Such a good post, I'm just going to bump it.
Withnail -- please don't completely disrupt a thread by flooding it with multiple "what country are you from?!?W@#! Answer me answer me are you ukrainnnian?@#$@#!" 
Here is what is so interesting,
it could be either of the three -- illness, coup, or escalation planning. There've been cancer rumors over the last year ish. But -- I don't think it's illness. No way. The czar doesn't watch tv while the world talks about coup, the czar would be out there on top of it and you can bet that.
Escalation planning / holed up in bunker is possible, but still, this is not like Putin to allow a power vaccum to develop and questions about coup all over the world like this. If it's #2, escalation planning, then it's something very serious. He withdrew with his advisors over a weekend once to plan the Crimea action, if I recall something I read correctly.
Most mysterious is that nobody is coming out to say anything in support of the president, like Dimitry Medvedev. Rumor and gossip being what it is in Russia, I think it's amazing this thing is still a mystery right now.
Anyhow welcome to the forum, PoliPsy, I for one do not care what country you are from.
I would only just say that some of your sources -- like "global research" -- are dramatic and alamarist and sensational analysis, plus they've got a Russian narrative bent that wants to see anything the US does as some kind of plot. If you want objectivity and truth then just be aware of that. For example: that "dragoon ride" is just a meet and greet convoy. All they are doing is driving back from Estonia after they had the "operation atlantic resolve" training. Cigars are just cigars, when it comes to murica anyhow, though admittedly Russia is riddles inside enigmas and a bit tougher to figure out. a) it ain't a flu, b) he ain't sick, c) it's either planning a massive military move -- could be a full invasion of Ukraine -- or, there's a coup / infighting at the kremlin and all heck is breaking loose / maybe he's under house arrest.
Good post though, I'll bump it:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PoliPsy', 'T')here are many analysts of Russian politics and power structures speculating on this, and 'coup' is one of the possibilities being cited. My initial thoughts regarding the absence were:
1) injury or sickness
2) planning for escalating the response to continued and increasing western pressures
3) a coup attempt
It is only after reading on this over the weekend that the possibility of a coup is moving up the list of possibilities. Articles such as these:
1)
Russia Update: Is There a Slow-Motion Coup Under Way? / The Interpreter
2)
Kremlin Critics Fear Political ‘Hit List’ as Putin Drops Out of Sight / TIME
3)
Russia ETF Falls As Kremlin Reportedly Prepares For 'Mysterious' Announcement / NASDAQ
4)
Major announcement by Putin awaited in Moscow / DEBKAfile
5)
This is why it’s impossible for the Kremlin to lie about Putin's weird disappearance / Washington Post
6)
Stratfor report indicates America is working on a scenario of partitioning of Russia / Fort Russ
At this point, it is all speculation. So let's speculate and give our reasons why.
Interesting coincidences:
1)
Putin Signs Law Ratifying BRICS Bank / Russia Insider
2)
Russia vows to respond to NATO presence near border / Anadolu Agency
3) Is the Russian flag really not flying over the Kremlin for the past couple of days?
4) TASS gives zero indication of any Putin absence.
5)
3,000 US Troops Head to Eastern Europe for Exercises / AP
6)
US sends heavy armour to Baltic states to 'deter' Russia / AFP
7)
US-NATO Military Convoy of Tanks and Armored Vehicles at Russia’s Doorstep, Rolling Along the Estonia-Russia Border / Global Research
The Pentagon Is Stuffing Caves in Norway Full of Tanks / Medium.com
9)
Estonia Fears Being "Overrun By Russia In Minutes", Sweden Sends Troops To Baltic Sea Island / Zero Hedge
10)
Nemtsov's killer was hired by the commander of Dzhokhar Dudaev Battalion in Ukraine, Adam Osmaev / Fort Russ
Finally, why would Putin wish to cause the people of Russia undue panic over his leadership status? Why would he not briefly come on TV to dismiss these rumors and then go back to whatever he's doing?
It's either deep war planning, a coup or health issues. We'll see very soon.
ON EDIT: Don't see a way of removing the smilie from the list number eight).
And you're right, it's not rational he would cause panic and above all he would NEVER let questions about a coup just hang out there and he's just mysteriously absent -- that's dangerous stuff -- if you're gone long enough, folk will begin talking of a coup if they weren't to begin with.
I'm a tad worried. You have me thinking now maybe he is planning a massive military move, and that would mean invasion of somewhere.
by Subjectivist » Sun 15 Mar 2015, 20:27:57 
