They may have learned their lesson after a CENTURY of failure.
We, on the other hand have forgotten our lesson and are heading into that century now. Only, we will have no USA out there to assist us and pull us out.
Actually, Putin has been a believer in the Russian Orthodox Church for quite a while, all during the Bush Admin, and who knows how far back in his own personal history. I think it is part of his deep nationalism and love of his own country and its history, unlike our own leader who is a globalist at best, who has a chip on his shoulder and a faint distaste for his own country.