There is no shortage of physical courage in the military and its leadership. Many service members would find it easier to put their bodies in harm’s way than to speak publicly against wrongdoing in their own ranks and to suffer the professional and personal consequences.
President Putin made three foundational assumptions in launching his war against Ukraine that should have been correct but were not. First, Putin assumed the invasion of Ukraine would be a quick and easy fight. Second, he assumed the world would denounce the invasion but tacitly allow it. Third, Putin assumed the war would deter NATO expansion.
