...i recall Chechnya, Georgia, to name two countries where Putin still has a formidable enemy in the terrorists who are Muslim haunting Russia.
In the Ukraine, as in Syria, Putin has chosen to command attention Militarily. It appears that he is better at strategy and tactics what with the success he has had at this brinkmanship. But it does not reduce the fact that 35 people in all of Russia own 75% of its wealth, and that an ordinary Russian is in fact poorer than the ordinary Indian (, or that these 'wars' continue). There are lots of reasons for Putin to present himself as an awesome power, given what he is hiding, given that "it" is all a game of confidence, he is the ultimate Capitalist, where Free Market implies no rules but those of survival for the biggest and the fittest.
...Holy War indeed, some priest in Russia decides to mock whatever it means to be loving, to serve, and those who believe in God are supposed to rally. Where have i heard that before?
...guns work, who cares about butter, who says differently, what choice is there, Putin? Amerika? Islam?