While Ian Birrell's column about Putin's Russia was largely
correct he underestimated the scope of his "useful idiot" support in
the UK. To be more accurate, one group
leans towards supporting Putin and the other toward appeasement of him. The former consists of many Brexiters and the
UKIP right who see him as challenging the EU liberal consensus. The latter consist of many from the Corbyn
left wing who see all warnings about Russia as potential warmongering. War weariness from the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan have left us cynical to government warnings and apathetic about
checking a determined great power out to sow discord.
Regards
Zachary Barker
Bristol
