OK, the Russians vs us? Hmmmm - it's better than us vs nuts in the ME. Russians are civilized, able to produce their own technology and well, chess players. If there has to be a top player to oppose us, who's better?
We have more in common with the Russians and they with us, then either of us has with AlQaeda - etc...
RE: We have more in common with the Russians and they with us, then either of us has with AlQaeda - etc...
It's easy to conclude that. Most Russians are Caucasian, and based on their appearance, can easily be mentally lumped in with Western European peoples (and those of that origin elsewhere). Of course, not all Russians are 100% Caucasian (but neither are many "white" Americans - things of course are a bit different vis a vis Western Europeans). Culturally is where things get a bit more interesting. Although the initial Muscovy and Kievan Rus were certainly offshoots of Nordic tribes, much intervening history has resulted in a quite different cultural outlook than one would find in the West. Whereas, at the margins of the West there were battles with and minor loss of territory to Mongols and Muslims during the period 700 - 1500, Russia became a de facto vassal state of the Mongol Empire. This is an issue most Russians do not care to confront. Furthermore, cultural interchanges with the Persian Empire, and the later Islamic Caliphate, had an undeniable cultural influence. From samovars filled with tea, to onion domed churches, Russians assimilated oriental cultural elements.
There is a contention, which some might actual consider constructive contention, within the Russian psyche, between oriental and western elements.
What else would we expect from the only country besides Turkey to straddle the boundary between Europe and Asia?
Yeah, I would LOVE to have the Russians as an ally/sarcasm.
Russia: An ETERNAL enemy of the American people!