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A Russian Loss Can Still Mean the War Is Politically Useful for Putin
And those who follow after his fall.
That image isn’t from Ukraine, or Russia. It’s not Finland, either.
Before we get to Russia, let’s travel 40 years back in time, halfway across the world.
This will make sense, I promise. But first, some penguins.
From Miscalculation to Collapse
On March 28, 1982, Argentina’s failing and brutally violent military Junta sent a fleet to the Malvinas (Falklands) archipelago in the Southern Atlantic.
On April 2, Argentina took control of the islands, installed an Argentinian governor and started a 74-day war with a major European military power. One with nukes and all.
Not a smart move, but the Malvinas islands had been disputed territory ever since the British occupied them in 1833, and Argentinians have strong feelings about this presence that they consider a legacy of European imperialism.
So, people took to the streets to cheer the decision and give their support to the Junta, even after six years of violence and amid increasing economic difficulties. It seemed like a victory at first, before the battle had even begun.
