Any nation observing our military behavior throughout the Clinton era would be mislead into believing we really are that inept. Throw a little chaos at us, and we'll fold up like a cheap ladder.
Our greatest advantage is that we learn from our mistakes, unlike dictatorships that have no choice but to follow the Party's battle plan.
Communists and democrats approach war the same way -- plans carved in stone, and a propoganda campaign to deny mistakes were made.
I find it believable that Putin would underestimate us so badly. He's an old-line communist, and believes the Soviet Union still has a chance at world domination.
If he is involved on the wrong side, boy, did he screw up.