Putin, entertainer of the year

Vladimir Putin seems to be auditioning for Entertainer of the Year.
There he is, bare-chested, showing his prowess in the martial arts.
Not long ago, he sent Russian forces into Georgia on the pretext that Georgia was claiming a region that actually was part of Georgia.
Since then he's made mischief in the arctic, where he's laying claim to oil rights.
He's cozying up to Cuba and is sending Russian bombers to Venezuela. A few days ago, Russia fired an intercontinental missile halfway across the Pacific.
Here's a theory. If he keeps focusing attention to himself, his nukes and his adventurous spirit, maybe we won't notice that his country is dying.
Russia is beset by epidemics of aids, tuberculosis, vascular disease and alcoholism. The population is shrinking.
The average age at death in Russia is 59. In the West, we're just hitting our stride at 59. In Russia they're dying or already dead.
Now, oil prices have fallen sharply and Russia is even less capable than before of dealing with its simultaneous catastrophes.
To me, it's regrettable. I spent my college years reading Dostoyevsky. I guess Russia really is as tragic as Dostoyevsky perceived it to be.