To me, Russia is acting spooked and frightened, possibly even terrified. Their bluster strikes me as evidence of weakness, not strength.
I think they went into Georgia expecting no worse than a slap on the wrist. What they got was more forceful than they expected.
I also think that they’re spooked by the underperformance of their own military. I think they expected to be drinking champagne in Tblisi right now.
They’re in hunker down, make loud threatening noises, try-to-bluff-your-way-out-of-a-bad-corner mode, I think.
>>To me, Russia is acting spooked and frightened, possibly even terrified. Their bluster strikes me as evidence of weakness, not strength.>>
I disagree. This is Russian strategy. Burger King in Russia hasn’t changed communism. They have already thought this out and believe the US will stand alone militarily against Russia, and that the US will back down, awarding Russia the top dog status on earth. Problem is, ala Ms. Rice, this is not 1968 and Russia can’t have it their way. This will either end in nuclear war by Russia or in Russia pushing all of the US’s buttons trying to get us to start one first, only to be disappointed.