Exactly. IMHO Putin couldn't give a rattus rattus' posterior about the US, except for whatever foreign aid and military assistance we might give. He's a Nationalist first and foremost. He's grabbing power in Russia for the same reason Billary was nailing Monica- just because he can.
The one thing more dangerous than the return of the USSR is a new Russian empire without the millstone of communism around it's neck.
I agree with one poster who said "It's a complicated situation." In re: Putin's war on terror, my frighteningly wise 9 year old daughter maintains that "the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend." Putin may hate Islamic terrorists, and plan to kill them by the hundred- that doesn't necessarliy make him our friend. Look at the mess we got in backing Saddam against the Iranians.
That one post mentioned Russian special forces being flown into Ukraine. Gonna check that out right now- this is starting to sound like a Tom Clancy novel.
I just hope that one good thing that comes out of all this is the screams of anguish from the French when the reunited Germany starts flexing its' muscles. As you mentioned about the Communists, the Nazis never really went away, either. Georg Haider, anyone?
In light of what is unfolding in the Ukraine, you might want to check out post #122.