[Defiant]

This is not a power struggle. Putin is clearly and firmly in charge. This is a coming out party, a debutante ball for the Russian empire. They are tired of languishing in the minors and want their place back at the top of a two-nation superpower structure. I don’t think they are ready for it, militarily, but I don’t think we are ready, psychologically, to confront a belligerent with a large force at the ready, and so, the stronger willed aggressor may be able to get away with it. Putin has given himself some wiggle room in case he bites off more than he can chew; so far, we have given him no reason to believe he has overreached.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Great post. I completely agree.

[Alia]

I do not disagree with your thoughts in comment, whatsoever.

I don’t think they are ready for it, militarily, but I don’t think we are ready, psychologically, to confront a belligerent with a large force at the ready

Contrarywise, I do think the U.S. is ready psychologically. Beneath the veneer comprised of all the whining and simpatico verbiage we get to hear every day, there exists a hard core survivalist instinct yet very much alive throughout America. Telling Americans "what to do"; bullying Americans is something which activates every American no matter their religion or politics. The very hard leftists don't like bullying, either. lol.

so far, we have given him no reason to believe he has overreached.

Courtesy of the red, white, and blue:
"Oh, justice will be served and the battle will rage:
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage.
An' you'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.
'Cos we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way."
---

One of the benefits, I've come to see through my life, about having left and right, and all the freedom to voice in-between is that the spirit of "fight" remains a vital part of our country psyche. The left fights the right and vice versa. In the meantime, it means shards for breakfast for everyone. However, when calamity or threat arises, both sides see the larger threat, and while not necessarily banding together to fight the larger threat, they do work to fight off the oppressor. And this from years and years and years of daily training, and activism, if you will. :)

[SteamShovel]

This is a coming out party, a debutante ball for the Russian empire.

I wonder if they have started political imprisonments and executions again, for nostalgia purposes only....