And they're different from Americans, or anyone else? Remember, Biden said that if Russia invaded Ukraine he expected Ukraine to fall quickly. He didn't say the U.S. will consider that a declaration of war. Europe, an even more tepid response. I am not representative of most Americas. Almost everyone would have trouble identifying important Russian and Ukrainian geography (much like even me before the invasion).

You and Vladimir Zolkin keep asking Russians to explain why they would go kill people. Why they woudln't run away, or go to jail, etc., etc. You expect people to do what you would do. Most won't. Why? I can't say. But I recognize that I AM DIFFERENT than most people. You ARE different. The conservation we're having, 95% of most people simply won't engage in. I know. I know. It's incredible that people go to war even with history telling them it's a horrible personal choice to make and you should hope never HAVE to make it as Ukrainians have had to do.

I read a fair amount of WWII history. You could change a few names here and there and it would read note for note today. I had hoped the Internet would improve human governance. I see no real change. Just like they hoped the printing press would stop war. Then the telegraph. Then the radio. Then TV.

Zolin hopes to get some answer. Some magic explanation. There is none, which was the point of the "existentialist" philosophers post WWII.

Yes, many Russians picked up a gun and allowed themselves to be driven into Ukraine for twenty dollars. It's the same for the Wagner Group, just a bit more money. It is what it is.