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Every self-respecting intelligence agency should have a full-time Putinologist. One reason is that PresidentVladimir Putinalone rules Russia. What he says goes. Of course, there are all sorts of competing influence groups — the military, tycoons and the new and newly vocal middle class — whose views and interests Putin must take into account, but in the end he's the "decider" and need not fear pesky legislative or judicial impediments to his will.