They are, but they also serve foreign interests.

It is both

Sometimes they do things that serve themselves, sometimes the American Oligarchy. Sometimes they do things that serve the Russian one. I think its important to be clear which.

They're easily manipulated, the Republican party has made sure of that by keeping schools shit there for decades. You have entire generations of people that will do whatever they're told

Can you really fault Putin for using such an easy target?

They don't have to be, but they are.