[Goose]

You love to see it.

I’m positively giddy about the idea of civil war in Russia. Who could have ever imagined standing up an army not controlled by your government could end up turning against it?

If Shoigu and Gerasimov are deposed, they can be blamed for the invasion of Ukraine under false pretenses, and Putin will have his off ramp to end this disastrous own goal of a war. He can put Prigozhin in charge of military and blame those two for leading Russia astray.

Putin could try that, but the rest of the military would never sit still for it. They would depose Putin. Shoigu and Gerasimov are disposable, but only if replaced with somebody from "inside the tent". Prigozhin is a total outsider to the Russian military. He also would then be a mortal threat to Putin if he was the supreme commander. It would indeed be an "off ramp" for Putin, in every sense.

[Goose]

You love to see it.

I’m positively giddy about the idea of civil war in Russia. Who could have ever imagined standing up an army not controlled by your government could end up turning against it?

If Shoigu and Gerasimov are deposed, they can be blamed for the invasion of Ukraine under false pretenses, and Putin will have his off ramp to end this disastrous own goal of a war. He can put Prigozhin in charge of military and blame those two for leading Russia astray.

Putin could try that, but the rest of the military would never sit still for it. They would depose Putin. Shoigu and Gerasimov are disposable, but only if replaced with somebody from "inside the tent". Prigozhin is a total outsider to the Russian military. He also would then be a mortal threat to Putin if he was the supreme commander. It would indeed be an "off ramp" for Putin, in every sense.