CLEARLY, NOT
IN THE ROOM WHO COULD REPLACE THEM PUTIN HAS CLEARLY, NOT MADE THAT MISTAKE
THEM PUTIN HAS CLEARLY, NOT MADE THAT MISTAKE AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS
MADE THAT MISTAKE AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS SUCCESSOR
AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS SUCCESSOR HERE.
SUCCESSOR HERE. TOM NICHOLS,
HERE. TOM NICHOLS, YOU‘VE GOT THAT INSIGHT THAT
TOM NICHOLS, YOU‘VE GOT THAT INSIGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW.
YOU‘VE GOT THAT INSIGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW. HOPEFULLY, WE‘RE GOING TO BE
WE NEEDED TO KNOW. HOPEFULLY, WE‘RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING CHANGE.
HOPEFULLY, WE‘RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING CHANGE. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE
ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING CHANGE. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR