One of the core weaknesses of authoritarian regimes the world over is that lies are built into the system. Officials are afraid to tell their superiors the truth, for fear of retribution.
Reports abound that Vladimir Putin’s closest allies are too scared to tell him what is really going on in Ukraine and the extent of his terrible miscalculation. From the resistance of the Ukrainian army to the severe sanctions imposed by the West, the Kremlin has badly misjudged what it hoped would be a swift victory.
