As Vladimir V. Putin slides seamlessly into the role of head of
government from head of state — and reinvents Russian governance
thereby — there remains the puzzle of exactly what makes Vladimir
Vladimirovich run.
One can imagine that Putin in moments of reflection recalls his
far simpler days as a KGB intelligence officer stationed safely,
indeed imperially, in Dresden, East Germany. There at least one of
his two daughters was born, and his wife, the former stewardess
Lyudmila, honed her not inconsiderable linguistic skills. Solid
job, solid social position, solid political status. He might even
yearn from time to time for a return to those wonderful,
uncomplicated old days.
Veneered over this remembered world of an earlier professional
time of institutional privilege are his later years of politics and
position. In recent times Putin has observed what he has considered
a decline in American power and prestige. This perception of a
changed world encourages a rather arrogant entrancement with
risk-taking. Energizing these innate qualities of his is the
growing economic leverage now enjoyed by the reborn Russia.
It’s a time of success, and Vladimir Putin has just arranged
that time will not run out on his direction of it. At 55 Putin is
at an intellectual and political prime. According to Garry
Kasparov, the Russian chess master and political dissident, he has
been encouraged to believe that his cognitive ability far exceeds
his fellow world leaders’. Surrounded by the siloviki, a
praetorian guard of his former intelligence and security comrades,
little occurs to challenge that view.
WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED in assessing Putin is he began as a civil
servant and has effectively continued in that role till today. In
spite of the great fortunes made by the many who have benefited
from his patronage, Putin insists he has amassed no conspicuous
wealth. If he has, which some claim, it is certainly well
hidden.
The top politicians of the land, Putin and his former
professional colleagues, proud of their background in service to
Russia, ultimately still think of themselves in the national
security capacity they once held. It’s a bit like, “Once a Marine,
always a Marine.”
The exception, of course, is the young “civilian,” Dmitry
Medvedev. For Putin’s inner circle, the 42-year-old former aide
de camp to the boss is both a valuable yet discontinuous
factor. Putin’s manipulative capabilities rose to the fore when he
named Medvedev as his choice to succeed him as president.
The choice of the mild mannered Medvedev over the far more
aggressive ex-KGB officer, Sergei Ivanov, made it possible to
defuse the rivalries that had developed over the succession. Putin
showed he could accept a lesser title even as he retained true
control over the country’s mechanisms. Cover accommodation was a
basic part of Soviet intelligence tradecraft, and Putin has shown
his deftness in assuming his new overt character.
The rivalries will continue, however, and, to a degree, that is
Putin’s objective. He uses the relationships of those who are
closest to him to create a subtle leverage on their interaction. In
turn he instinctively reacts negatively to any perceived attempt to
restrict his — or Russia’s — alternatives.
Added altogether, these various factors make up Putin’s
modus operandi. Most importantly, though, is the
oft-reported fact that Putin exudes confidence in his dealings with
other world leaders. Truly believing he is at no intellectual
disadvantage, he uses his less than ebullient personality to place
other politicians — no matter their nationality — on the
defensive. This was something Tony Blair commented on to
friends.
THE PHOTOS OF PUTIN meeting with other major political
personalities rarely show him smiling, and if he does, it is
usually quite grimly. Friends from his Leningrad days — and there
are many who claim this status — uniformly refer to the young
“Putka’ as intensely serious.
There is no doubt that Putin continues to seek to be viewed that
same way today, even if the characteristic is rather self-serving.
Public informality has been limited to those carefully set up
photos last year of him standing bare-chested fishing in a
stream.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of Putin’s personality is his
continued commitment to judo and its Russian version, sambo. He
obviously enjoys the physical contact as well as the quick reflex
aspect of the sport. As leverage is also one of the principal
elements in judo, this seems to parallel his own method of
persuasion.
Despite his oft grim visage, Putin is a person quite secure in
his own existence. He has no trouble being himself, nor has he
ever. His new jobs of prime minister and chairman of the dominant
party, United Russia, however, will test his personal political
skills.
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was and is a top grade intelligence
officer. He will always have that advantage over his fellow world
leaders. He will be very conscious of John McCain’s background as a
professional warrior and his prisoner of war experience. These are
matters of considerable importance for that tough, smart kid from
Leningrad. The Democrat candidates are judged by him not even to be
in his political judo weight class.
