Garry Kasparov

I read this after the second invasion of the Ukraine. Kasparov is bang on the money for where Putin was headed. And I’m ashamed to say that I may have been duped by some of Putin’s rationalizations although I’ve never agreed the resort to brutal invasion was ever justified. If only more western leaders had read this book before we got to where we are now, Putin may have been prevented from going as far as he has. Now we’re faced with a much more intractable problem. My one complaint with the book is that Kasparov seems to repeat some of the same messages over and over. Makes it tougher to get through.… (més)

While not the main point of the book, I found myself more and more infuriated with not just our recent 3-4 Presidents but world leaders of the last 20 years.

A lot of people saw Putin coming, and weren't silent about it. And we did nothing.

Reading this while the invasion of Ukraine rages was extra.... extra.

One thing I found particularly poignant, having been scolded on social media more than once. "Do you want a nuclear war?" Putin of course threatens the use of Nukes because he knows that the west has grown so lazy and timid that even the idea of them makes us turn a blind eye to his transgressions.

… (més)