[drunx]

Pre 2014 no Russian person would directly wish/hope/wait for the annexation of Crimea. Surely some fanatics and crazies existed, but society at large didn't "need" it.

One person made a decision.

And that started a 11+ years of propaganda, political acrobatics, war, manipulation of the masses, etc etc etc. Lots of things that are good for that one person to be able to stay in power.

Back to Venezuela and Trump - it's possible that Trump is testing grounds for a similar play. If he finds an enemy he can keep fighting for a long time - he will stay president for all that time. Elections won't matter. People will vote for those who fight "the enemy". You just need to create an enemy.

[eternauta3k]

> If he finds an enemy he can keep fighting for a long time - he will stay president for all that time

I don't think any latin american country can withstand the US for any amount of time, unless it turns into a guerilla war.

[wiseowise]

I'm sure you wish well, but

> Pre 2014 no Russian person would directly wish/hope/wait for the annexation of Crimea.

is just bollocks.

> On 21 May 1992 the Supreme Soviet of Russia declared 1954 transfer of Crimea as having "no legal force", because it was adopted "in violation of the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR and legislative process", but because subsequent legislation and the 1990 Russo-Ukrainian treaty constituted that fact

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Crimea

Russians were planning Crimea takeover for a long time.

[drunx]

I talk about people, not government. Unfortunately it's two different things. And of course I don't mean 100% of people. But percentage wise - you wouldn't say that majority wanted to "get it back". And that's my point - leaders less and less represent the people.

As for the government - your are absolutely on point. And I don't disagree.

[abigail95]

How did you measure that? Are you just making this stuff up? Where did you read or experience it? Are you Russian?