[Domestic Church]

"For political reasons, Russia can't swing her bat at these countries, so she's going to swing at us and put on a show of force with our knowledge and consent."

The timing is very odd considering we are under siege. That's a big red flag. No one plays nuclear footsie with you when you've got a red hot poker in the fire to burn out terrorism after being attacked. Otherwise it makes a little sense under normal conditions...if you agree that she can't swing the bat at them. They are pushing the envelope at the very least to see our weaknesses.

[Labyrinthos]

They are pushing the envelope at the very least to see our weaknesses.

The converse is that we get to see Russia's weaknesses in action. I think we have a lot more to gain than Russia has by this exercise, and I wouldn't be surprised if we turned it into an exercise of our own.