Winter Is Coming : Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped

The stunning story of Russia’s slide back into a dictatorship—and how the West is now paying the price for allowing it to happen. The ascension of Vladimir Putin—a former lieutenant colonel of the KGB—to the presidency of Russia in 1999 was a strong signal that the country was headed away from democracy. Yet in the intervening years —as America and the world’s other leading powers have continued to appease him — Putin has grown not only into a dictator but an international threat. With his vast resources and nuclear arsenal, Putin is at the center of a worldwide assault on political liberty and the modern world order. For Garry Kasparov, none of this is news. He has been a vocal critic of Putin for over a decade, even leading the pro-democracy opposition to him in the farcical 2008 presidential election. Yet years of seeing his Cassandra-like prophecies about Putin’s intentions fulfilled have left Kasparov with a darker truth: Putin’s Russia, like ISIS or Al Qaeda, defines itself in opposition to the free countries of the world. As Putin has grown ever more powerful, the threat he poses has grown from local to regional and finally to global. In this urgent book, Kasparov shows that the collapse of the Soviet Union was not an endpoint — only a change of seasons, as the Cold War melted into a new spring. But now, after years of complacency and poor judgment, winter is once again upon us. Argued with the force of Kasparov’s world-class intelligence, conviction, and hopes for his home country, Winter Is Coming reveals Putin for what he is: an existential danger hiding in plain sight. The ascension of Vladimir Putin--a former lieutenant colonel of the KGB--to the presidency of Russia in 1999 should have been a signal that the country was headed away from democracy. Yet in the intervening years--as America and the world's other leading powers have continued to appease him--Putin has grown not only into a dictator but a global threat. With his vast resources and nuclear weapons, Putin is at the center of a worldwide assault on political liberty. For Garry Kasparov, none of this is news. He has been a vocal critic of Putin for over a decade, even leading the pro-democracy opposition to him in the farcical 2008 Presidential election. Yet years of seeing his Cassandra-like prophecies about Putin's intentions fulfilled have left Kasparov with the realization of a darker truth: Putin's Russia, like ISIS or Al Qaeda, defines itself in opposition to the free countries of the world. He is still fighting the Cold War, even as Americans have first moved beyond it, and over time, forgotten its lessons. Lest we be drawn into another prolonged conflict, Kasparov now urges a forceful stand--diplomatic and economic--against him. For as long as the world's powerful democracies continue to recognize and negotiate with Putin, he can maintain credibility in his home country. He faces few strong enemies within his country, so meaningful opposition must come from abroad. Argued with the force of Kasparov's world-class intelligence, conviction, and hopes for his home country, Winter is Coming is an unmistakable call to action against a threat we've ignored for too long The ascension of Vladimir Putin -- a former lieutenant colonel of the KGB -- to the presidency of Russia in 1999 was a strong signal that the country was headed away from democracy. Yet in the intervening years -- as America and the world's other leading powers have continued to appease him -- Putin has grown not only into a dictator but an international threat. With his vast resources and nuclear arsenal, Putin is at the center of a worldwide assault on political liberty and the modern world order. For Garry Kasparov, none of this is news. He has been a vocal critic of Putin for over a decade, even leading the pro-democracy opposition to him in the farcical 2008 presidential election. Yet years of seeing his Cassandra-like prophecies about Putin's intentions fulfilled have left Kasparov with a darker truth: Putin's Russia, like ISIS or Al Qaeda, defines itself in opposition to the free countries of the world. As Putin has grown ever more powerful, the threat he poses has grown from local to regional and finally to global. In this book, Kasparov shows that the collapse of the Soviet Union was not an endpoint -- only a change of seasons, as the Cold War melted into a new spring. But now, after years of complacency and poor judgment, winter is once again upon us.;The end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR -- The lost decade -- The invisible wars -- Born in blood -- President for life -- The search for Putin's soul -- Off the board, into the fire -- Operation Medvedev -- The audacity of false hope -- War and appeasement. In this passionate critique of Vladimir Putin, Russian exile dissident and chess champion Garry Kasparov contends that Russia's decline into fascism is nearly complete, and the Western world is still ignoring it. Kasparov offers detailed arguments that Putin rigs elections and plunders assets, and discusses the way he wages war and treats other nations. For all his brainpower, Kasparov sometimes seems naïve when the story gets personal. He's shocked that Russian cops roughed him up when he bellowed at them during his arrest at an anti-Putin protest. Kasparov makes no claims to objectivity. He opposed Putin while living in Russia and fled the country in fear of his life. His crisply written outcry offers a hard look at the ugly side of Russia under Putin. getAbstract recommends Kasporov's polemic to investors, policy makers, students, professors, NGO leaders and travelers seeking insight into the workings of Russia today The Stunning Story Of Russia's Slide Back Into A Dictatorship--and How The West Is Now Paying The Price For Allowing It To Happen, --amazon.com. The End Of The Cold War And The Fall Of The Ussr -- The Lost Decade -- The Invisible Wars -- Born In Blood -- President For Life -- The Search For Putin's Soul -- Off The Board, Into The Fire -- Operation Medvedev -- The Audacity Of False Hope -- War And Appeasement. Garry Kasparov With Mig Greengard. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 269-276) And Index. The ascension of Putin to the presidency of Russia in 1999 was a strong signal that the country was headed away from democracy. Now, with his vast resources and nuclear arsenal, Putin is at the center of a worldwide assault on political liberty and the modern world order. Kasparov shows that the collapse of the Soviet Union was not an endpoint, and reveals Putin as an existential danger hiding in plain sight--Publisher description In this bold and important book, Garry Kasparov argues that Vladimir Putin's dangerous global ambitions have been ignored too long - and he won't be stopped unless America stands up to him.