Why Vladimir Putin’s People Love Him, by Christopher Caldwell.

He is among the more popular democratically elected leaders in the civilized world…

He views his job as every leader outside the Communist bloc did a generation ago, and as pretty much every head of state outside of the United States and the European Union does today: as defending the interests of his people, the first of which is its independence.

I wish Western leaders would defend the interests of their people above others. Our elites’ loyalty obviously lie elsewhere.