There are times when it can be an interesting exercise to examine the statements of politicians and try to separate what they actually believe from what they just say in order to get things done. In the case of Vladimir Putin, we had all better hope that it is the latter. If the Russian leadership actually believes in the recent outrageous claims they have made, I fear that we may be dealing with some entrenched delusions of persecution that could only be possible in the nest of spies that is the Kremlin. For those who haven’t been trolling the Russia news all day, Putin has lashed out at the West both on security issues and domestic politics, accusing them and the opposition of a plot.