On Putin and His Reputation.

Let’s look at a couple of simple, undeniable facts. Vladimir Putin orders the invasion of another country which has not threatened him in any way. In the mayhem which follows, he allows – and probably encourages – attacks on civilian targets which cause a large number of deaths and life-changing injuries among the civilian population of Ukraine. And yet when one of his prized bridges gets blown up (possibly by the opposition), he calls it ‘an act of terrorism.’

Well, let him. What he’s doing here is burying himself under a growing weight of absurd irrationality for all the world to see. If he wasn’t completely bonkers at the start of it all, he’s well on the way to getting there.

The problem for the rest of the world, of course, is just how bonkers he’s capable of becoming.