>> The USA and Euroserfs have a LOT more to lose than does Russia, so it makes sense that they should chicken out. Putin has thrown the steering wheel out the window in this game of chicken. USA has to decide when to chicken out, or go full MAD. <<<
I think the most likely scenario is that the West will come close to the abyss - but will step back. Sanity will prevail. Brzezinski will lose. I doubt that it would even come to any direct conventional fighting between NATO and Russia. Unless both sides will decide to play around for a bit, as a face saving limited engagement… with hotline operators constantly on line, to prevent “misunderstandings”.
Defeating and breaking up Russia was a very old dream - but the truth is, the West doesn’t really need it to happen. They can keep buying all that oil and gas. Would be nice to be able to take charge of it, but - the creative, inventive, productive, wealthy West can easily afford it.
No need to blow up this great, affluent society - as well as great numbers of people.
Moreover, the issue of China would be more problematic than people realize. Neither Russia nor the U.S. would want to destroy each other - only to have China take over whatever is left of them and of the world. The Chinese know that they’ll get dragged in - and may decide to do so proactively. As they pick a side, the odds are they’ll join Russia. Will that make any real difference? No idea. But if it will, it won’t be in our favor.
Human psychology may get us all into trouble sooner or later. But right now, I suspect - let’s be honest, I hope - that all those rich successful power hungry narcissists in charge will decline the option of jumping off the cliff for an idea. They don’t even have any ideas they would consider worth dying for. Also, this time around we have the advantage of having a geriatric, baby boomer leadership - people who grew up worrying about greatly destructive weapons blowing up in reality - rather than on the computer screen. |
