The other wild card for Putin now is Iran. I read what (might have been) a well-sourced article yesterday about Khameini's escape plan to head to Moscow if the army mutinies and it all looks like it's going down.

It's possible that this time's the charm and the 1979 revolution is over. We'll see.

If Iran goes, following Syria and Assad, and now Maduro and Venezuela, , who does Putin have left? Kim and the (often dud) artillery shells. And notice: After the Russian military racistly used North Korean soldiers to clear mine fields, I haven't heard of Kim offering any more.

OK, Russia is also manufacturing Shaheds locally, but how many parts are still coming from Iran? - Wes, I bet you can find out! And I suspect that Iran must be a main source for smuggled Western electronics to make their way to Mother Russia.

I still think Putin may be overthrown before summer. His winter offensive failed utterly with reportedly 200,000 casualties. Europe has awoken. Trump failed to deliver a Ukrainian capitulation. What crazy plan will Putin and Gerasimov have to offer the Russian military for a spring or summer offensive? Will they be willing to take another 200,000 dead and wounded for nothing? And remember, Feb. 24 starts the 5th year of the 2 week special operation.

Xi & China then become the only lol "secret" friends 'ol Vlad has left. Modi is too dumb to even count.

2026 is going to be a momentous year.