Imagine you are Vladimir Putin. In addition to harboring existential angst about being short (5’ 6”) and aging (turning 71 in October), your mood has darkened over the past year. The invasion of Ukraine, launched last February, is not going particularly well. The number of Russian forces killed and wounded reportedly is approaching 200,000, putting a crimp on recruiting and raising fears of mutinies and popular backlash. Your military’s weapons and ammunition stockpiles are dwindling fast. Economic sanctions imposed by Western adversaries are beginning to impact the economy, driving up prices and fueling inflation. International business is declining, and some...