this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2023
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[–] [email protected] 137 points 1 year ago (5 children)

One of the cardinal rules of power struggles is "If you're gonna shoot for the king, don't miss."

[–] [email protected] 61 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Man didn't even miss, he just got scared halfway through

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year ago (1 children)

From what I gather, he backed down because all his top men's families were being threatened. Prigozhin's family was kept safe, of course, but I don't think they expected Russia to threaten the families of those further down the ladder.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This all just makes him seem naive and unprepared for the position he was in.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I have a theory.

I think the Slavic Russian Nazi a total dictator let run a private army might have been a little dumb.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

It was just a prank, bro!

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Furthermore,

Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies

-- Machiavelli in the Prince

Not to call out Putin's Russia for being amateur hour, but the Prince is probably the first thing to read for an aspiring dictator.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wait, I'm listening to The Prince in audiobook form. Does that mean I'm an aspiring dictator?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Well, if you are, there might be a job opening in Russia for you soon!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He just stopped. It was the most bizarre coup attempt, really.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I mean he had to know, right? With guys like Putin if you go hot, you either kill him or he has you killed. There is no in-between. His entire image relies on that. Maybe they had Prigozhin's family or something?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

It might be that he was counting on the support of one or more Generals. That fizzled at the last minute, and then he didn't know what to do.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

"When you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die. There is no middle ground."