Xi, Putin share spirit of brutalityBy Joseph BoscoIn the 1930s, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met several times in each other’s countries to pledge their unified opposition to the post-World War I liberal international order. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), today’s most threatening world leaders, have also engaged in a series of exchange visits, the latest of which was last month with Xi’s visit to Moscow. Like Hitler and Mussolini almost a century ago, Putin and Xi detest the rules-based international system that has brought stability, peace and economic progress to much of the world. Like Hitler and Mussolini, Putin and Xi are kindred spirits in brutality and the inhuman treatment of people under their control. He served in the Pentagon when Vladimir Putin invaded Georgia, and was involved in Department of Defense discussions about the US’ response.
