Friday’s attack at a Moscow theater was an historic act of terrorism. It was the most grotesque slaughter of human life in Russia since the high point of Chechen terrorist violence in 2004. It exposed the weakness of Putin’s intelligence state while illuminating a gaping vulnerability: his shattered compact with the Russian people.

Twenty-four years ago, Putin convinced the Russian people that the collapse of Communism introduced them to a freedom that was too dangerous. “Give up your freedom to me,” he promised, “and I will use my power to keep Russia safe.” Now, in the twilight of his rule, he still grasps the power, but he is delivering neither safety nor stability.

Putin rides the bear while Moscow burns and terrorists mow down the Russian people. Don’t let the beautiful French bread at the grocery store fool you—chaos is all their pact with Putin provides them now.

Putin loves a history lesson, so study up. This former head of the FSB launched his initial rise to the presidency by exploiting fear and terror. In 1999, he deftly rode a wave of “terrorist” bombings across Moscow (and elsewhere) to maneuver Boris Yeltsin from power. While Putin’s FSB almost certainly manufactured this bomb scare, the ensuing panic empowered him to lead a second invasion of........

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