Agreed.
Russia has potential problems in many places all along their borders. 2 or 3 Afghanistan type scenarios, simultaneously, and interruption of the pipelines through Ukraine to Europe, would put them in a tremendous bind, both militarily and economically.
That said, there is a lot of exaggerated fear of Muslims here, too. Not that they are not dangerous: We sure as heck don’t want Iran with nukes, and there is always the potential for regional dustups or a 911 type event here. However, the US has been so “insulated” from truly dire threats for long enough that we don’t think very clearly. Given time, the export sales of energy, and allowance of Russia to take little bites of expansion, one at a time, Russia’s centuries-long term mindset of Empire is CLEARLY a greater strategic threat. Russia has organization, vast and varied resources, real strategic planning, technological ability, and at present, a highly competent leader. Their biggest weakness might be the rampant internal corruption. The Muslims have oil and gas, even worse corruption, in most cases, and a self-defeating death-cult mindset in which they fight each other as readily as “infidels.”
“That said, there is a lot of exaggerated fear of Muslims here, too.”
We lack confidence in out culture. We build our enemies into supermen and see ourselves as helpless (generally speaking, of course).