You know, Tiger, I really don't know for sure. I do suspect that we have an image of Russia that is far more "organized and inscrutable" than they actually are. My guess is that they are just politically feeling their way around in the dark like the rest of us.
"I for one have never thought they had changed and have always thought we had good cause to distrust them."
They did go through major changes, between the days of the Soviet Union, Yeltsin and Putin.
When the Soviet Union collapsed and Yeltsin took power, we sent in advisers to help them restructure their economy and those advisers were idiots. The results of that "economic restructuring" in Russia were ordinary Russians selling their personal belongings on the street in order to feed themselves, and the rise of both the Russian Mafia and the oligarchs. Meanwhile, Russia was no longer treated as "a power" at all, and was routinely humiliated in places like Kosovo. Russians learned quickly that to be subservient to the US meant continual humiliation. Hence the rise of Putin -- a strong leader. Like him or hate him, Putin is for Russia, first, foremost and always. Is Putin "our friend"? Hell, no!
As for "trusting Russia" -- hey, I don't "trust" Germany, France, England and many days, I don't even "trust" our government. So why should I trust Russia? No country should ever completely rely on another. You set mutually agreed upon rules, red lines and you don't cross them. That's how you tell whether can "trust them", not by trying to imply intentions or consulting crystal balls.
"I also don't see that America has "gone the other direction." I'm sorry but that's just about offensive to suggest that America in any way has become an imperialistic conquering empire."
By "gone the other way", I was referring to treating Russia as the enemy at a time when they neither had the means nor a leadership (Yeltsin) who had any intention of attacking us or our interests. Russia was completely hamstrung back then. They couldn't have fought their way out of a paper bag, and they knew it.
"I'm sorry but that's just about offensive to suggest that America in any way has become an imperialistic conquering empire. We've been carrying the load and juggling all the proxy wars and threats to western civilization that Russia and China have intentionally fomented for decades."
You are putting words in my mouth here, Tiger. I never said that.
Quite the opposite, I think Americans are about the only people on this earth who are willing to fight for ideals when there is nothing in it for them. America took great pride in fighting "a humanitarian war" in the Balkans where we got absolutely nothing out of it, except unknowingly planting the seeds that would result in 9/11 and later the Fort Dix Six. We have nearly bankrupted ourselves fighting in Iraq, and have gotten nothing out of that either, not even cheaper oil. We Americans fight for selfless ideals and are absolutely sure that this is our God appointed duty.
On the other hand, this blind loyalty to "ideals" also makes us Americans vulnerable to being manipulated if we are not careful, and most Americans aren't careful. The vast majority of Americans do not debate rationally like you and are, they just allow themselves to get moved by rhetoric and emotionality. They follow what "their guy" (take your pick) says, regardless of whether or not it makes sense -- and they don't educate themselves enough on the issues to know whether or not it makes sense. And this "blind faith" approach has not made us stronger as a country, it has made us weaker.
We SHOULD be asking questions before we go marching off to war somewhere far from our shores. We SHOULD be asking for facts and not just rely on old prejudices for information. We SHOULD be weighing the consequences of our actions ahead of time, because that's what adults do. We SHOULD be looking in the mirror and asking ourselves if this is the right thing to do and if there is any other way. That isn't "being a liberal". That's being an adult.
While I KNOW that the American people are not "imperialists", I will admit that Kosovo has made me a complete skeptic about our State Department and the people that our government plays footsies with. I don't trust the intentions of globalists as far as I can throw them and I know that they have far too much influence on our country's foreign policy. These globalists ARE "imperialists", because in case you haven't noticed, the money that was spent getting us to this level of national debt, had to go "somewhere". In whose pockets did it go? Who has gotten rich off us going broke? Who has gotten rich off the spoils of our wars, because we certainly haven't. And what positions of power are those who benefited from our increasing national debt in, now? I want to know before they lead us by the nose into the next adventure that we can't afford, but that benefits their company's "global position".
This confrontation with Russia may be as simple as it sounds, and may be based on competing ideals. But I want to know that for sure and not just get led by the nose into another globalist adventure that gets the globalists richer, and makes America poorer and more vulnerable -- let alone risks starting WWIII.
I wish the State Dept. had its own territory so we could send in a column of tanks and do some "peace keeping" on them.