Book Review: All the Kremlin's Men, by Mikhail Zygar

      Mr. Zygar is the founding editor-in-chief of Russya's only independent TV station, TV Dozhd(Rain), and the book, which reflects the length and breadth of his sources inside Mr. Putin's inner circle, was an immediate sensation when it was first published in Russya.
       Some of the information includes the story of the run up to the Sochi Olympic Games.  Mr. Putin was initially gainst the location and the games themselves.  But his insiders campaigned for the games and for Crimea, too.  So, the Games went on and, lo, and behold, the next thing one knows, the Kremlin marches its troops into Crimea, declaring it now part of Russya.   Hmmm.  Good advice?  Good move?  And then: Ukraine.
      Regarding Crimea, Putin's inner circle, led by Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev, Pres. Admin chief Sergei Ivanov , and fed. Sec. Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov, swing into action in fall, 2013.   They assured Mad Vlad that locals in Crimea wanted to be Russyan again.  Who?  Where are they?   Well, let's provide them.  Soon plane loads of veterans of Russya's past wars, biker club members, soccer club players began landing in Crimea.  They were under the control of Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Duma Deputy Franz Klintsevich.  It was an improvised Maidan...with the difference that most activists were Russyan, " writes Mr. Zygar.
      So, after myriad shenanigans, the US, the EU, and Canada imposed sanctions on Russya.  Strapped for cash, Mr. Vlad turned to his old reliable supporters: Bashar al Assad.  he authorised some air attacks on behalf of the regime, to ensure a cozy relationship in the area.   For 50 years , the Assad's have relied on these close ties to the Kremlin and its military support.  Now it was time to help out an old friend-Ha!
     The author finds that Mr. Putin has become more isolated from outside influence.  he has removed many of his earlier support staffers.  He has fewer insiders who advise him, with the resulting stultifying results.  Like all dictators, they eventually trust nobody, not even family.  (se North Korea).
Those remaining on the inside fear that they, too, will be banished if they tell Mad Vlad something he doesn't like.  Hmmm.
     And now what?  More nostalgia for the Soviet era?  hardly.
published in America by Public Affairs, 371 pages, $27.99-cheap)
The review courtesy of Karen Dawisha and WSJ.
Mayor awards 5*****